Archeological Technician (Seasonal)

US National Park Service; El Portal (CA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The National Park Service seeks Archeological Technicians to perform field surveys, documentation, and analysis to identify and preserve cultural resources. The role involves handling datasets, inventories, and reports under guidance from senior staff.

Typical duties include participating in cultural resource inventories, preparing site records, and supporting field operations throughout the season, with emphasis on data management and contribution to preservation projects.

Qualifications

• One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-04 level.
• 4 year course of study above high school related to Archaeology, Anthropology, History, Museum Studies, or related fields.
• Equivalent combination of experience and education to meet the requirements. Education beyond 60 semester hours creditable toward specialized experience.

Responsibilities

• Conduct cultural resource inventories documenting research results.
• Monitor cultural resources to report current and potential adverse impacts.
• Compile data on inventories and incorporate findings into reports for review by professionals.
• Assist lower-graded employees or volunteers on projects or tasks.

Skills

Specialized experience

Documentation

Data entry

Education

Archaeology

Anthropology

History

Museum Studies

Job description

Archeological Technicians perform technical archeological work to identify, document, investigate, and preserve cultural resources through field surveys, excavation, artifact processing, data management, and basic research.

The typical season is April - November, but can be variable during these months due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding.

Anticipated Entry on Duty: April - May 2027.

Open to the first 200 applicants or until 10/26/2026 whichever comes first.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-10/26/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your 2 page resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience. Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. You may only submit one resume. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed.

To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level, you must possess one of the following:

• A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-04 level in the federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the duties of this position. Examples of specialized experience include: (1) participating in cultural resource inventories; (2) preparing archeological reports and/or record findings; and (3) using a computer to enter, retrieve, and/or manipulate data.
• -OR- B. A 4 year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree (120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours) related to the position such as Archaeology, Anthropology, History, Museum Studies, or other related fields.
• -OR- C. Equivalent combination of experience and education that, together, equal 100% of the qualification standards listed above when combined. NOTE: only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours (i.e., beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. One full academic year of study (30 semester hours) beyond the second year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience. For example, 6 months of the specialized experience described in A above (50% of the experience requirement) and 1 academic year of study beyond the second year from an accredited institution (50% of the qualifying education), equals 100% of the total requirement.

To qualify for this position at the GS-06 grade level, you must possess one of the following:

• A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equips the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the duties of this position. Examples of specialized experience include: 1) participating in cultural resource clearances and/or inventories, (2) providing information on sites; (3) preparing reports, maps, and/or photographs on inventories; and (4) assembling data in a logical sequence for review by a professional cultural resource staff member.
• -OR- B. You must possess a half-year of graduate-level study (9 semester hours or equivalent) that directly applies to the work of the position in a field such as Archaeology, Anthropology, History, Museum Studies, or other related fields. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.
• -OR- C. Equivalent combination of experience and education that, together, equal 100% of the qualification standards listed above when combined.

To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level, you must possess one of the following:

• A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-06 level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that equips the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the duties of this position. Examples of specialized experience include: (1) conducting cultural resource inventories documenting research results; (2) monitoring cultural resources to report current and potential adverse impacts; (3) compiling data on inventories and incorporating findings into reports for review by a professional cultural resource staff member; and (4) assisting lower-graded employees or volunteers on projects or tasks.
• -OR- B. Possess one full year of graduate-level study (18 semester hours or equivalent) that directly applies to the work of the position in a field such as Archaeology, Anthropology, History, Museum Studies, or other related fields. The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university.
• -OR- C. Equivalent combination of experience and education that, together, equal 100% of the qualification standards listed above when combined. Note: only education in excess of what is required at the GS-06 level will be used to substitute specialized experience at the GS-07 level.

Volunteer Experience:

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The OPM Qualification Standards Handbook is available for review at: OPM Qualification Standards.