Job Listing
🔗NPS Mellon Humanities Postdoctoral Fellow: Tribal Maritime Heritage and Cultural Tourism in Washington State
American Conservation Experience
The Mellon Fellow placed with the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area (NHA) will focus on collaboration and research with three Seattle-area Tribes to support better public understanding of and appreciation for Indigenous maritime heritage in the region. Working with selected Tribal partners in the region and archival resources, the Fellow will investigate and document existing Tribal maritime heritage resources and their histories and place them into a broader context of cultural heritage tourism in the region. Key products of this work include a public-facing Regional Tribal Guide to Maritime Washington and associated interpretive materials.
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: During their first year, the Fellow will become acquainted with selected Tribal partners-building off the Washington Trust’s existing relationships-and work with each Tribe (Tribal staff, Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, archivists, and Tribal members) to survey existing resources about their maritime heritage-including papers, books, oral histories, videos, photos, historic sites, maps, traditional place names-and to identify which are appropriate for non-Tribal audiences. They will also interview Tribal members to identify important public-facing maritime sites, interpretive locations, businesses, and other places where people can go to learn about Tribal maritime heritage. At the same time, they will conduct research at non-Tribal archives (the University of Washington, Secretary of State, Seattle branch of the National Archives, etc.) to identify additional existing resources.
While these Tribes already have some public-facing resources about their maritime heritage and culture, there are also stories yet to be shared and/or documented from both past and present, including the histories of cultural heritage resources in the area. Based on their work from year one, and in consultation with their mentorship team and other subject matter experts as needed, the Fellow will propose and shape their project in their second year. This will include working in partnership with Tribes to identify possible gaps in the record. Where gaps can be addressed, the Fellow will conduct original research in conjunction with participating Tribes to uncover, document, and share additional stories and resources. This may include projects such as: researching and compiling maps of traditional place names (for Tribes that do not have this information already documented); researching and writing profiles on historical maritime figures (for example, activists involved in the Fish Wars of the 1960s); and new research and profiles on modern-day Tribal members who work on the water (such as Tribal fishermen, shellfish farmers, scientists, treaty rights offices, members of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, or canoe carvers). This original research will complement the catalogue of Tribal resources developed in the first year, providing context and additional content to enrich the Regional Tribal Guide. These new products may also benefit Tribal archives by creating new materials for their records.
2) Sharing Research Results: The Fellow will produce an inventory/annotated bibliography of Tribal maritime resources in the region that are appropriate to share with non-Tribal audiences, as well as relevant resources identified in external research repositories. This information will be shared with Maritime Washington, Tribal partners, and others as appropriate. In consultation with the mentorship team, the Fellow will disseminate their research in other forms, which might include in-person workshops, digital publications, conference participation, or other interpretive media. The Fellow will also prepare and present in-person and/or virtual “work in progress” talks for appropriate audiences, where they will share their disciplinary perspective, research process, and preliminary findings and insights. More formal presentation(s) of their work will also be offered in-person and virtually to broader NPS, community, and public audiences, as appropriate. Other means of sharing their research results may be developed in consultation with their mentor team, Tribal partners, and community members.
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: The main interpretive product for this fellowship a Regional Tribal Guide for Maritime Washington. Created in conjunction with Tribal and other partners, the Regional Tribal Guide will present a synthesis of research assets and findings, including introductory and/or supplementary content that contextualizes these resources (including both Tribal sources and the Fellow’s own original research). The Fellow will work with their mentorship team to develop an interactive Guide for the Maritime Washington website that incorporates not only text and photographs, but also maps, oral histories, video clips, and other resources. Public-facing information associated with the Guide will also be added to NPS.gov in the form of StoryMaps, articles, and/or other digital media. The Fellow will work closely with Tribal partners to ensure that the Regional Tribal Guide does not include information that is inappropriate for non-Tribal audiences, and that stories/resources are shared in culturally sensitive formats.
Working with participating Tribal members and their mentorship team, additional interpretive and educational products may be planned and/or developed based on the Regional Tribal Guide and the Fellow’s own research interests. These can include social media, additional web-based content or print media, a podcast, videos, lecture series or other public events (in-person and/or virtual), audio tour, signage, training sessions for regional organizations, brochures, and maps.
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 and Maritime Washington NHA staff, the Fellow will have an external mentor whose work is well aligned with this Fellowship.
Essential Responsibilities and Tasks:
- Work with Tribal partners and mentors to survey the current landscape of research materials and assets related to Tribal maritime history, identify gaps and/or untold stories, develop a regional context, and identify what content is appropriate for interpretation to non-Tribal audiences.
- Conduct original research (including archival research, oral history collection, interviews) to complement existing materials and fill in any gaps.
- Prepare a summary of regional Tribal maritime history resources (catalog/annotated bibliography) to share with Maritime Washington, Tribal partners, and others as appropriate.
- Develop and present in-person and/or virtual presentations for Maritime Washington, Tribal and other community partners, NPS, and others as appropriate to share research processes, products, and interpretive guidance.
- Produce a public facing online Regional Tribal Guide for the Maritime Washington website, as well as content for NPS.gov.
- Develop and produce additional interpretive and educational products and programs to creatively engage the public with Regional Tribal Guide and associated content (including social media, podcasts, signage, events, and content for NPS.gov).
- Maintain a respectful, collaborative relationship with all Tribal partners and project stakeholders throughout.
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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.