Job Listing
🔗Program Associate
Website C&O Canal Trust
The C&O Canal Trust was founded in 2007 as the nonprofit partner of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park. The Trust engages communities and individuals to realize the Park’s historical, natural, and recreational potential. The C&O Canal Trust is committed to embracing the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in its work. As the official nonprofit partner of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, the Trust works in partnership with the National Park Service and local communities to raise funds to preserve the Park for future generations and to broaden support through programs that highlight the Park’s historical, natural, and cultural heritage and recreational opportunities.
Title :Program Associate
Reports to :Director of Programs and Partnerships
Location :C&O Canal park headquarters in Williamsport, MD, and anywhere in the C&O Canal National Historical Park
Duration :Permanent Employee
Hours :Full-time
POSITION OVERVIEW
The C&O Canal Trust seeks an enthusiastic, people-oriented Program Associate to manage the daily operations of our Canal For All and Canal Stewards programs and other programmatic duties as required. We need a candidate with strong interpersonal, time management, and communication skills, great attention to detail, a strong work ethic, and the ability to excel both in the office and the field.
The Program Associate reports to the Director of Programs and Partnerships and works closely with National Park Service and C&O Canal Trust employees. S/he manages the Canal Stewards and Canal For All programs and all related volunteers, program development, supplies and activities, issues, and communications. In addition, the Program Associate will support general Trust events, including Canal Community Days, the Park After Dark gala, and other events and programs as needed. Moderate weekend and evening work will be required, but compensatory time off is available.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Program Associate will coordinate the daily operations of the Canal Stewards and Canal For All programs. Canal Stewards are independent volunteers who care for a specific location within the park on their own time and submit regular reports to the Trust. Duties and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
· Manage and support the Canal Stewards, independent volunteers performing basic maintenance tasks such as cleaning up trash and debris, painting, etc., at their site.
· Communicate with Canal Stewards regularly. Meet with them in the field to provide extra supplies, review their duties, or answer questions as needed.
· Develop new Stewards’ site agreements and packages, conduct walk-throughs, and provide training materials and resources as part of an extensive onboarding practice.
· Expand the Canal Stewards program by recruiting community members and groups.
Canal For All Program
· Develop educational, recreational, and volunteer service programs for participants ages 5 to adult, which serve to connect BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, differently abled, and other underserved and/or underrepresented communities with activities in the park.
· Collaborate with community organizations, Trust and park staff, and volunteers to create fun, positive experiences to “meet them where they’re at.”
· Manage events on the day off, including packing supplies, event set-up, volunteer coordination, and event clean-up. This entails some manual labor.
· Recruit, manage, and train a corps of volunteer leaders. Staff programs and support leaders with training, guidance, materials, and logistical coordination.
Administrative and General Responsibilities
· Maintain a quiet, private space at home for teleworking on “non-office” days. The Trust will provide a laptop and related materials.
· Maintain regular hours in the C&O Canal Park Headquarters building on scheduled “office” days.
· Attend meetings prepared and willing to support other programs. Coordinate with supervisor and program team for logistics, packing supplies, and other duties.
· Track volunteer hours and accomplishments, participant counts, and other information for reporting.
· Other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Must be 21+ and have a clean driving record, a current driver’s license, and a personal vehicle. Regional travel is a large part of this position.
- High school diploma or equivalent required. Bachelor’s degree or working toward a bachelor’s degree in a related field is preferred.
- Proficient with computer work, including MS Office, the Internet, cell phones, email, and online maps.
- Ability to lift 30-50 pounds and carry awkward bundles short distances, such as supply tubs or bagged trash. A comfort level with light- to moderate physical work and/or play outdoors, with tools and with members of the public, is necessary. Reasonable accommodation can be made for physical needs.
- Experience leading youth activities or projects, particularly with diverse and at-risk populations.
- Excellent collaborative and communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Able to function well independently and with a team.
- Is a self-starter and displays excellent time-management and prioritization skills.
- Strong interpersonal and diplomatic skills, able to represent the Trust professionally.
- Flexible and adaptable, able to work in changing and sometimes adverse environments.
- Passion for making a difference in the world and an enthusiastic commitment to the C&O Canal Trust’s mission.
BENEFITS
This position is full-time. The expected salary range is $32,000-34,000 per year, based on experience. The position is in the C&O Canal Trust office in Williamsport, MD. Limited telework at home is available, but significant time will be spent working in the park. This position is expected to work some evenings and weekends, but compensatory time will be offered.
Benefits include 100% employer-covered health insurance premiums; vacation, sick, and personal leave; C&O Canal Trust’s Simple IRA retirement program (up to 3 percent employer matched); lively colleagues and community members; and a fun, beautiful working environment!
The C&O Canal Trust is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all persons regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation or gender identity, disability, sex, or age.
PROFESSIONAL LEVEL
Some experience is preferred.
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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.