Posting number: 55912
Department: Natural Resources
Division: Mining, Land & Water
Job classification: Historian 2
Posting type: Open
Categories: Legal, Public Relations
The Department of Natural Resources, Division of Mining, Land & Water, is recruiting for a Historian 2 to join the Public Access Assertion and Defense (PAAD) Section in Anchorage, Alaska.
The primary purpose of this position is to conduct historical research of primary and secondary sources (published and unpublished) regarding historic use of identified Alaska waters and identified Alaska trails for trade, travel, and commerce; interview any relevant living witnesses; prepare professional reports as needed for a variety of purposes including federal and state administrative processes, federal and state litigation, and other determinations of state title; and otherwise offer expert historical testimony on behalf of the State of Alaska through affidavit, deposition, or live proof. This position is part of the Public Access Assertion and Defense Section and works closely with LAW, DFG, DOTPF, and other DNR divisions, particularly regarding issues of navigability for title, public trust doctrine, and RS 2477 establishment.
The PAAD Section is a small, tightly knit group of resourceful, dedicated, and creative professionals who strive to ensure that Alaska Constitutional promises of public access to natural resources, lands, and waters are kept for all Alaskans. Simply put, the vast treasures of Alaska are out of reach to most Alaskans in the absence of the public access our trails, rivers, lakes, and other waters provide. The work of the PAAD Section spans many diverse fields such as law, history, archeology, hydrology, geomorphology and geology; it involves extensive involvement in litigation and administrative proceedings to enforce public access rights; it utilizes cutting-edge technologies, practices and techniques in collecting and presenting data in support of its mission; and remote fieldwork to perform its important duties. The PAAD Section prides itself upon the qualitative and quantitative results it achieves; the creative and innovative manner in which it fulfills its mission; the professionalism, stewardship, and tenacity in performing its important work; and the dedication to each other that PAAD teammates demonstrate daily.
The successful candidate for this position will have the opportunity to work with a diverse group of experts and professionals from numerous fields (LAW, History and Archeology, Hydrology, Geomorphology, Surveying and Mapping, etc.); will have the opportunity to participate in high-profile and substantive projects advancing state strategic public-access priorities; will be producing thorough historical reports presented in different forums that will directly impact state ownership, management and control of state lands in perpetuity; will have opportunities to participate in remote fieldwork in gorgeous areas statewide; and will be part of an elite team within the Alaska Department of Natural Resources.
The PAAD Section is stationed together on the tenth floor of the Atwood Building in Anchorage. We routinely attend meetings, court proceedings, and administrative proceedings elsewhere. We also perform remote fieldwork across the state (recent projects include fieldwork within the Brooks Range, the Fortymile Region, Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, and numerous locations within the southcentral areas). The daily work environment will include interaction with PAAD teammates on numerous and diverse projects with frequent interaction with other state and federal staff, outside experts, attorneys, user groups, Native Corporations, and the general public.
We are looking for a candidate who possesses the following position-specific competencies.
Master's degree from an accredited college in history, architectural history, or closely related fields and one year experience in the collection, synthesis, evaluation and presentation of historical data as an Historian 1 with the State of Alaska or the equivalent elsewhere.
Substitution: Additional graduate study in history, architectural history, or closely related fields beyond the specified master's degree may substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis. Two years of professional historical research experience beyond the bachelor's degree will substitute for the required master's degree.
If invited to interview, please bring the following materials. Failure to do so may result in loss of consideration. Required documents include:
This position requires fieldwork as needed. Such fieldwork may be in libraries and archives of various sorts. Such fieldwork may be in very remote places throughout the state involving multi-day camping; travel by ATV, small inflatable boat, small aircraft, or on foot; and long days of remote self-sustained fieldwork. Field skills for working remotely in Alaska are desired in candidates, and field training will be provided to the successful applicant as supplementation.
You can ONLY apply for this position through the Workplace Alaska website or by submitting a paper application. Instructions for applying are available on the Workplace Alaska How to Apply webpage. We must receive your application by 5:00 p.m. Alaska Standard Time on the closing date.
For your application to be evaluated, you must answer the Supplemental Questions. The State of Alaska (SOA) uses four proficiency levels to measure and describe an applicant’s competence in applying specific behaviors, knowledge, skills, and abilities to accomplish a specific task. The four proficiency levels are Mastery, Fluency, Literacy, and Discovery. You must rate your proficiency level for each competency listed in the supplemental questions.
If post-secondary education is required to meet the minimum qualifications, you must fill out the Education section of the application. If you have not yet obtained a degree, please indicate the units you have completed. Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials if used to meet the minimum qualifications for a position.
Education completed at foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the minimum qualifications listed above. If using this education to meet minimum qualification requirements, you must demonstrate that the credentials have been submitted to a private organization specializing in interpreting foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in standard U.S. education programs. Alternatively, an accredited U.S. post-secondary institution must report that the other institution's transcript is given full value or that full value is recognized in relevant subject areas aligned with the post-secondary institution's curricula. You must provide this evidence when applying.
If using work experience not already documented in your application, also provide the employer’s name, job title, employment dates, and whether full- or part-time. Applications will be reviewed to determine whether the responses are supported and whether the minimum qualifications are met. If they are not, the applicant may not advance to the recruitment interview and selection phase.
Note: Attaching a resume does not substitute for completing the application in full. Noting "see resume" or any similar response on any portion of your application may lead to a determination that your application is incomplete and removal from consideration for this job posting.
If you are a current state employee, please indicate the union to which you belong at the time of application. Do not complete this question if you are not a current state employee.
Applicants must possess a valid driver's license. Proof of licensure will be required prior to reporting to duty.
This position requires the use or possession of a firearm or ammunition. In accordance with the federal Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997 (PL 104-208), if you have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, you may not hold this position.
A "misdemeanor crime of domestic violence" is an offense that is (1) a misdemeanor under Federal or state law and (2) has, as an element, the use or attempted use of physical force or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, committed by a current or former spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabiting with or has cohabited with the victim as a spouse, parent, or guardian, or by a person similarly situated to a spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim.
If you have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, do NOT apply for this position.
Please ensure your application (through work history, training, education, licenses, certifications, etc.) supports/demonstrates that you possess the minimum required competencies for the job class.
The State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities who require accommodation, auxiliary aids or services, or alternative communication formats should call 1-800-587-0430 or (907) 465-4095 in Juneau or TTY: Alaska Relay 711 or 1-800-770-8973 or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at P.O. Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal opportunity employer.
If you choose to be contacted by email, please ensure that your email address is correct on your application and that your spam filter will permit emails from the governmentjobs.com domain.
Please direct questions about application submission or system errors to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 1-800-587-0430 (toll-free) or (907) 465-4095 if you are in the Juneau area. You may also email requests for information to recruitment.services@alaska.gov.
For password assistance, please visit the password reset page.
For specific information about this position, please get in touch with the hiring manager at the following:
Phone: 907-269-8617
Email: mark.rice@alaska.gov
The State of Alaska is a public sector employer taking care of a variety of needs across the great state. As an employer the State of Alaska opens up opportunities for employees to live and work in a place unlike any other.
