The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Ridgecrest Field Office (RIFO), is recruiting (1) AmeriCorps member to serve as the Digitization Archival Technician. The AmeriCorps member will assist with archaeological fieldwork, museum activities and data processing. The primary objective of the Digitization Archival Technician is to digitize Cultural and Paleo Records at the Ridgecrest Field Office.

The Ridgecrest Field Office has an extensive volume of records on file with the Cultural and Paleontology Programs. Only a very minor amount, less than 3%, of these records have been digitized to current standards. Currently these records are in file boxes as a result of the 2021 office remodeling project.

The Digitization Archival Technician will assist the BLM RIFO Archaeology Team with digitizing and curating confidential records for the Cultural and Paleontological Resource Program. The objective of this work is to assist the BLM RIFO Archaeology Team in developing an inventory of hard copy records on file with the Cultural and Paleontology Programs and creating a matching electronic inventory of these records. The Digitization Archival Technician is responsible for providing digitization and archival services to the BLM Ridgecrest Field Office. Service duties may include any or all of, but are not limited to the following: 

• Identification of physical records (inventory reports, site forms, compliance and project review documents, collection data) in the Ridgecrest Field Office
• Scan and index hard copies to generate a digital archive.
• Prepare physical records under the office wide filing system
• Opportunities to assist BLM Staff with field projects will be provided, but the main goals of the internship will be focused in the office

Timeline:  

• Approximately 33 week appointment beginning in the late January 2025 or early February 2025
  • Full Time, 40 hours/week

Compensation:  

• Total Living Allowance: $ (Approximately $ biweekly before taxes)
• Weekly Housing Stipend: $250
• Education Award: $5,176.50 upon successful completion of full-service term. (May be used for past, present or future educational expenses, including payment of qualifying federal student loans)
• Eligibility for SNAP benefits, Federal Student Loan Forbearance, & Interest Accrual Repayment
• Health, Dental, Vision insurance, and $25,000 Life/AD&D policy paid 100% by GBI. Eligible to enroll first day of month following first day of service

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology, History, or closely related museum sciences or archival classes;
• Educational and field experiences related to archaeology;
• Exposure to reviewing and interpreting cultural resource data in reports, maps, photographs, etc.;
• Interest in strengthening current skills in developing, editing, organizing, and managing digital files using databases;
• Written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to effectively communicate with BLM land management (multiple-use) principles and cultural resource management concepts;

Additional requirements:

• Ability to work independently and in a team setting to accomplish project goals;
• Possess strong organizational skills with ability to meet deadlines and produce professional deliverables including draft documents for team review;
• Flexibility and capability to meet the demands of rapidly changing plans and schedules;
• Possess a valid, state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record with experience safely operating 4WD vehicles on and off paved roads; 
• Willingness and ability to consistently enact high performance standards and a strong work and team ethic in support of the mission of GBI and goals of BLM; and
• Meet AmeriCorps eligibility requirements:
  • (1) U.S. citizenship or legal resident alien status;
  • (2) eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award (limit of four in a lifetime or the equivalent of two full-time education awards);      
  • (3) pass National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) and federal criminal background checks;
  • (4) adhere to the rules, regulations and code of conduct as specified in the Member Service Agreement; and
  • (5) not engage in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement..

Successful applicant must complete a Department of Interior (DOI) Background Investigation (BI) or submit paperwork to BLM human resources indicating an active and fully adjudicated BI has already been completed prior to beginning position. If you already have a fully adjudicated BI, please let us know in your application.

This AmeriCorps position is open to US Citizens, Nationals, or Permanent Residents between the ages of 17 and 30.