About This Position
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is ranked within the top 5 mid-size agencies through the Partnership for Public Service's Best Places to Work in the Federal Government Rankings! These Archeologist positions are available in the Division of Hydropower Administration & Compliance and the Division of Hydropower Licensing in Washington, DC in the Office of Energy Projects. For more information visit: Office of Energy Projects (OEP) | Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Qualifications
To view the eligibility and qualification requirements of an Archeologist, GS-0193, please visit: Archeologist, 0193 | Federal Energy Regulatory Commission You can qualify based on your education OR have a combination education and experience OR four years of archeological work experience. In addition to the basic requirements, you must have one full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-12 level. Specialized experience is defined as: Having experience preparing environmental documents or reports (such as Environmental Assessments or Environmental Impact Statements pursuant to NEPA, study plans or reports, or section 106 consultation documents) and experience analyzing archeological, historical, and cultural resource issues. 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 any volunteer experience. Please do not cut and paste the position description, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume, as this will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.
Major Duties
As an Archeologist, some of your typical work assignments may include: Serving as a project coordinator or member of a multidisciplinary team analyzing information on archeological, historical, cultural resource, and Tribal issues as they relate to the construction, modification, operation, and maintenance of infrastructure projects, making recommendations that are technically sound and thoroughly researched. Research available archeological report data and State and Federal requirements to determine the regulatory and procedural limitations on proposed sites of investigation. Preparing environmental documents or reports and Commission correspondence that analyze a range of archeological, historical, cultural resources, Tribal, and other environmental issues. Planning and executing meetings on archeological, historical, and Tribal resource issues with attorneys, biologists, recreation planners, and engineers from licensees, applicants for license, Tribes and local, state, and federal agencies.
Conditions of Employment
You must meet all eligibility and qualification (experience and/or education) requirements by the closing date of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: • your performance and conduct; • the needs and interests of the agency; • whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and • whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Education
If you are using your education to qualify for this position, transcripts are required. Failure to submit a copy of your transcripts at the time of application will result in your application being marked incomplete and you will not receive further consideration.
How You Will Be Evaluated
Once the vacancy announcement closes, we will review your resume and any supporting documentation to determine whether you meet the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements for the position. Your resume must address the following competencies (knowledge, skills, and abilities, and other characteristics): Archeology Written Communication Verbal Communication The online assessment is used to evaluate your relevant education and experience in relation to the required competencies for this position. If you meet the eligibility and minimum qualification requirements, your application will be further evaluated based on your answers to the vacancy questionnaire, using the Category Rating Method. This means you will be placed into one of three categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, or Qualified, depending on your responses. Your rating may be lowered if your responses are not supported by the education and/or experience described in your resume. Veterans' preference is applied by listing preference eligibles ahead of non-preference eligibles within the same category in which they are placed. Qualified preference eligibles with a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent (CPS and CP) will be placed at the top of the highest quality category (Best Qualified), ahead of all other preference and non-preference eligibles, regardless of the quality category in which they are placed as a result of the assessment of their qualifications (excepted for scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level and above). A selecting official may make selections from the highest quality category (Best Qualified), provided no preference eligibles in that category is passed over to select a non-preference eligible. You may be required to participate in a selection interview. Please note - only your resume and cover letter will be forwarded to the selecting official. You may preview questions for this vacancy.
Additional Information
Our employees ranked FERC as a top 5 mid-size agency in Effective Leadership according to the Partnership for Public Service's Best Places to Work in the Federal Government! In addition, FERC was also ranked #1 in Work-Life Balance and we are proud to offer telework and workplace flexibilities in accordance with agency policy. The duty location of this position is Washington, DC. Agency employees are eligible for telework and other workplace flexibilities. Telework days and waiting periods for eligibility are determined when an employee enters on duty. Relocation expenses will not be paid. If selected for this position, you will be required to: Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) to determine your suitability for Federal employment. Have your Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of your choice. Go through a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the Form I-9. Federal law requires verification of the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires in the U.S. FERC also participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). For more information about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify. Attend a mandatory ethics training. We are governed by the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) Standards of Conduct, the criminal conflict of interest statutes, and FERC's supplemental ethics regulation, which specifically prohibits FERC employees from holding certain energy-related securities. To comply with these regulations and statutes, divestiture of at least some energy securities is likely to be required after you begin employment. See 5 C.F.R. 2634-41; 18 U.S.C. 201-208; 5 C.F.R. 3401. If selected, you may also be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of appointment. Receive authorization from OPM on any job offer you receive, if you are or were (within the last 5 years) a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch.
How to Apply
The FERC Careers site provides detailed instructions on how to apply to our vacancies. For more information visit: https://www.ferc.gov/about/careers/job-searchapply Here are a few additional tips: When applying to a FERC vacancy announcement, please remember you must complete and submit your entire application (including your resume, vacancy questionnaire, and any applicable supporting documentation) no later than 11:59 pm Eastern Time (ET) on the vacancy closing date. Please note, it may take you longer to apply to some vacancy announcements than others. Starting your application late on the evening the vacancy closes is not recommended because you might not have enough time to ensure your application is successfully submitted and received. When the specialized experience statement in the vacancy announcement requires experience presenting information to a large audience, your resume should include speeches or presentations you've given. Make sure you verify that your resume clearly indicates possession of the competencies and specialized experience listed under the “Qualifications and Evaluations” and “How You Will Be Evaluated” sections of this announcement. Remember to submit all required and supporting documentation listed under the “Required Documents” section of this announcement. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: FERC provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact [email protected] no later than 11:59 pm ET on the vacancy closing date. The decision to grant a reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. For more information on telework, click the following link: USAJOBS Help Center | What is telework? For more information on remote work, click the following link: USAJOBS Help Center | What is a remote job?
Required Documents
Failure to submit all required documentation by the closing date of this vacancy announcement, including adhering to the maximum two-page resume requirement, will result in removal from consideration and loss of any special hiring preference (e.g., veterans' preference, ICTAP/CTAP eligibility, Schedule A). REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR ALL CANDIDATES: RESUME (maximum of 2 pages in length): Your resume should describe your specialized experience and support your answers to the vacancy announcement questionnaire. You must ensure it contains the following information for each experience/position: Position title Name of employer Beginning and ending dates of employment (Month/Day/Year format) Hours worked per week Detailed description of job duties, accomplishments, related skills, and responsibilities to include any supervisory/managerial responsibilities and number of staff supervised (if applicable) Series and grade or equivalent (for federal positions) If the position has an education requirement or you are qualifying based on your education, you must list your education history, including the type of degree and your major of study. VACANCY QUESTIONNAIRE: You must submit and complete the online eligibility and vacancy questions. TRANSCRIPTS (only required when the position has an education requirement, or you are qualifying for the position based on your education): You MUST submit copies of your college transcripts to verify your education. Unofficial copies are acceptable; however, if selected you will be required to provide official transcripts before your effective date. OPTIONAL DOCUMENTS TO SUPPORT PREFERENCE OR ELIGIBILITY CLAIMS: VETERANS'PREFERENCE (DD-214, VA Disability Letter, etc.): If you are claiming veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, DD-214 (Member 4 copy), or other official documentation from a branch of the Armed Forces or the Department of Veterans Affairs showing dates of service and type of discharge. Ten-point preference eligibles must also submit an “Application for 10-point Veteran Preference” (SF-15), along with official VA letter and the required documentation listed on the back of the SF-15 form. For more information about veterans' preference, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Veterans. CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CTAP)/INTERAGENCY CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ICTAP): These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated “Well Qualified” for the position; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information about CTAP/ICTAP, visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp. The following documents are required: Reduction in Force or RIF notice – written notice of your expected separation, or other documentation of priority consideration status; Latest SF-50 noting your current position, grade level, and duty location; Last performance appraisal, including your rating; and Any documentation from your agency showing your current promotion potential.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the salary for the Archeologist position at Federal Energy Regulatory Commission?
The salary range for this position is $121,785 - $158,322/yr. This is a GS-13 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Archeologist job located?
This position is located in Washington, District of Columbia. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
To view the eligibility and qualification requirements of an Archeologist, GS-0193, please visit: Archeologist, 0193 | Federal Energy Regulatory Commission You can qualify based on your education OR have a combination education and experience OR four years of archeological work experience. In addition to the basic requirements, you must have one...
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is Feb 23, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
No security clearance is required for this position.
What does GS-13 mean?
GS-13 refers to the General Schedule grade level. Higher grades require more experience and offer higher pay. Visit our GS Pay Scale page for full salary tables by grade and locality.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.