Sandia Ranger District Project Organizer

Position Description

Cibola National Forest: Archeologist Project Organizer Individual Placement

Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (RMYC) is a nonprofit youth development organization serving New Mexico. We inspire young adults to make a positive difference in themselves and their communities. Through training and service, Corpsmembers discover their potential for healthy, productive lives.

Individual Placement positions work within RMYC partner agencies, and are intended to provide meaningful job experience for young professionals looking to build their careers in specific fields. This role will act as a lead to other individual placements.

POSITION OVERVIEW: The Archeological Project Organizer Individual Placement will support the Cibola National Forest – Heritage and Cultural Resource Department with project management, provide direction and training for field personnel, report production, GIS and data management, supervision of field crew, tracking budget, coordination with other Forest Service departments/staff, the State of New Mexico, members of the public and Forest Service volunteers.

Administrative responsibilities include collecting data, writing brief project reports, and communicating with Cibola NF and RMYC staff. 

This position is managed through RMYC and includes regular check-ins and life skills training. Other training opportunities will be provided through the host program or outside training tailored to the needs of the individual. Cross-training with other programs is also encouraged.

POSITION TYPE: Seasonal, full time

SCHEDULE: Full Time, 40 Hours per week, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm. Exact start and end times will be determined by program funding, program needs, and timing of applications received.

REPORTS TO: Cibola National Forest Staff daily and to RMYC Individual Placement Program Coordinator on a weekly basis.

LOCATION: Cibola National Forest/Sandia Ranger District –Cultural Resources Department, 11776 Highway 337; Tijeras, NM 87159

COMPENSATION: $31.83 per hour (GS-09 Step 3 equivalency)

BENEFITS:

• RMYC observes all National holidays and are considered approved paid days off.

BACKGROUND CHECK: A USDA background clearance must be completed before the selected candidate may report for service. The Forest Service will provide instructions for completion of the clearance after a candidate has been selected and will notify them when they have been cleared to start service. This process will determine the participant’s exact start date.

Participants will have access to government facilities and systems, and will be supplied with access to gov’t vehicles, equipment, and materials needed to work on the projects and activities as outlined above. Participants must adhere to all government regulations and policies for operating equipment, vehicles, security awareness, and safety.

ELIGIBILITY:

A chosen candidate must meet the following requirements:

• Must be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident of the United States. State-level background checks will be conducted for non-residents of NM.

• Chosen candidates must complete a pre-employment National Service Criminal History Check and fingerprint scan with the following requirements:

  • You must be truthful in all statements regarding criminal history.

  • You cannot be registered or required to be registered on any state sex offender registry or the National Sex Offender Registry.

  • You cannot be convicted of murder.

• Insurable driving record and a valid driver’s license.

• Essential physical functions include the ability to sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, climb, balance, reach with hands & arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl on a frequent basis, and lift up to 50 pounds unassisted.

• Field investigation involves considerable walking over rough, rocky surfaces, some bending and stretching. Average physical dexterity and ability are required. Fieldwork is performed in all weather conditions, occasionally in mountainous terrain. Sometimes primitive facilities must be used for extended periods.

• Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals to perform the essential functions.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Able to manage the field and reporting process of a large cultural resource reconnaissance project.  

• Supervise an archeology survey crew to direct field work, data collection and data processing. 

• Assist staff with:

  • The development of immediate objectives, integration with resource activities, and establishment of priorities.

  • Budget and project plan of work for the unit’s archeological and cultural activities within the National Forest unit.

  • Design inventory strategies as part of the land use planning process based on Forest-wide priorities and needs.

  • Determining eligibility of historical properties for the National Register of Historic Places.

  • Providing heritage and cultural resource management orientation to Forest Service personnel on statutes, regulations and purpose of work to be performed.

  • Interpreting heritage and cultural resources to the public and professional contacts through presentations at visitor facilities, professional journals, etc.

  • Ensuring program data for documentation submission including contracts, National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility criteria, legal documents to fulfill programmatic requirements, and internal reports.

• Organize, supervise, or directly perform inventory of areas to include preparation of maps, inventories, reports, and records related to the discovery, protection, inventory, salvage, and interpretation of heritage and cultural resource areas.

• Review reports as part of project planning to evaluate the quality of the inventory, the completeness of the report, and the significance of heritage or cultural sites found; prepares determinations of effect for such projects identified during project inventories; assists staff with recommendation of mitigation procedures.

SECONDARY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Participation and Expedition Behavior:

• Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences.

• Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of others for any reason.

• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national service.

• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization staff. 

• Appropriately represent the U.S Forest Service to the public and partners at all times.

• Flexibility, adaptability, and capacity to work in a fluid, changing work environment.

Safety and Judgment: 

• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance. Must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or high winds.

• Effectively perceive and understand significant and apparent hazards and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during the exposure to the hazard. Ability to respond appropriately to stress or crises.

• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions.

• If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self- medicating without assistance from others.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Archeology/Anthropology or similar field.

• At least 3-5 years of professional work experience in Archaeology.

• Knowledge of:

  • Theories, principles, and techniques of archeology.

  • General knowledge of land management practices sufficient to prescribe a typical Heritage and Cultural Resource Management (CRM) Program in keeping with basic National Forest program requirements.

  • The broad patterns of the various cultures and archeology of the groups who inhabited the region in past periods, in order to adapt the CRM program to local conditions.

  • The various cultures and ethnic groups who inhabited the region in past periods to evaluate archeological findings and conduct surveys.

• Limited knowledge of related disciplines such as timber management, hydrology, soils, plant pathology, wildlife habitat management, engineering, etc., sufficient to recognize how they relate to CRM issues and to recognize when specialized advice is necessary.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in Archeology or related field

• 5-10 years of experience

• Proficient in data collection and management of geospatial technology (ArcPro, FieldMaps, AGOL and Heritage NRM)

To apply, please submit an application to the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps application portal at https://youthcorps.org/apply-now including a resume and cover letter.

Rocky Mountain Youth Corps is available to all and we will not discriminate or refuse services to any staff or member because of perceived or actual race, color, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, political affiliation, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, military service or pregnancy.

 RMYC is a drug free workplace. All positions are dependent upon funding availability.