Jobs for humanists 10/1
Geographer/Cartographer/Historian • Forest Service (Interior) • October 9, 2021 or 100 applicants
These positions do fill up, so don’t dawdle.
The incumbent provides expert advice in coordinating the efforts of CRGIS personnel involved in the development and dissemination of GIS programs/applications, data, training and technical assistance.
Based on project results, the incumbent evaluates and recommends to the Program Manager, CRGIS, proposed solutions, new applications and standard operating procedures based on successfully tested GIS applications for use by federal agencies, State/Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, certified local governments, NPS units and other partners. . .
This posting is open to all of the above three series, and you’ll need a degree plus one year of experience:
Performs assigned tasks with guidance to ensure tasks are completed with accuracy and on time; participates in planning and assigning tasks and contributes to the development of new guidelines or procedures; collaborates with partners to achieve goals; researches new spatial technologies and tools and their application to cultural resource management; and applies geographic information systems to perform cultural resource management tasks in documentation, survey, and inventory.
You could get that experience with a PhD, though. They will evaluate you on: “Applies Technology to Tasks, Education and Training, Geography, History and Archaeology, Technical Competence, Technology Awareness.” Here’s the questionnaire.
Workforce Development Specialist • Employment and Training Administration (Labor) • October 9, 2021
This job is in CHICAGO a much colder place than D.C. but also, no offense, a way cooler place than D.C. The position is open at multiple levels, I’m just going to give the info for the GS-9.
Develops comprehensive knowledge of ETA programs and applicable statutes, regulations, policies, and ETA standard operating procedures; manages a grant portfolio within assigned program area of moderate to high complexity, scope, and impact, and conducts the day-to-day grant management for the grants within his/her portfolio. Performs analyses of grant-related data, policy and program issues and applied problem solving techniques to address issues.
Ensures grantees deliver agreed upon products and services, achieve negotiated performance outcomes, and operate in accordance with programmatic, administrative, and budgetary requirements. . . .
They’re looking for one year of experience doing all these things:
Specialized experience is experience performing federally funded workforce development activities. . . .
Experience managing grants, budgets, projects, or program performance.
Experience reviewing Federal, state or organizational financial or performance reports for accuracy and compliance.
Experience conducting research and preparing related documents that clearly communicate findings.
Experience collecting, organizing, tracking and using data.
Experience reading and comprehending data and providing program insights.
Experience using office automation software applications, charts, graphics or electronic mail to research, create and communicate. (ex. Microsoft Office, Access, Excel and Word).
But you can also get there with graduate education! The questionnaire is, I think, a little clearer on this than the posting. The KSAs are Grants Management Laws, Regulations, and Guidelines; Oversight and Technical Assistance; Problem Solving; Written Communication; Oral Communication.” Each of those has a blurb.
Copyright Claims Board Program Specialist • Library of Congress • October 11, 2021
Here is a public-facing kind of job:
This position provides administrative support the Copyright Claims Board. The position also serves as the public contact to answer inquiries and provide information regarding access to Copyright Claims Board program files and provides administrative services to the Copyright Claims Board.
The KSAs are
Knowledge of administrative office processes.**
Ability to utilize computer technology.
Ability to interact collaboratively with others exercising judgment and discretion in order to provide consultation and liaison services.**
Ability to plan, prioritize, organize, and execute work.**
Ability to communicate in writing.
Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.
The questionnaire breaks those down into separate tasks, and the longer list of responsibilities may also help with that. Asterisks are really important KSAs and remember to prep your narratives in a way that doesn’t rely on formatting.
Technical Editor • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Commerce, for some reason) • October 11, 2021
This position is in Juneau, Alaska - that’s a big dealbreaker for some people, so I’ll keep this listing short. You will need, minimum, one year of experience “Editing or preparing written reports or analyses,” which may be obtained through a graduate degree. To qualify at a higher level, you’ll need one year of experience:
Editing written documents prepared by other people to ensure that the documents conform with English language and technical writing standards; and
Preparing analyses, reports, or other documents that explain natural resource science or management issues.
Here’s the questionnaire. If you have experience preparing written work to meet regulatory standards, this is a good time to mention that.
Museum Curator • Bureau of Engraving and Printing (Treasury) • October 12, 2021
This position is open at multiple levels; if selected at the lower level you will learn to:
Support development and preservation of the objects collection to ensure it is an effective tool for supporting OEX and BEP needs.
Serve as a subject matter expert and point of contact for information on the history of BEP and its products.
Conduct research on the history of the BEP and its products.
Research projects are carried out with a high degree of independent self-direction in defining problems for study and determining investigative approaches and may be of considerable scope that often addresses previously unrecorded historical developments concerning the history of the BEP and its products. . . .
Any many more! You’ll need a relevant degree and a PhD or one year of:
- Conducting collections-based research and management as it pertains to proper care, registration and documentation of objects and records; AND
- Supporting exhibits and presentations for museum collections; AND
- Supporting outgoing loans of artifacts in a museum setting including duties such as; loan requests paperwork, insurance, shipping logistics, loans registration, and electronic and hard copy records related to all loans; AND
- Providing oral or written response to public and internal inquires.
I think if you have that experience you actually qualify for the higher grade; the PhD (without experience) gets you the lower one. They will evaluate you for “Research and Analysis, Technical, and Administrative Management.” Here’s the questionnaire. It’s mostly looking for evidence of competence with museum work.
Management and Program Analyst • Federal Emergency Management Agency (DHS) • October 13, 2021, or 100 applicants
These temporary FEMA positions get posted pretty regularly but I’m not sure I’ve highlighted them before.
In this position, you will serve as the SharePoint Administrator for the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, Program Analysis & Evaluation Division. Typical assignments include:
Maintaining SharePoint/Web sites.
Utilizing a wide range of information technology and business systems architecture, data structures, excel and access databases, pivot tables, Tableau, SQL and other reporting services (i.e. PowerBI).
Extracting data from a server and build visualizations.
The ideal candidate has excellent organizational and analytical skills, the ability to build partnerships with the organization in order to move cross-functional initiatives forward and knowledge of and the ability to use SharePoint, PowerBI SharePoint, Microsoft Office applications, and other platforms needed to complete assignments and perform duties.
The qualifications are basically those duties, or a related degree. The questionnaire asks for stuff that many people do as faculty members, but using USAJOBS speak.
Grants Management Specialist • African Development Foundation • October 13, 2021
This position is part of the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF), Program Division. The incumbent will be responsible for reviewing and assessing projects proposed for funding to ensure they comply with USADF's technical, financial, and due diligence requirements as well as the Agency's policies and administrative procedures and processes.
You need to be a fluent French speaker. They are also looking for “experience independently performing duties and responsibilities that involve analytical work related to grants and cooperative agreements that support the programs and customers.” If your graduate degree is related, that might also work.
Applications are evaluated on “Grant & Portfolio Management, Oral Communication [presumably in French and English], Quality Management, Technical Competency - Project Management, Written Communication.” Here’s the questionnaire.
Education Program Specialist • Office of Elementary and Secondary Education • October 13, 2021 or 50 applicants
These postings ALSO fill up - sometimes between the time I draft the e-mail and the time I send it out. So if this is something that interests you, you may want to create a saved search for it and prep a résumé.
As an Education Program Specialist, GS-1720-12, you will:
• Ensure that funded programs are operating in accordance with policy; and gather information or innovative strategies in delivering services to students.
• Provide advice on program management procedures and develop new methods relating to program management, monitoring, and technical assistance.
• Conduct briefings for panel members. Initiate, plan and participate in national, State and local meetings, workshops, seminars and conferences for the purpose of providing training to professionals on grant/contract management matters.
• Conduct on-site and virtual monitoring of grantees and provide technical assistance to currently funded grantees and potential grantees.
For people on this list, the most common way of qualifying is one full academic year of teaching AND experience with two out of these three fields:
1. Experience with tribal, local, state or federal laws, regulations and policy with respect to specific grant program requirements and accountability.
2. Experience in providing technical assistance and advising applicants on the requirements for submitting and obtaining approval for funded programs, projects or grant applications.
3. Experience in identifying systemic problems in program operations using quantitative or qualitative methods.
They have a list of KSAs which is too wordy to excerpt here, but your résumé should speak to those priorities. Here are the questions.
Grant Management Specialist • Economic Development Administration (Commerce) • October 18, 2021 (soft)
This is a temporary posting as part of the American Rescue Plan, so the rules are a little different. The job involves . . . ahem . . . managing grants.
Manage the grants approval process (pre and post) providing technical support for solicitation and development of investment proposals;
Prepare and convey grant awar [sic] documents, conduct project management conferences with recipients;
Conduct research and analysis and strategic planning to analyze socio-economic data to assess regional economic strengths, weaknesses and trends; and
Review state, regional and local economic development strategies for compliance with EDA's guidelines.
Minimally, they are asking for one year of experience
Assisting with grant applications or investments; and
Assisting with analyzing data in order to assess economic trends.
or a related degree. The posting is open at higher levels, too. The KSAs are mostly about grant management:
Knowledge of grants management, processing and administration policies and procedures.
Knowledge of administrative laws, policies, regulations, and precedents for the analysis and assessment of investment project proposals.
Ability to communicate information regarding sensitive economic development issues to a variety of individuals.
Knowledge and ability to research and interpret general business, financial, industrial and related data and information.
The questionnaire just wants you to confirm that they can read your application.
Paralegal Specialist • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau • October 19, 2021
This posting is open at multiple levels; I will give the qualifications for the lowest level. If they hire you at that level, you will learn to do the following things:
Serve as a senior paralegal in the Office of Enforcement. Provide guidance and mentoring to more junior paralegals and support staff.
Research legislation, regulations, and precedents for the most complex cases or issues surrounding Federal consumer financial law and consumer protection litigation.
Examine case files and determines issues and sufficiency of evidence or documentation; search for legal precedents and analyze their applicability to include the preparation of digest of points on law involved.
Conduct interviews and assist staff attorneys in interviewing potential witnesses.
Gather, organize, and assemble legal documents and case files requiring attachments, enclosures, and authorities in highly sensitive cases.
They are looking for one year of:
Experience assisting in investigations and litigation; AND
Conducting legal research; AND
Producing written and oral reports based on interviews, research and data analysis.
But you could also have a graduate degree or combination of experience and degree. You’ll be evaluated on “Legal Knowledge, Analytical Thinking, and Written Communication.” Here is the questionnaire, which gives you some more ideas about what they’re looking for.
You should also check out this Paralegal Specialist posting at the Library of Congress. The deadline is the same.
VISTA Training Development Specialist • AmeriCorps VISTA • October 22, 2021
The Training Development Specialist will create interactive and engaging online training and lead the development and implementation of advanced technologies to support synchronous and asynchronous content and activities.
There is an education/theoretical requirement as well as an experience requirement. You need one year of
demonstrated experience that includes (1) an advanced certification or degree in instructional design, education technology, digital media/multimedia, or related field, (2) experience using various online authoring tools and resources (e.g., Articulate 360, Google Analytics, Drupal, Litmos, and MS Office Suite), and/or (3) experience developing training content and media to deliver in various modalities (in person, synchronous, asynchronous), experience creating and implementing instructional design methodologies (e.g., ADDIE, SAM).
And also a degree with “at least 24 semester hours appropriate to the work of the position to be filled” and which filled four of the following subject categories:
Learning theory, psychology of learning, educational psychology
Instructional design practices
Educational evaluation
Instructional product development
Computers in education and training
So not just your average PhD program approach. But I’ve worked with people who had this experience and maybe you have, too. Here’s the questionnaire.
Digital Projects Coordinator • Library of Congress • October 27, 2021
The position focuses on two different projects:
Utilizes knowledge of the major issues, program goals and objectives to coordinate and recommend digital projects related to the ingest of preservation and access of digital collections in the American Folklife Center and the Veteran History Project. Adapts analytical techniques and evaluation criteria to the measurement and improvement of the division’s digital program effectiveness and productivity.
Some subject expertise may be helpful but the KSAs don’t speak to that:
Knowledge of digital asset management practices and processes.**
Ability to research, analyze, and provide solutions for workflow, presentation, description, and/or access issues related to digital library services and collections, or comparable digital systems.**
Ability to apply project management techniques and processes to implement digital library projects or programs.**
Ability to serve as a liaison and interact collaboratively with others.
Ability to communicate in writing.
Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.
The questionnaire, as above, provides a breakdown of these KSAs. Experience with digital humanities would, I imagine, be very good for this position!