Archeologist (Program Manager)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 126,000 - 164,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is seeking a GS-14 level archaeologist to lead complex reviews of construction and real-property projects with potential impacts on archaeological resources.

The role involves coordinating with Tribal governments, SHPOs, and federal agencies to ensure compliant preservation and mitigation. Located in Washington, DC or Aliso Viejo, CA, the position requires knowledge of NHPA, as well as developing programmatic agreements and agency policies to guide CBP

Qualifications

• Education must include history of archaeology, regional archaeology, and field school.
• Related coursework in geography/geology/cultural geography and historical topics.
• Experience may substitute education with applicable professional archaeology work.

Responsibilities

• Lead reviews of projects with potential effects on archaeological resources.
• Coordinate with Tribal governments and SHPOs to address concerns.
• Develop and implement preservation plans and program guidance.

Education

Archaeology-related education (Bachelor or higher)

Job description

Summary

Organizational Location: This position is with the Department of Homeland Security, within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Enterprise Services (ES), Office of Facilities and Asset Management OFAM), Integrated Services (IS) Division, Energy and Environmental Program Management Office (EE PMO). There is (1) vacancy that may be filled in one of the following locations: Washington, DC Aliso Viejo, CA

Duties

This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Enterprise Services (ES), Office of Facilities and Asset Management (OFAM), Integrated Services Division (IS), Energy and Environmental Program Management Office (EE PMO). The Integrated Services Division's Energy and Environmental Program Management Office (EE PMO) includes the Execution Team, Environmental Section, and Energy Section. The EE PMO interprets environmental, energy, and resilience requirements; coordinates with stakeholders to ensure planning and regulatory compliance throughout the facility and non-facility lifecycle; leads coordination on related priorities with DHS and other federal, state, local, and tribal agencies; and develops agency-wide directives, policies, and guidance. Major duties include: Providing technical advice, regulatory direction, and guidance to Agency Offices concerning the management of CBP's highly complex and diverse historic properties of international, national, state, regional, and local significance. Identifying and implementing mitigation solutions to avoid or minimize the destruction of archeological sites while minimizing disruption to CBP operations. Consulting with stakeholders and organizations outside CBP, including state and local officials, other federal government entities, State Historic Preservation Offices, Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, Native American tribes, Alaska Native Communities and Corporations, and Native Hawaiian Organizations on CBP proposed actions. Developing and managing regional and national-level Programmatic Agreements, Memorandums of Understanding, and Memorandums of Agreement to minimize and resolve adverse effects to historic properties in conformance with NHPA requirements. Developing CBP policy and guidance documents to ensure compliance with new or modified historic preservation-related federal regulations and DHS policy and guidance. This position starts at a salary of $125,776.00 (GS-14, Step 1) to $163,514.00 (GS-14, Step 10). Salary: Salary listed reflects the rest of U.S. scale and, if applicable, will be adjusted to meet the locality pay or cost of living expenses of the duty location upon selection. GS Salary: Visit this link to view the locality pay tables by geographic area. If you do not see your geographic area listed, select the "Rest of United States" pay table. Some positions fall under a special pay rate depending on the series, grade level and location of the position. Please visit this link to view special pay rate charts.

Requiremennts

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years (additional details below) All pre-employment processes will be conducted in English You may be required to pass a background investigation CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures As an employee of CBP, you will be joining a workforce that is dedicated to accomplishing our mission while maintaining the trust of our Nation by strictly adhering to all government ethics standards. Your conduct will be subject to the ethics rules applicable to all Executive Branch employees, and to CBP employees specifically, as well as the criminal conflict of interest statutes. Once you enter on duty, these rules include obtaining approval for outside employment or business activity, to ensure such employment or business activity is not prohibited and does not interfere or conflict with performance of your official duties. Please review further details via the following link. DHS uses E-Verify, an internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities. Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under the bargaining unit. This position requires the employee to travel away from the normal duty station up to 25% ofthe time. The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR

• 213.3102(u), and/or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR
• 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the Servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.

Qualifications

This position has an Individual Occupational Requirement. Basic Requirements: A. Education 1. Degree that included 3 semester hours each in the following course areas: History of archeology. Archeology of a major geographical area such as North America or Africa. Regional archeology, archeological cultures, or sites in a specific part or portion of a major geographical area to acquire or develop a foundation for regional specialization for professional development. Theory and methods of archeology. Methods include, but are not limited to, typology, classification, sampling, cultural evolution, diffusion, dating, and analytical techniques. Archeological field school, to provide a basic understanding of theoretical and practical approaches to research design implementation, field preservation techniques, and report preparation by participation in actual field work. AND Six semester hours of related course work in: geography, geology, or cultural geography; history, historiography, or historical archeology; environmental studies; scientific writing (nonfiction English composition); and/or surveying; AND Archeological field school. 2. Related Curriculum: degree in anthropology (with emphasis on ethnology, physical anthropology, or scientific linguistics), history, American studies, or a related discipline may be accepted as satisfying in full the educational requirements, provided the curriculum supplied academic course work sufficiently similar to the requirements in A.1 (including archeological field school). OR B. Combination of Education and Experience College-level education or training that provided knowledge equivalent to that described in A above, plus appropriate technical experience or additional education. OR C. Experience Four years of archeological work experience that demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the fundamental principles and theories of professional archeology. The work experience must have included archeology field experience, which may include that gained in an archeological field school. Field experience should have included a combination of professional experience in archeological survey, excavation, laboratory analysis, and preparation of written materials. Applicants with such field experience should, after additional experience under the direction of a higher grade archeologist, be able to demonstrate the ability to be a crew chief, directing the work of others at a single location as a part of a larger archeological project. Along with the basic requirement listed above you must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience described below to qualify based on experience. Experience: You qualify for the GS-14 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as: Leading reviews of complex construction, real-property, and operational projects with potential effects on archaeological resources and historic properties, identifying compliance risks and recommending measures that protect resources while supporting project delivery. Conducting and overseeing archaeological research, site assessments, field surveys, and contractor-supported studies, analyzing results to support historic-property significance determinations and resource-treatment decisions. Applying historic-preservation laws, regulations, and organizational requirements to project actions, preparing technical analyses, consultation materials, program reports, and internal guidance that support consistent compliance. Coordinating consultation with Tribal governments, State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, federal agencies, and other stakeholders, addressing concerns and supporting resolution of sensitive cultural-resource matters. Advising and training leaders, project teams, and field personnel on resource protection, artifact stewardship, unanticipated discoveries, and preservation-related emergency considerations, improving organizational readiness and informed decision-making. NOTE: Your resume must explicitly indicate how you meet this requirement, otherwise you will be found ineligible. Please see the "Required Documents" section below for additional resume requirements. 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. You must: Meet all qualification requirements, including education if applicable to this position, subject to verification at any stage of the application process; and Meet all applicable Time in Grade requirements (current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade or equivalent grade band in the federal service) by 10/29/2026. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. Background Investigation: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a federal law enforcement agency that requires all applicants to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to employment in order to promote the agency's core values of vigilance, service to country, and integrity. During the screening and/or background investigation process, you will be asked questions regarding any felony criminal convictions or current felony charges, the use of illegal drugs (e.g., marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, ecstasy), and the use of non-prescribed controlled substances including any experimentation, possession, sale, receipt, manufacture, cultivation, production, transfer, shipping, trafficking, or distribution of controlled substances. For additional information on the preemployment process, review the following link: Applicant Resources | CBP Careers Residency: There is a residency requirement for all applicants not currently employed by CBP. Individuals are required to have physically resided in the United States or its protectorates (as declared under international law) for at least three of the last five years. If you do not meet the residency requirement and you have been physically located in a foreign location for more than two of the last five years, you may request an exception to determine if you are eligible for a residency waiver by meeting one or more of the following conditions: Working for the U.S. Government as a federal civilian or as a member of the military A dependent who was authorized to accompany a federal civilian or member of the military who was working for the U.S. government Participation in a study abroad program sponsored by a U.S. affiliated college or university Working as a contractor, intern, consultant or volunteer supporting the U.S. government Probationary Period: All employees new to the federal government must serve a one year probationary period during the first year of his/her initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment. Current and former federal employees may be required to serve or complete a probationary period.

Education

Please see the Qualifications and Required Documents sections for more information if education is applicable to this position. Your transcripts: All applicants are required to submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable at this time; however, official copies will be required prior to entrance on duty) or a list of coursework with hours completed provided from the institution. If you are a current CBP employee within the position series announced, transcripts will not be required at the time of application; however, education will be verified if you are selected and you may be required to submit transcripts at that time. Education must be from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Education obtained from a foreign university or college is not creditable unless it has been evaluated by an organization that specializes in interpretation of education credentials. Note: If submitting documentation of an evaluation, transcripts are still required. For a listing of some accrediting agencies see NACES | Credentials Evaluations Provided by NACES Members. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications for more information.

Additional Information

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here. Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Eligibles: If you have never worked for the federal government, you are not CTAP/ICTAP eligible. View information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. To be considered well qualified under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be rated at a minimum score of 85 for this position. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the Required Documents section of this announcement. Additional Hiring and Special Appointing Authorities: See "THIS JOB IS OPEN TO" section above for what additional Appointing Authorities may apply. Veterans, military spouses, Peace Corps/VISTA volunteers, and people with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility and to understand what documentation would be required with your application, please click on the appropriate link below. You must provide documentation supporting your eligibility prior to the closing date of this announcement. If you have any questions regarding your eligibility, please contact the CBP Hiring Center via the contact information listed at the end of this job opportunity announcement. Veterans Military spouses Effective until December 31, 2028, any spouse of a member on active duty may be eligible Individuals with Disabilities The proof of disability documentation must specify that you are eligible to apply using Schedule A. It does NOT need to detail your specific disability, medical history or need for accommodation. For more information visit this link. Peace Corps and VISTA Land Management Hiring Flexibility Act: The following documents are required at the time of application: SF-50s to demonstrate that you meet the eligibility requirements and the most recent performance rating signed by your supervisor or a statement from your supervisor documenting acceptable performance. Other miscellaneous hiring authorities

Customs & Border Protection (CBP): Securing America's Borders The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is calling on those who want to help protect American interests and secure our Nation. DHS Components work collectively to prevent terrorism; secure borders and our transportation systems; protect the President and other dignitaries; enforce and administer immigration laws; safeguard cyberspace; and ensure resilience to disasters. We achieve these vital missions through a workforce spanning hundreds of occupations. Make an impact; join DHS. Discover a challenging and rewarding career with CBP, the sole organization responsible for securing the nation's borders. At CBP, we: Secure and enforce trade and travel while enforcing hundreds of U.S. regulations, including immigration and drug laws Screen passengers, vehicles, and shipments entering our country Seize illegal narcotics, vehicles, and agricultural products and prohibited goods. Prevent unauthorized entry into the country Rescue individuals who fall into dangerous conditions traversing our border Connect with us: X: CBP, CBPJobs, CBPHRAsstComm LinkedIn: U.S. Customs and Border Protection Instagram: CBPJobs Facebook: CBP Jobs Threads: CBPJobs CBP employees demonstrate the highest level of commitment to protect and serve the United States of America and to exemplify the CBP Core Values of Vigilance, Service to Country and Integrity. Learn more about CBP at https://www.cbp.gov/about