(Seasonal) Historian

Created at: December 19, 2025 00:57

Company: National Park Service

Location: Tupelo, MS, 38801

Job Description:

A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay. The typical seasonal entry-on-duty period for these parks is March-November, but the season may be extended or reduced due to weather conditions, project needs, or funding. Anticipated Entry on Duty: March 22, 2026
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-12/31/2025-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 full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time). If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience. To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level, you must possess the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: Degree: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher 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, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. The quality of the combination demonstrates that I possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the work of the position and is comparable to that normally acquired through the completion of a full four-year course of study with a major as described above. In addition to the above, applicants must also possess: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (Obtain in public or private sectors). Examples of specialized experience include: Planning and evaluating cultural resources studies to assess the value and quality of investigative results, and to evaluate the significance and proper management or interpretive treatment of historical resources; collecting and analyzing historical data to absorb and synthesize large quantities of information, and to draw logical interpretive conclusions for use in professional research papers, studies, plans, and management recommendations.You must include hours per week worked. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree in history or a related field. -OR- Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above that meets 100% of the requirements of this position. 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.
The incumbent serves as a Historian for Tupelo, Mississippi where historical and/or cultural resource themes comprise a major part of the story. The park may be one where historical and/or cultural resources are predominant, or one where natural resources are predominant but where significant historical themes and resources are present. Professional fields of study must be pertinent to the park's resources and themes. Assists in advising on the park's cultural resources, particularly history. In concert with the supervisor or higher-graded specialist, identifies, evaluates, and monitors cultural resources, identifies potential threats, and makes recommendations to management regarding status and mitigation of impacts (present and future). Develops and maintains liaisons and effective working relations with related groups and individuals, agencies, and the public. Attends management and professional conferences and other events for the purposes of exchanging information and advancing advocacy for park stewardship. Creates and develops limited segments of cultural resources management plans, interpretive prospectus documents, and spin-off documents such as specific plans, action plans, revisions, and fiscal and budget documents. Coordinates park historical and other cultural resources strategies and programs with activities on adjacent lands for the purposes of achieving broad protection strategies and minimizing human impacts. Conducts historical research for planning documents, including general management plans, special history studies, resources management plan, environmental impact statements, environmental assessments, and special resource studies as required to meet the needs of the park. Locates source material within and outside the park and makes recommendations and/or determinations of significance for additions to the park's museum and archives collection. Conducts oral history interviews based on available precedents and oversees their transcription. Assembles bibliographies and acquaints park staff with recent historical scholarship pertinent to the park's resources and themes. Summarizes material for park staff. Maintains a site-specific database. Provides peer review for NPS and non-NPS historical studies, as requested. Seeks peer review for own work. Assists with making contributions to the preparation of historic preservation documentation, compliance, and background materials for clearances, permits, licenses, etc., as required by Section 106 and Section 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), NPS Management Policies, and cultural resources management guideline for all park undertakings. Recommends, plans for, and executes historical investigations required to meet NHPA, NPS guidelines, and the research needs of the park. Reviews projects initiated by park staff and makes recommendations for approval to park managers. Assists in providing professionally accurate interpretive programs that discuss historical and/or cultural resources. May represent park on NPS regional task groups or similar organizations.


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