Archeology Member

Archeology Member

Summary American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management(BLM) at the Eagle Lake Field Office (ELFO), is seeking three (3) Archeology Members to contribute to archeological projects alongside BLM Eagle Lake FO staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit the American Conservation Experience website.

Start Date: ASAP (pending federal background check)

Estimated End Date: 26 weeks after the start date (with the possibility of extension)

*a 26-week minimum commitment is required*

Location Details/Description: Eagle Lake Field Office - Susanville, CA

Public lands managed by the Eagle Lake Field Office cover over one million acres in northeastern California and northwestern Nevada. The area offers an amazing diversity including forests, peaceful lake shorelines, scenic river canyons, and expansive high deserts. These areas provide myriad recreational opportunities, and other uses including timber harvesting and livestock grazing that help meet the food and fiber needs of our nation. This is a very rural, remote working and living area that is roughly 2.5 hours away from a major city.

For more information about the BLM Eagle Lake Field Office, please visit their website.

Position Overview: Through this opportunity, the successful applicant will be exposed to the operations of a federal land management agency charged with a multiple-use and sustainable-yield mission. The ACE members will gain a greater understanding of how policy decisions are formulated, gain hands-on experience with cultural resource monitoring protocols and field techniques, enhance skills related to data collection, organization, and management, as well as actively participate in formal trainings and attend tribal consultations, as appropriate.

The successful candidates will be familiar with standard methods for archaeological fieldwork, using ArcGIS Pro and Field Maps programs to manage field data (or be able to learn), and conducting background research prior to fieldwork. The member will be trained to identify and record cultural resources and prepare California DPR and Nevada IMACs site records and archaeological reports.

Projects scheduled for the 2024 field season include archaeological surveys for spring development projects, wildlife habitat improvements, range-related projects, OHV trail development projects, fuels management projects, and site monitoring at project sites and known recorded archaeological sites.

This opportunity provides experience working with federal archaeologists and alongside a variety of BLM staff. Members will encounter diverse archaeological resources in a Great Basin context, which will expand their experience in cultural resource management. Applicants seeking to apply for graduate school will have compelling experience and real-world knowledge to apply to their application.

Most work is performed in an outdoor environment that ranges from cold and wet to hot, smokey, and dry. Overnight camping for several days at a time in remote areas may occasionally be required.

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promote exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.

Schedule: May work 4-10-hour days or 5-8-hour days with the schedule depending on workload. Monday-Friday, generally 8 AM to 5 PM, for the duration of the project, with flexible start/end dates. Occasional work on the weekends may be required.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $800.00/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly. The living allowance is a fixed rate determined by the BLM and ACE and is not flexible.

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general eligibility information on the American Conservation Experience website.

Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and is not provided by ACE or the BLM.

Housing Assistance: ACE Members will be eligible for reimbursable housing assistance up to $200.00/week. The ACE Member will only be reimbursed for approved and demonstrated housing expenses.

Relocation Assistance: ACE members will have access to up to $500.00 to be used for eligible relocation expenses. Further details regarding the distribution of these funds will be provided during the interview process.

Gear Assistance: ACE members will have up to $200.00 to spend on eligible gear purchases. Eligible gear must be approved by ACE staff prior to purchase.

Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position-specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, and networks for support. Specific training may include ArcGIS Pro, field survey and site recording, Introduction to Section 106, etc.

Qualifications

Required:

• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request).
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history checks.
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning-of-term feedback forms, end-of-term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation.
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit the American Conservation Experience website.

BLM Required:

• Ability and willingness to safely drive a 4WD vehicle on unpaved roads that can be steep and rutted
• Knowledge of good organizational skills and ability and willingness to be detail-oriented
• Ability and willingness to work in harsh and rapidly changing environments, work in all types of weather conditions, traverse uneven terrain, carry upwards of 40 pounds in a backpack, and otherwise maintain good physical condition.
• Ability and willingness to understand, implement, and adhere to established data collection, inventory, and monitoring protocols

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a minimum of an archaeology, anthropology degree, or closely related discipline and/or have relevant experience in those subjects.
• Knowledge of historic and/or prehistoric cultural resources in California or the Western United States.
• Ability and willingness to read and interpret topographic maps and navigate using a compass.
• Ability and willingness to utilize ArcGIS/ArcPro software to build maps, organize and manage data, and manipulate data layers
• Knowledge of operating hand-held GPS equipment for navigation and electronic field data collection; knowledge of the post-processing field is beneficial
• Knowledge of completing site forms (or portions of site forms) and/or entering site form data into database programs
• Familiarity with backcountry, low-impact principles preferred
• Ability and willingness to collect and maintain field data in an organized manner that is easily understood and accessible to other staff (ACE or BLM)

Physical Demands, Work Environment, and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, hiking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking, and hearing. Manual dexterity is required for the use of various tools and other equipment. Required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch. Ability to hike over rough terrain, and camp overnight under field conditions.
• Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral, and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Ability to move up to 40 pounds.
• Environmental: Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates.
• Travel: This position may require domestic travel.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The ACE member(s) may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold, rocky terrain, swamp or wetland conditions, biting insects, and potentially dangerous wildlife. The member is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger themself, fellow staff/members, or resources.

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the BLM or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the BLM. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the BLM, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to BLM and ACE equipment training, certification, and safety protocols is required.

To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience, and contact information for three professional/academic references to ACE's online application page for this position on the American Conservation Experience website. Early consideration will be given as applications are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact BLM/FS Division Member Manager, Allison Finch at afinch @ usaconservation dot org.

ACE values an inclusive workforce - if you meet at least 70 percent of the qualifications, we want to hear from you!

ACE participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information when you are hired to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

EEO: Employment with ACE is based upon ability, qualifications, attitude, and job-related factors. Every qualified employee or applicant has the same opportunity for recruitment, hire, training, transfer, promotion, compensation, demotion, termination, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information (including of a family member), veteran or military status, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, medical condition, marital or parental status, political affiliation, ethnicity, hair texture or style, arrest record, caste, hereditary status, endogamy, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal law.