Natural Historian Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Summary
You will serve as a Historian (Temporary) Sitka National Historical Park.
This is an excepted service appointment, that remains in the excepted service indefinitely. These positions do not confer competitive status.
This is a temporary position expected to last one year but may be extended up to a maximum of two years based on agency needs and potential funding.
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Duties
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These positions provide Historian support to the park by researching, writing, and educating about historical resources of the park. The position will work under the Park's Interpretation program, but also in collaboration with Cultural Resources.
Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following:

• Expand knowledge through independent study, developmental assignments, literature review, on-site studies, and fieldwork.
• Participate more substantively in archaeological field studies, geological mapping, consult with Native organizations, and broader historical reporting.
• Write letters and responses to inquiries using developed knowledge of park resources, policy, prior research, and available sources.
• Provide full historical education and visitor interaction, delivering content independently.
• Collect, analyze, and report on cultural resource conditions, including measuring impacts of management actions (restoration, visitor dispersal, development).
• Draft more complex report sections, work plans, and implementation strategies, and complete small historian actions independently.
• Investigate undocumented cultural/historic sites to a level enabling identification, protection, or interpretation.
• Assist in coordinating visiting professional work with increased responsibility and less supervision.
• Apply standard historian practices with judgment, selecting methods, approaches, and sources.
• Exercise greater judgment when guidelines require interpretation or selection among alternatives.

Requirements
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Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit www.dhs.gov/EVerify/.

• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• .You are required to wear a uniform and comply with the uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
• You must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.
• You must be at least 18 years of age or older to operate government vehicles.

Qualifications
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement 09/09/2026 unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Special knowledge or expertise concerning the park's or preserve's natural and/or cultural resources and the management thereof is required. Local knowledge of the resources and the typical conditions that affect the work to be accomplished will be applied in the performance of duties.
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To be eligible your application package must clearly show periods of time having lived or worked in or near the area of consideration. The area of consideration can be found in the below paragraph:
Areas considered "near" Sitka National Historical Park are Baranof Island, which includes the community of Sitka, and the adjacent Admiralty Island including Angoon, the adjacent Chichagof Island including Hoonah, and the nearby City and Borough of Juneau.
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The following are the competencies identified for this position. Applicants are not required to address these competencies in a separate document but are encouraged to include in their resumes experience related to these competencies:

1. Ability to locate pertinent source material.
2. Skill in use of non-bibliographic research tools such as photographs, statistics, maps, remote sensing, oral history, field mapping, and measured drawing.
3. Ability to communicate both verbally and in writing in order to explain procedures, regulations and findings, historical content, and to draft letters, memoranda, sections of reports, etc.

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.
Education
There is no substitution of education for the required special knowledge or expertise concerning the park's or preserve's natural and/or cultural resources and the management thereof as outlined in this announcement.
Additional information
Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.
A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.
All Department of Interior (DOI) employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here, https://www.doi.gov/ethics/ethics-prohibitions.
The duties of this position are suitable for telework only during an emergency or natural disaster.
Physical Demands: The work is at times sedentary, documentary research and report writing work is sedentary and entails the ability to concentrate and writhe for long periods of time. The work is also at times not sedentary, which will include standing and walking and interfacing with visitors to discuss historical topics.
Work Environment: Work is performed in offices, archives, libraries the park visitor center, and historical buildings.
Alaska currently does not have a state income tax.
Government housing may be available.
All travel, transportation, and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the sole responsibility of the selectee.
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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.