Job Listing
🔗Equity in Historic Preservation Internships
Website 4Culture
4Culture is an independent public agency, chartered under state law and King County ordinance in January 2003, after 35 years as the King County Office of Cultural Resources. The ideal candidate for this position champions public support for arts and culture and has demonstrated commitment to, and experience advancing racial equity and social justice. As the cultural funding and services agency for King County, Washington, 4Culture works to make the region vibrant. The organization’s four program areas—Arts, Heritage, Historic Preservation, and Public Art—put public resources to use all over King County.
Internship Term: two positions available from June through August, 2023
Compensation: $7,500 for 300 hours of work by each intern
Applicant Eligibility: recent graduates or current students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree.
About the Internships:
4Culture, the cultural services agency for King County, Washington, is committed to increasing the diversity of cultural resources that are identified, protected, and interpreted, to be more representative of the multicultural populations in King County. These internships will provide research experience related to historic preservation practice in the region, with the goal of exploring ways to strengthen processes to identify, protect, and interpret socially and culturally significant properties.
In 2023, 4Culture will offer two internships that will focus on properties that are vulnerable to redevelopment, and have a high level of significance and association with underrepresented communities. The interns will build upon previous research on how properties associated with underrepresented communities have fared in local landmark designation processes, and on how survey and inventory methods have impacted what is deemed worthy of preservation.
Interns will be supervised by staff at 4Culture and University of Washington College of Built Environments faculty, with community and governmental organizations acting as advisors.
Each intern will work independently, including making visits to public archives and libraries, accessible by public transit, as needed. Research supplies and a computer workspace at 4Culture can be provided for the duration of the internship. Bi-weekly progress reports will be required during the internship period, at least two formal presentations on collected research, and a final written report at the conclusion of the internship.
Internship applicants should have a specialization or intent to pursue academic training in public history, historic preservation, or related design and planning fields. A background in archival research and documentation of historic properties is preferred, and candidates from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities are especially encouraged to apply.
Undergraduate Internship:
The first internship is geared toward an undergraduate student or recent graduate with interests in historical research, community engagement, and preservation planning. This internship will focus on an urban neighborhood that is underrepresented within local landmark designations. The intern will work with community advisors to review the results of previous historic resources surveys, and will conduct additional research on significant sites, with a goal of identifying and prioritizing properties for local landmark nominations.
Graduate Internship:
The second internship, geared toward a graduate student or recent graduate with an interest in cultural landscapes and the preservation of rural sites and landscapes, will focus on a group of sites that tell a highly significant story associated with underrepresented communities, yet face obstacles to attaining landmark status. The intern will review previous studies, engage with community organizations, conduct historical research and documentation, and explore options to protect and interpret these sites.
Compensation:
The internships will begin in June 2023 and are expected to go through August 2023, with some flexibility for length of internship, weekly work commitment, and work location. The anticipated stipend is $7,500 for 300 hours of work for each intern.
You may choose to seek academic credit with this internship, but it is not required. If you will be seeking academic credit, please let us know of any requirements we will need to fulfill.
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NCPE Internships: Eligibility & How to Apply
Benefits
All NCPE interns received an hourly stipend, the rate is listed at each position description. Additionally, interns receive paid time off (PTO), paid Federal holidays if working full-time, and access to NCPE's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for career and personal counseling, coaching, and referrals. Project sites may also offer a housing allowance and/or commuting stipend; this information is also listed in the description or offered during the interview.
As an organization operating under Public Land Corps Act (PLC) authority, many NCPE positions qualify the intern for Federal Hiring Preference if (1) they complete a minimum of 640 hours at one or more qualifying conservation project(s); (2) are between the ages of 16 and 30 years (35 if a veteran); and (3) apply for a Federal position at USAJOBS with PLC noted in the announcement within two years of completing the internship. Find out more about this hiring preference during the interview or contact manager@preservenet.org for details.
Eligibility
To be eligible, applicants must be currently enrolled in a degree-seeking academic program or recently graduated (within the past 12 months) and be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident. Interns are not eligible to work more than 1200 hours total in the program; previous interns must stay within this overall limit. The length of an internship can vary from 10 to 30 weeks if full time (40 hours per week) or longer if on a part-time schedule. If selected, the exact starting date will be determined by you and the NPS supervisor. The stipend rate is $17.00 per hour unless otherwise listed.
The successful candidate is responsible for finding and paying for travel to and housing at the internship location; some exceptions apply. The supervising office may be able to assist in locating housing but it is ultimately up to the individual accepting the internship to find accommodation.
The National Council requires all interns working in-person at Federal facilities and/or with Federal employees receive the Covid-19 vaccination. Please be advised that you may also be required to wear a mask, depending on the protocols adopted by your work site. Also be aware that, due to Government-wide security requirements, a background check will be required if you are selected for a position. This will include providing information about recent housing and employment history. The position supervisor will have more information about these requirements and procedures at the time of hiring. You may direct any questions to NCPE's Internship Program Director, Julee Johnson, at manager@preservenet.org.
Please note that interns are not NCPE or NPS employees. Stipends are academic awards and taxes are not withheld, nor are social security contributions made on your behalf. These funds may be taxable, however, so consult a tax preparation professional if you have questions.
How to Apply
You may review NCPE's internship opportunities during the Summer and Winter application rounds without registering. Use the search function to find listings by location, keyword, or area of interest/category. Once you identify one or more positions of interest, there is a 3-step application process.
Step 1: Click on the Apply for Job button, then select Universal Application. Click on Register to create a User Account, which requires a username and email. A link will be sent to you from manager@preservenet.org to create a password. We suggest that you add this email to your safe senders list so you don't miss receiving this important link. You will be instructed to Log In to Preservenet using your user name or email and password, which will take you back to the Universal Application.
Step 2: The Universal Application is required to apply for all NCPE internships. You fill out this form only once. In addition to contact information, educational status, work history, and experience, it requires two attachments: (1) the 2 most recent years of academic transcripts. These may be unofficial transcripts if official versions are unavailable. PDF only, labeled Your Last Name_Your First Name_Transcript. (2) a resume or CV (curriculum vitae). Please limit to a maximum of 4 pages; 2 pages preferred. May be .doc, .docx or PDF. Label Your Last Name_Your First Name_Resume. This form may be saved as a draft and completed later. Use the link provided to return to the form.
Step 3: Once you submit the Universal Application, you may browse and apply for NCPE internships using the link provided. Complete the application process by clicking on the Apply for job button found at each internship listing and upload the required Essay. Use the essay to explain why you are applying for an internship, including how your interest areas will benefit the National Park Service (NPS) and how the internship will further your studies and career goals. Be as specific as possible; there is a 400-word maximum length. Submit the essay to finish the application for that position. You may apply for a maximum of 6 internships during this application round. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!
Once the deadline for submission has passed, NPS supervisors will review the applications and may contact candidates for a phone interview. Candidates who are not selected will be notified. Please allow about 4 weeks after the deadline before inquiring about the status of your application.
Quick Tips on How to Apply
#1 If you feel you need to bolster your resume or expand your knowledge base in a certain area, consider offering research assistance to an authority at your university and/or design a 1-credit reading course with an eminent scholar or practitioner.
#2 "Experience" is more than paid work. It is any activity that gives you the knowledge and ability to do something well. So include in the Universal Application all relevant research projects, academic extracurricular activities, and volunteer interests to show your initiative, leadership, and competency.
#3 Proofread everything. The qualification most sought after for any job or internship is strong communication skills so start off on the right foot with no spelling or grammatical errors in your application.
Logging in with a Registered User Account and completing the Universal Application is required to apply for NCPE Internships. Please visit the Universal Application page to register for an account and complete the form. After logging in and completing the form, refreshing this listing will display the Job Application to apply online.