Seasonal Historian

Seasonal Historian

Department: Department of the Interior

Location(s): Sitka, Alaska

Salary Range: $22.07 - $27.34 Per Hour

Job Summary: 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. Open to the first 100 applicants or until 03/13/2026 whichever comes first. All applications submitted by 11:59 (EST) on the closing day will receive consideration.

Major Duties:

• Major Duties - At the GS-5 level you will: Receive formal and on-the-job training to learn NPS programs, policies, and basic historian techniques. Assist with simple presentations and observes higher-graded staff conducting briefings, lectures, and visitor programs. Conduct basic historical research using reports, archives, and other sources; assists in preparing charts, tables, and drafting basic text. Learn to provide introductory historical education and visitor interaction. Learn to collect basic cultural resource field data and identify historical/cultural objects or sites using established manuals and protocols. Draft limited sections of reports and participate as a team member on simple projects (oral histories, written histories, conservation tasks, etc.). Learn how to investigate cultural/historic sites not documented in park files. Assist in coordinating visiting professionals under close supervision. In addition to the duties above, at the GS-07 level you will perform the higher graded duties listed below. 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.

Qualifications: All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-03/13/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). Part-time hours will be pro-rated to determine the amount of qualified specialized experience. BASIC EDUCATION FACTOR: Individual Occupational Requirements for Historian GS-0170 positions These positions require: A degree in history; or related field that included at least 18 semester hours in history. OR Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in history, or a major in a related field that included at least 18 semester hours in history, plus appropriate experience or additional education. **Evaluation of Graduate Education - Graduate study in the social sciences or humanities may also be credited when such study included training in historical research methodology; or the thesis approached the subject from an historical viewpoint and used professional historical research methodology and techniques in its preparation. Candidates who do not meet this basic requirement with proof of submitted transcripts by close of this announcement will receive no further consideration for this position. You must include transcripts. - AND - To qualify for this position at the GS-7 grade level, you must possess one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: 1. Have at least one year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-05 level in the federal government (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of the position. Examples of specialized experience include: Planning and conducting historical research such as literature reviews or on-site studies Researching, writing, and conducting site documentation fieldwork Participating in Section 106 reviews Preparing historic preservation related recommendations, as well as interpretive and educational materials for public distribution (i.e. articles, booklets, social media posts, and Teaching with Historic Places lesson plans). Investigate undocumented cultural or historic sites -OR- 2. Have successfully completed at least one year of graduate-level education in history or related field of study. -OR- 3. Have completed a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree and meet the criteria for Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A) as evidenced by one of the three following methods: In the upper third of your graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses. OR Have a GPA 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better), shown on your submitted transcript, computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum, or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in your major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum. OR A member of one of the national scholastic honor societies recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. -OR- 4. Have a Combination of Graduate Education and Specialized Experience. You must have successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience as described above. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts. 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.

How to Apply: To apply for this position: You must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. To receive consideration, the complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 03/13/2026. You must provide documentation to support your claim for each eligibility selected. Please review the required documentation listed in the eligibilities language to ensure you submit the appropriate information. Note: You will only be marked eligible for those eligibilities that you selected and provided the appropriate supporting documentation. WE DO NOT ACCEPT HARD-COPY OR E-MAIL APPLICATION PACKAGES. Select Apply. If you are not logged in, you will be prompted to login or create an account. Prompted to Start the Application Process by selecting "Start Application." Click here for USAJobs Help with "How to create an application" To PREVIEW the application questionnaire, select the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12895806 Select or add the resume you want to use for this application. Click here on how to build a resume in USAJOBS. Select documents you want included in this application. Review package to acknowledge your documents were reviewed. Select if you want to include your demographic information. After reading and certifying the application is true and submitted in good faith, select "Continue to Agency Site." Follow onscreen prompts and instructions to complete your application. Add the supporting documents by indexing your documents with the dropdown. Upload any missing required documents or optional documents. Review and Submit Application. While logged in, you can check the status of your application by selecting "+" next to the job title for this position. You can review or revise your application at any point during the open period of the announcement. To update an application, you should log into your USAJOBS account and select "+" next to the job title for this position. Select "Update Application" for this job. Note: When you click Update Application, you will be prompted to re-select your documents from USAJOBS. Documents submitted with the first application will no longer be associated with the applicant record. So it is important that you select all documents you want to use in the re-application.

Application Deadline: 2026-03-13