Job Listing
🔗NPS Mellon Humantities Postdoctoral Fellow: West of the American Revolution: Placemaking, Belonging, and Identity in the Intermountain Region
American Conservation Experience
Much of the programming commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence will emphasize people, places, and events in the eastern US. The Intermountain Region (IMR) – not a region traditionally associated with the American Revolution – also has rich histories from this period and beyond. For example, the lands taken to form parks within the IMR and elsewhere in the NPS system were home to Indigenous people from time immemorial, as well as Spanish colonists and their descendants during the events of the American Revolution. The West is also where individuals and communities actively negotiated changing concepts of identity and belonging throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. These include Indigenous groups, African Americans, women, Hispanics and Latinos, immigrants from Asia and the Pacific, Civil War veterans, and Mormons. The Fellow will have the opportunity to delve into current research and create innovative and unique programming that gives IMR parks (and others across the NPS) avenues for flexible and meaningful ways to connect to the Revolution and its legacies.
Each NPS Mellon Humanities Postdoctoral Fellow will complete work in four areas. Fellows will (1) perform project-based research; (2) share research results; (3) produce and substantially contribute to interpretive and educational products; and (4) pursue career-focused work.
1) Project-Based Research: The first year of the fellowship, the Fellow will focus on “placemaking”: essentially what was happening across the Intermountain Region during the Revolutionary period, specifically in lands that are now part of the National Park system. This research will include topics of land use, displacement, ownership, and sovereignty. In the second year, the Fellow will focus on the legacies of the American Revolution in the West, particularly the questions of “identity” and “belonging.” In year two, the Fellow will consult with their mentorship team, as well as other subject matter experts as needed, to propose a project for their second year.
2) Sharing Research Results: For the Year One focus on “placemaking,” the fellow will develop an annotated bibliography and comparative timeline for the Intermountain Region, with an emphasis on lands now part of the National Park system. This will help ground regional parks in their specific Revolutionary histories. The Fellow will organize a series of research workshops to help park and regional staff, volunteers, and interns to formulate and address research questions. For Year Two’s focus on the Revolution’s western legacies, the Fellow will organize a scholar roundtable and series of workshops focusing on developing cultural competencies among frontline interpreters. In addition, the Fellow may be able to partner with the new Community Engagement Coordinators in the region to help magnify and lift the program.
The Fellow will be expected to develop and sustain connections with program-provided mentors and host staff, associated NPS staff, members of their Fellowship cohort, and other Fellows across the tenure of the program. In addition to being provided mentorship and support themselves, the Fellow will have the opportunity to mentor others and to enrich staff knowledge by organizing events such as virtual speaker series and presentations. Twice a year, the Fellow will participate with their cohort and other Fellows in a virtual conference for NPS staff and partners to provide updates about their research. The Fellow will be responsible for tracking and reporting accomplishments and for supplying copies of interpretive, educational, and research products to their host and to the National Coordinator.
3) Interpretive and Educational Products: We envision that the work of the Mellon Fellow will lay the foundation for parks to begin deeper and broader conversations, foster new relationships, and develop a deeper understanding of our role in telling the full, unvarnished history of our past. We think a foundation in strong scholarship will provide parks the confidence and tools to curate and present strong interpretive products. The Mellon Fellow will develop products that model how to do this work. The format and presentation of these products may vary, and include resources for park staff, content on NPS.gov, written reports, podcasts, or other digital media. Candidates with a passion for communication and storytelling will excel in this position.
4) Career-focused Research and Products: In consultation with their mentors, the Fellow will carry out a career-centered project. About 20 percent of the Fellowship will be dedicated to this scholarly work that advances the Fellow’s career path. The Fellow will be supported by a multidisciplinary team that draws on local, regional, and agency-wide expertise. In addition to NPS staff, the Fellow will also have an external mentor whose work intersects with the fellowship.
Essential Responsibilities and Tasks:
- The Mellon Fellow will research life in the Intermountain West during the Revolutionary Era, specifically that associated with the parks managed by the NPS Intermountain Regional Office. This research will help de-center the narrative of US history as one of western expansion. The Fellow will also research and explore the legacies of the Era in the region. Themes to explore include land use, displacement, ownership, sovereignty, identity, and belonging.
- Based on research findings regarding the Revolutionary Era in the Intermountain West, the Fellow will develop an annotated bibliography and a comparative timeline that connects the parks into a regional and national narrative.
- Based on their Revolutionary Era and Legacies research, the Fellow will develop and host a series of four workshops designed to assist NPS frontline staff in formulating and addressing research questions and connecting them to broader narratives and themes.
- The Fellow will develop a small-scale interpretive product around the theme of “placemaking” based on histories of the American Revolution in the Intermountain West. This product will serve as a model for parks in making these connections meaningful and relevant to visitors.
- The Fellow will also develop a larger interpretive product or series of products that connects IMR park(s) to the theme of the legacies of the Revolution. This will serve as a model for parks in making these broader connections meaningful and relevant to visitors.
- The Fellow will organize and host scholar roundtable exploring the legacies of the Revolution in the west.
- The Fellow will develop and host two workshops to help build cultural competencies for frontline interpreters.
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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.