Archeologist (Temporary)

US National Park Service; Colorado; On-site; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

US National Park Service in Mesa Verde National Park seeks an Archaeologist (Temporary) to contribute to cultural resource projects across the American West. Responsibilities include field investigations, surveys, and site documentation, using GPS and GIS to support reporting and preservation efforts.

Qualified candidates will have a 4-year degree in archaeology/anthropology with field school experience, and demonstrate ability to manage fieldwork and produce written materials for project

Qualifications

• Must meet minimum qualifications including a 4-year degree with coursework in archaeology and related fields.
• Experience with prehistoric/historic archaeology field investigations and cultural resource projects.

Responsibilities

• Conduct archaeological field investigations, surveys, excavations, and site recordings.
• Prepare survey reports, site maps, and field notes.
• Utilize GPS and GIS in project work; contribute to written materials for projects.

Skills

Field methods

GIS analysis

GPS mapping

Education

Bachelor's in archaeology/anthropology

Archaeology field school

Tools

GPS

GIS

Job description

You will serve as a Archeologist (Temporary) Mesa Verde National Park. This position is located within the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Intermountain Region, Div of Research & Ruins Stab

Open to the first 100 applicants or until 08/28/2026 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.

Qualifications:

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-08/28/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.

To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST state either "full-time" (or "40 hours a week") or "part-time" with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience. Failure to adequately provide information needed to determine number of hours worked in each position may result in that time not being credited when evaluating qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service, the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the full and/or part-time hours requirement as the service dates will be reflected.

A. Education

1. Minimum Qualification Requirements

To qualify for this position, you must meet the following minimum qualifications: successfully completed a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's degree or higher that included 3 semester hours of EACH of the following course areas:

• History of Archeology;
• Archeology of a major geographical area such as North America or Africa;
• Regional archeology, archaeological 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);
• Archaeological 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:

Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelors degree or higher in anthropology (with emphasis on ethnology, physical anthropology, or scientific linguistics), history, American studies, or related discipline, provided the curriculum supplied academic course work sufficiently similar to the requirements stated above (including archaeological field school).

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.

EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience includes activities such as: applying the theories, principles, practices, and techniques of archeology to the conduct of prehistoric and historic archeological field investigations and cultural resource projects in the American West which included the preparation of survey reports, site recording forms, site maps, overlays, field notes, and using Global Positioning System (GPS) and Geographic Information System (GIS). GS-07 Archeological Technician experience is NOT qualifying to meet this requirement.

EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or completion of all requirements for a master's or equivalent graduate degree. To be qualifying, graduate study must have been in archeology, anthropology, or other closely related field. The total education offered to meet this provision must have provided you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the work of this position. To receive credit, you should describe how the specific course work, research projects, dissertation, theses, etc. demonstrate the ability to perform the duties of this position. (Eighteen semester hours or 27 quarter hours or the number of credit hours the school attended has determined to represent one year of full-time study is considered to be equal to one full year of graduate education)

OR

COMBINATION: Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. Note: Only graduate education in excess of one year is creditable for combination.

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.