Job Listing
🔗Volunteer Coordinator
Website C&O Canal Trust
The C&O Canal Trust is the official philanthropic partner to the C&O Canal NHP, a growing nonprofit that raises funds to preserve and protect the C&O Canal NHP and manages programs that promote the Park’s natural, historical, and cultural resources for recreational and educational purposes.
TITLE: Volunteer Coordinator
REPORTS TO: Director of Programs & Partnerships
LOCATION: Hybrid, in office at C&O Canal National
Historical Park Headquarters in Williamsport, MD and telework.
DURATION: Permanent Employee
HOURS: Full-time
Are you ready to bring your energy and skills to help preserve the largest national park in the Washington, DC, region? The C&O Canal National Historical Park (NHP) runs 184.5 miles along the Potomac River from Washington, DC, to Cumberland, Maryland. It is beloved by over five million people who use it annually for recreation, exercise, and the enjoyment of history and nature. Almost entirely fee-free, it is one of the most accessible and visited national parks in the nation, attracting higher annual visitation than either Yellowstone or Yosemite.
The C&O Canal Trust is the official philanthropic partner to the C&O Canal NHP, a growing nonprofit that raises funds to preserve and protect the C&O Canal NHP and manages programs that promote the Park’s natural, historical, and cultural resources for recreational and educational purposes.
Our role is to engage a community of people — donors, elected leaders, business leaders, recreational visitors, and school children, who understand the value of and support this wonderful national park.
The Position
The C&O Canal Trust is seeking an enthusiastic, people-oriented Volunteer Coordinator to manage daily operations of our vibrant volunteer programs. This individual will have strong interpersonal and collaboration skills, great attention to detail, a strong work ethic, and ability to excel both in the office and the field. An ideal candidate values the Trust’s mission and shares our commitment to engaging individuals of all ages and backgrounds in beautification and light maintenance activities in support of our local national park. The position will coordinate and manage daily operations of the Trust’s volunteer programs, including Canal Community Days, Canal Stewards, and Canal Ambassadors, as well as provide other programmatic support as needed.
The Volunteer Coordinator reports to the Director of Programs and Partnerships, and works closely with Trust volunteers and the National Park Service. The position is based in the C&O Canal NHP in a new headquarters building adjoining the Park in Williamsport, Maryland. Trust staff operate under a hybrid model – in office and telework – to allow for on-site collaboration as well as focused telework time.
Duties and Responsibilities
● Recruits and supports volunteers in public and private group projects throughout the C&O Canal NHP, providing excellent organization and communication. Ensures that volunteers and partners have a positive experience and are satisfied by the outcomes of program events.
● Recruits and trains volunteers in individual and ongoing positions, including project leaders, encouraging the continued dedication of our regular contributors.
● Coordinates with NPS to plan and manage public cleanup events each year.
● Manages volunteer supplies, keeping inventory and replacing or increasing supplies as needed.
● Tracks results of all projects, maintaining contact information, projects completed, contracts, and appropriate forms.
All staff members are required to assist with general organization-wide duties and at major events. Moderate weekend work will be required. Compensatory time off is available.
Travel
The main work location will be the Trust offices in the C&O Canal National Historical Park Headquarters in Williamsport, Maryland. The Park covers 184.5 miles along the Potomac River and touches many communities. Travel to a variety of locations will be required. An excellent driving record is required and access to a personal vehicle is necessary. Mileage reimbursements are offered.
Salary Range and Benefits
The salary range is $38,000-$42,000 based on experience and the ability to meet the required responsibilities. The Trust offers a competitive benefits package including partial telework, 100 percent employer paid health insurance premiums; vacation, sick, and personal leave; 14 paid holidays; and the C&O Canal Trust’s Simple IRA retirement program (up to 3 percent employer matched).
Equal Employment Opportunity
The C&O Canal Trust is committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all persons regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation or gender identity, disability, sex, or age.
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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.