Program Specialist I (Archaeologist)

Posting number: 08713

Department: Planning and Zoning

Division: Cultural Resources

Job classification: Program Specialist I

Posting type: Open

Categories: Planning and Development

Summary
This posting will be used to fill a full-time, permanent position as an Archaeologist for the Preservation Stewardship Program in the Office of Planning and Zoning. This position is within the Cultural Resources Section and reports to the Preservation Stewardship Program Manager.  

This is a program management support position in the field of cultural resources management, planning, and program management, requiring knowledge of a range of program issues to perform recurring assignments involving standard principles and practices. The position is based at the County Archaeology Laboratory in Londontown, but duties will require remote and off-site work locations within the County. 

The Preservation Stewardship Program was established to promote, facilitate, and enable the preservation, discovery, and stewardship of public and privately-owned cultural resources, historic structures, and archaeological sites in Anne Arundel County. The program is also responsible for the management of the County’s official repository of curated archaeological collections within the County.  This is a soundly humanities-based program that seeks to raise awareness and appreciation of local heritage.

Since its inception, the Program has undertaken numerous projects and extensive public programming related to local history, archaeology, heritage and preservation. The Program also supports academic development of humanities scholars, through its student internship program in local history and archaeology. As part of the Anne Arundel County Cultural Resources Section, the Program undertakes a wide range of programming initiatives including inter-agency workshops, weekly volunteer laboratory days, as well as traveling archaeology exhibits which it brings to local history and archaeology events to engage the public about their local heritage. Program team members regularly hold hands-on fieldwork experiences for the public, workshops, lecture series, and host several school programs annually including field trips for local school students where they can learn about archaeology by participating alongside professional archaeologists and heritage professionals on an active archaeological site and handling real artifacts. 

The successful candidate will have an opportunity to direct the survey, identification, evaluation and mitigation of archaeological resources within the County. In that role, they will facilitate public engagement to promote the stewardship of the archaeological and historic resources in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.


NATURE AND VARIETY OF WORK

In general, the occupational field of program management work involves directing or carrying out assignments in one or more programs or management staff functions that are directly related to the agency's mission of providing services to County residents. This field of work is distinguished from management-support functions such as personnel, budgeting or other administrative-type tasks which are designed to facilitate the activities of other employees providing direct services. The majority of contacts are with employees in the same or other departments and agencies of the County government, State and Federal agencies, non-profit and private sector organizations or citizens. The purpose of the contacts, which normally are of a cooperative nature with both parties working toward mutual goals, are for coordinating or resolving program operating problems and/or providing technical or subject-matter information.

An employee in this class utilizes knowledge of program management support and program subject matter principles, techniques, functions, regulations and procedures in carrying out a variety of standard assignments within a defined area of one or more programs. Assignments may also require knowledge of and skill in using computer and automated office technology. Some recurring contract monitoring responsibilities may be assigned to positions in this class appropriate to the level and type of other duties assigned. The employee independently plans and carries out the aspects of program implementation and resolves problems and deviations in accordance with policies and program practices. The supervisor reviews methods and approaches used in carrying out the program for conformance to policy and established requirements. The employee uses discretion and independent judgment in locating, selecting and applying the appropriate guidelines, references and procedures to respond to specific situations and may determine which of several alternative courses of action to use. The work involves a range of recurring problems and issues requiring the employee to decide on factors that must be identified and analyzed to determine relationships with existing criteria. Work output affects the social,physical or economic well-being of program participants or recipients of services.

Specifically for this position, the Archaeologist oversees archaeological fieldwork for research, registration, and public programming purposes as part of the County’s Preservation Stewardship Program. The person in this position also assists the Archaeological Sites Planner in compliance-related site visits, surveys, and reporting. In consultation with the Preservation Stewardship Program Manager, the position is responsible for the planning, implementation, and documentation of archaeological fieldwork activities, including the creation of site forms, management summaries, and site reports. In addition, the position contributes to research, artifact processing, curation, and conservation in the Anne Arundel County Archaeology Laboratory.



Examples of duties(Note: The duties and responsibilities enumerated in this class specification are for the purpose of determining a common set of minimum qualifications and salary level for all positions in this class. They are not intended to include all of the essential functions of all positions in the class.)

Assist with the oversight of archaeological fieldwork for the Preservation Stewardship Program using established best practices for survey, excavation, documentation, and reporting.

Assists the Archaeological Sites Planner with compliance-related site visits, surveys, and reporting.

Drafts management summaries and technical reports for completed archaeological fieldwork in a timely fashion.

Supervises volunteers, interns, and County contractors during archaeological fieldwork.

Prepares and submits new archaeological site forms for registration on the Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties and updates site forms as needed.

Catalogs artifacts resulting from excavations and other artifact collections as needed.

Maintains an inventory of  field equipment, ensures the equipment is in good working order, and reports equipment needs to the Program Manager.

Provides technical assistance on cultural resources review for County-led development projects, as needed.

Contributes to research and artifact curation/conservation.

Participates in the development and execution of the Preservation Stewardship Program public programs.

Performs related duties as required.


KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of federal, state and County laws, rules, and regulations related to archaeological investigations.

Knowledge of the County's historic and archaeological resources, familiarity with common archival resources relevant to County history, strong artifact

Knowledge (both identification and curatorial needs,) and a thorough understanding of the County's heritage themes.

A strong working knowledge of typical artifacts and the archaeological site types common to Anne Arundel County.

Ability to work both independently and as a member of a team;

Skill in the use and application of office technologies such as the Google platform and ArcGIS.

Ability to maintain best practices and the highest professional standards for OPZ/CR-sponsored archaeological studies and investigations;

Strong organizational and planning skills;

Ability to attend meetings or perform work at locations outside the office




QualificationsGraduation from an accredited four-year college or university; and one (1) or more years of experience in a program/specialization area directly related to the assignment of the position.
Supplemental informationPreference will be given to the following:

1.) Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in archaeology, anthropology, historic preservation or a related field.

2. Experience conducting Phase I, II, and III level archaeological investigations, including demonstrated experience with field operations and methods, laboratory processing of collections, artifact curation and conservation, and experience with technical reporting.

3.) Demonstrated experience with laboratory processing of collections, artifact curation and conservation.

4.) Demonstrated experience in managing interns and volunteers.

5.) A valid non-commercial Class C motor vehicle license or equivalent license from another state.