ENTRY LEVEL (GS-190)

Description: Ethnographers possessing the competencies of the Entry Level have the knowledge and analytical skills equivalent to a Bachelor's Degree in anthropology. Basic knowledge in cultural anthropology is needed to assist park management, planning, and operations in meeting their goal of cooperating with peoples and communities whose ways of life affect and are affected by parks. Ethnographers assist in the identification of park neighbors and park user groups, including Native Americans, and others with traditional associations to resources within and adjoining parks. They assist in research and consultation; assist in the documentation and inventory of ethnographic resources (i.e., sacred, subsistence and other natural and cultural resources with which peoples are traditionally associated). Ethnographers provide basic anthropological knowledge and skills in providing technical assistance to the implementation of federal mandates and to the development and evaluation of programs, projects, databases, and community relationships affecting partnerships with park-associated groups. They also assist in developing training programs.

I. Professional Discipline

Basic knowledge of professional activities and anthropological associations.

Basic knowledge of concepts, information, and technology for ethnographic database development.

General professional knowledge of the prehistory and ethnohistory of native cultures of the Americas; general familiarity with the history of the Americas from European contacts to the present.

Basic knowledge of occupational and ethnic groups in North America (e.g., African Americans, Hispanics, Pacific Islanders, Asian-Americans) and of urban and rural communities traditionally associated with parks; basic knowledge of cultural/human ecology.

Basic knowledge of the standards and methodologies of cultural anthropology, especially applied anthropology, including methods for documentary research, analysis, and ethnohistory.

Basic knowledge of the theory, data, principles, and practices of cultural anthropology/ethnography, especially their pragmatic application to situations involving parks and contemporary peoples resulting from completion of an accredited curriculum leading to an undergraduate degree in anthropology.

Basic knowledge of social/cultural organizational principles that support effective cross-cultural and multi-disciplinary teamwork.

Ability to work in multi-disciplinary settings.

II. Preservation Law, Philosophy, and Practice

Basic knowledge of cultural resources management principles, concepts, methods and practices, and federal legislation affecting park programs, associated people and communities, and ethnographically significant resources.

Basic knowledge of the origins, theories, principles, laws, practices, and techniques of historic preservation, particularly as they apply to Native Americans and other park-affiliated groups and to preservation of ethnographic resources.

Elementary knowledge of NPS organization and the goals, content, and functioning of NPS cultural resources programs.

Ability to assist supervisor with application of current policies, guidelines, standards, and technical information necessary when implementing ethnographic projects.

Basic understanding of consultation and compliance procedures.

Basic ability to assess impacts of cultural resource actions.

Assists supervisor in communicating cultural resources management policies, standards, thrusts, objectives, and priorities throughout the Service and to professional and Native American and other park-affiliated groups.

III. Research

Assists other professional anthropologists in identifying research needs and in the design, conduct, and evaluation of professional field and documentary research on contemporary peoples and communities and their recent past.

Knowledge of methods, including participant observation, individual and group interviews, literature review, oral history, surveys, demographic analysis, and social impact assessment.

Ability to conduct field and documentary research under supervision following an established research design.

Ability to assist other professional anthropologists in analyzing data for practical implications and to assist with written reports on field research.

IV. Program and Project Management

Ability to work with partners inside and outside the National Park Service in cooperative projects.

V. Planning

Assists supervisor in data gathering and analysis for planning projects, in monitoring projects, and contract development.

VI. Writing and Communication

A. Writing

Ability to write and speak in a clear, logical, and organized style.

Ability to assist professional staff in the preparation of basic professional oral and written communications and public presentations which convey applied ethnographic data and concepts.

Ability to prepare documentation of ethnographic resources, especially physical description and ethnographic data, from supplied sources.

Ability to assist in drafting policy letters, reports, and briefing papers; ability to write informational articles and complete other written assignments.

B. Public Interpretation and Presentation

Ability to communicate culturally appropriate information on ethnographic resources and associated peoples to be used in the preparation of films, maps, brochures, exhibits, and other public materials and programs.

Basic skill and knowledge in promoting cultural sensitivity and ethnographic accuracy for interpretive purposes and in assisting with effective consultation involving communities about appropriate images, messages, and information.

VII. Training

Assists supervisor and other professional cultural resource staff in developing and implementing applied anthropological training curricula and in developing training materials.

Ability to provide assistance related to coordinating and delivering training programs.

DEVELOPMENTAL LEVEL (GS-190)

Description: A Master's Degree with a specialization in cultural anthropology is required. Broad knowledge in applied cultural anthropology is provided to help management, planning, and operations meet their goal of cooperating with peoples and communities whose ways of life affect, and are affected by, parks. Ethnographers identify park neighbors and park user groups, including Native Americans, and others with traditional associations to resources within and adjoining parks. Through research and consultation, documents and inventories ethnographic resources (i.e., sacred, subsistence and other natural and cultural resources with which peoples are traditionally associated). Applies cultural anthropological knowledge and assists in providing technical assistance to the formulation of policies, guidelines and park plans, to the implementation of federal mandates, and to the development and evaluation of programs, projects, databases and community relationships affecting partnerships with park-associated groups. Assists in developing and implementing training programs. Identifies issues affecting parks and associated communities, and works with management to design culturally informed strategies to resolve them. Identifies data needs for planning, interpretive, and management purposes, designs and monitors professionally credible applied research, and disseminates research findings within the Service, the Department and inter-agency work groups, to professional colleagues, and to the general public.

I. Professional Discipline

Demonstrated competence in program development and implementation.

Demonstrated participation in professional activities and anthropological associations.

Knowledge of concepts, information, and technology for ethnographic database development.

General professional knowledge of the prehistory and ethnohistory of native cultures of the Americas; general familiarity with the history of the Americas from European contacts to the present.

Knowledge of occupational and ethnic groups in North America (e.g., African Americans, Hispanics, Pacific Islanders, Asian-Americans) and of urban and rural communities traditionally associated with parks; general familiarity

with cultural and social dynamics of ethnic, occupational, and park-associated communities and with issues of race, class, and ethnicity in the United States; general familiarity with cultural/human ecology.

Knowledge of the standards and methodologies of cultural anthropology, especially applied anthropology, including methods for documentary research and analysis, ethnohistory, participant observation, oral history, surveys, demographic analysis, individual and group interviews, transect walks, place name analysis, social impact assessment, subsistence mapping, and rapid assessment techniques.

Working knowledge of the theory, data, principles, and practices of cultural anthropology/ethnography, especially their pragmatic application to situations involving parks and contemporary peoples, resulting from completion of an accredited curriculum leading to an advanced degree in anthropology.

Working knowledge of social/cultural organizational principles that support effective cross-cultural and multi-disciplinary teamwork; bilingual skills.

II. Preservation, Law, Philosophy and Practice

Knowledge of cultural resources management principles, concepts, methods and practices, and federal legislation affecting park programs, associated people and communities and ethnographically significant resources including: the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966, as amended; the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969; American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA) of 1978; Alaskan National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) of 1980; the Indian Self-Determination and Education Act of 1994; and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 (NAGPRA).

Knowledge of the origins, theories, principles, laws, practices, and techniques of historic preservation, particularly as they apply to Native Americans and other park-affiliated groups and to preservation of ethnographic resources.

Experience with application of current policies, guidelines, standards, and technical information necessary when implementing ethnographic projects.

Experience in conducting and coordinating consultation and compliance procedures.

Ability and experience in developing alternatives for cultural resources actions and assessing their impacts.

Ability and professional skills in communicating cultural resources management policies, standards, thrusts, objectives and priorities throughout the Service, and to professional and Native American and other park-affiliated groups.

Ability to evaluate Environmental Impact Statements and nominations to National Register of Historic Places and to status as National Historic Landmark in regard to issues relating to Native Americans and other traditionally associated groups.

Ability to assist in the analysis of anthropological aspects of legislative proposals affecting areas within the park system and proposed for addition to the system.

III. Research

Experience in identifying research needs and in the design, conduct, and evaluation of professional field and documentary research on contemporary peoples and communities and their recent past.

Ability to collect, analyze, and evaluate data from published and unpublished sources and field research and to prepare a professional synthesis or summary of the data.

Knowledge of methods (including skills in comparing and contrasting the reliability of data; ability to place research findings into a larger context).

Ability to conduct field and documentary research under supervision.

Ability to assess and direct research including selection of sources, methods, completeness, conformance to professional standards and NPS policies, and soundness of conclusions and recommendations.

Ability to analyze data for practical implications and to plan, conduct, provide written reports on, and evaluate field research.

IV. Planning

Anthropological skills in anticipating major planning issues and formulating ethnographic research strategies, and data gathering and analysis for planning projects, and contract development and monitoring.

V. Program and Project Management

Ability and professional skills to develop and implement cultural resource research, planning, technical assistance, and reporting projects.

Ability to assist in setting priorities for, completing, and updating short and long term planning for diverse programs to meet and enhance agency and park missions.

Ability to coordinate the work of professionals from various disciplines into a cohesive product; ability to work effectively as a team member with other professionals and managers on preservation planning.

Ability to identify appropriate partnerships inside and outside NPS for cooperative projects and preparation of cooperative agreements for the completion of complex cultural resource programs.

Knowledge of federal contracting requirements and procedures and ability to assist in preparing scopes of work and requests for proposals.

Demonstrated experience in project/policy review.

VI. Writing and Communication

Professional skills in the preparation of basic professional oral and written communications, and public presentations, which convey applied ethnographic data and concepts.

Ability to prepare papers and presentations for professional journals and conferences.

Ability to draft policy letters, reports, and briefing papers; write informational articles and complete other written assignments.

Ability to critically evaluate studies, planning documents, proposals, and other documents.

A. Public Interpretation and Presentation

Ability to identify sources for and communicate culturally appropriate information on ethnographic resources and associated peoples to be used in the preparation of films, maps, brochures, exhibits, and other public materials and programs.

Skill and knowledge in promoting cultural sensitivity and ethnographic accuracy for interpretive purposes and in effectively consulting involved communities about appropriate images, messages, and information.

VII. Training

Ability to develop and implement applied anthropological training curricula, and developing training materials for non-specialists in anthropology.

Skills in developing and using a variety of training techniques as appropriate.

Knowledge in developing training materials and curricula.

Experience in leading training situations and assisting with workshops.

FULL PERFORMANCE LEVEL (GS-190)

Description: A Ph.D. with a specialization in cultural anthropology is required. Expertise in applied cultural anthropology is provided to help management, planning, and operations meet their goal of cooperating with peoples and communities whose ways of life affect, and are affected by, parks. Ethnographically identifies park neighbors and park user groups, including Native Americans, and others with traditional associations to resources within and adjoining parks. Through research and consultation, documents and inventories ethnographic resources (i.e., sacred, subsistence and other natural and cultural resources with which peoples are traditionally associated). Applies anthropological knowledge and lends technical assistance to the formulation of policies, guidelines and park plans, to the implementation of federal mandates, and to the development and evaluation of programs, projects, databases and community relationships affecting partnerships with park-associated groups. Develops and implements training programs. Anticipates issues affecting parks and associated communities, and leads efforts to design culturally informed strategies to resolve them. Identifies data needs for planning, interpretive, and management purposes, designs and monitors professionally credible applied research, and disseminates research findings within the Service, the Department and inter-agency work groups, to professional colleagues, and to the general public.

I. Professional Discipline

Demonstrated leadership abilities in program development and implementation.

Demonstrated active participation in professional activities and anthropological associations.

Authoritative knowledge of concepts, information, and technology for ethnographic database development.

General professional knowledge of the prehistory and ethnohistory of native cultures of the Americas; general familiarity with the history of the Americas from European contacts to the present.

Authoritative professional knowledge of occupational and ethnic groups in North America (e.g., African Americans, Hispanics, Pacific Islanders, Asian-Americans) and of urban and rural communities traditionally associated with parks; general familiarity with cultural and social dynamics of ethnic, occupational, and park-associated communities and with issues of race, class, and ethnicity in the United States; general familiarity with cultural/human ecology.

Definitive knowledge of the standards and methodologies of cultural anthropology, especially applied anthropology, including methods for documentary research and analysis, ethnohistory, participant observation, oral history, surveys, demographic analysis, individual and group interviews, transect walks, place name analysis, social impact assessment, subsistence mapping, and rapid assessment techniques.

Professionally authoritative, comprehensive, and current knowledge of the theory, data, principles, and practices of cultural anthropology/ethnography, especially their pragmatic application to situations involving parks and contemporary peoples, resulting from completion of an accredited curriculum leading to an advanced degree in anthropology.

Authoritative knowledge of social/cultural organizational principles that support effective cross-cultural and multi-disciplinary teamwork, experience with conflict-resolution techniques; bi-lingual or multi-lingual skills.

II. Preservation Law, Philosophy, and Practice

Functional knowledge of cultural resources management principles, concepts, methods and practices, and federal legislation affecting park programs, associated people and communities and ethnographically significant resources: including the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966, as amended; the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969; American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA) of 1978; Alaskan National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) of 1980; the Indian Self-Determination and Education Act of 1994; and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 (NAGPRA).

Functional knowledge of the origins, theories, principles, laws, practices, and techniques of historic preservation, particularly as they apply to Native Americans and other park-affiliated groups and to preservation of ethnographic resources.

Extensive experience with application of current policies, guidelines, standards, and technical information necessary when implementing ethnographic projects.

Extensive experience in conducting and coordinating consultation and compliance procedures.

Ability and experience in developing alternatives for cultural resources actions and assess their impacts.

Ability and professional skills in communicating cultural resources management policies, standards, thrusts, objectives, and priorities throughout the Service, and to professional and traditionally affiliated groups.

Ability and expertise in developing solutions to work assignments consistent with a complex set of environmental and historic preservations laws and laws relating to Native Americans as well as consistent with general management principles and planning, interpretation, and visitor use considerations.

III. Research

Demonstrated professional experience in identifying Servicewide research needs and in the design, conduct, and evaluation of professional field and documentary research on contemporary peoples and communities and their recent past.

Advanced knowledge of methods (including advanced skills in comparing and contrasting the reliability of data; ability to place research findings into a larger context).

Demonstrated commitment to finalize major studies on complex park topics.

Proficiency in assessing and directing research including selection of sources, methods, completeness, conformance to professional standards and NPS policies, and soundness of conclusions and recommendations

Expertise in analyzing data for practical implications and planning, conducting, and providing written reports on, and evaluating field research.

IV. Planning

Anthropological expertise in anticipating major planning issues and formulating ethnographic research strategies, and data gathering and analysis for planning projects, contract development and monitoring.

V. Program and Project Management

Ability to professionally direct and coordinate one or more complex cultural resources program.

Ability and professional expertise to oversee development and implementation of a variety of cultural resource research, planning, technical assistance, and reporting projects.

Ability and demonstrated experience in completing and updating short and long term planning (setting direction and priorities) for diverse programs to meet and enhance agency and office missions.

Ability and demonstrated experience in evaluating program needs and secure human and financial resource necessary for program.

Ability and demonstrated skill in coordinating the work of a variety of professionals from various disciplines into a cohesive product; ability to work effectively as a team member with other professionals and managers on preservation planning.

Ability and demonstrated past experience in identifying appropriate partnerships inside and outside NPS for cooperative projects and preparation of cooperative agreements for the completion of complex cultural resource programs.

Knowledge and proficiency in dealing with federal contracting requirements and procedures and demonstrated ability in preparing scopes of work and requests for proposals.

Demonstrated knowledge of planning policies and procedures and demonstrated experience in applying them to projects or research.

Demonstrated experience in project/policy review.

VI. Writing and Communication

Expertise in the preparation of basic professional oral and written communications, and public presentations, which convey applied ethnographic data and concepts.

A. Writing

Ability and experience in preparing papers and presentations for professional journals and conferences.

Ability and experience in producing manuscripts of publishable quality.

Ability and experience in writing on theory and practices of cultural anthropology for either technical or non-technical audiences.

B. Public Interpretation and Presentation

Expertise in identifying sources for, and communicating culturally appropriate information on, ethnographic resources and associated peoples to be used in the preparation of films, maps, brochures, exhibits, and other public materials and programs.

Demonstrated skill and experience in promoting cultural sensitivity and ethnographic accuracy for interpretive purposes and in effectively consulting involved communities about appropriate images, messages, and information.

VII. Training

Expertise in developing and implementing applied anthropological training curricula, and developing training materials.

Demonstrated proficiency in identifying training needs and target audiences for a variety of topics and skills.

Expertise and advanced skills in developing and using a variety of training techniques as appropriate.

Advanced knowledge in developing training materials and curricula.

Extensive experience in leading complex training situations and conferences, which may include agendas with numerous topics and speakers; participants with different backgrounds or levels of knowledge, experience, and motivation; or courses or meetings of several days duration.