Job Listing
🔗NPS Historic Preservation Training Center – Traditional Trades Advancement Program and Youth Empowerment Stewards – Olympic National Park – AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy
Stewards Individual Placements is an AmeriCorps affiliated program that provides individuals with service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and protect our natural resources. Participants work with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits, building institutional capacity, developing community relationships, and supporting the health of natural areas.
This program provides participants with ample exposure to National Park Service trail maintenance needs coupled with park access for those with disabilities. The members will work alongside skilled trades staff at Olympic National Park, while gaining marketable skills for future NPS or private sector employment.
Olympic National Park has an extensive trail system totaling 635 miles, 95% of which is within designated wilderness. These trails are heavily used by visitors and undergo intense weather extremes from 150+ inches of rain in a year to interior mountains receiving over 20 feet of snow. The trails need constant maintenance to best serve the public and NPS core values. This hands-on experience will include drainage clearing, tread repair, social trail mitigation, and vegetation encroachment. Minor repairs or replacements of structural components on the ABA nature trails will be addressed. Focus areas will include Kestner Homestead Trail, Maple Glade Rain Forest, Ancient Groves, Salmon Cascade, and Madison Falls.
Description of Duties:
- Use of basic hand tools needed for trail building and improvements
- McLeod’s, Pulaski’s, rakes, chainsaws, and shovels are basic tools that will be used by members to best remove drainage blockages, level trail grade, dig water bars to redirect water flow away from trail, and remove debris and hazards to trail users
- Use of basic hand tools for vegetation removal encroaching on trail
- Loppers, chainsaws and proper PPE, rakes, hand saws, and McLeod’s are basic tools that will be used to ensure vegetation is removed that is interfering with safety and access of trail use
- Use of basic carpentry hand tools in structural repairs
- Performing structural repairs using standard carpentry tools such as hammers, chisels, handsaws, and measuring instruments to cut, shape, and assemble wood components while maintaining structural integrity and safety standards.
- Use of maps, navigation, and reporting tools
- Backcountry camping and travel will be utilized to effectively reach remote trail sites in need of repair; effective use of maps and GPS instruments will be needed to safely travel to and from site, and reporting on accurate trail restoration techniques and distances will be necessary
- Use of safe and ethical back country best-practices
- Leave No Trace principles will be followed to the fullest extent to continue to keep the back-country free of human debris and exhibit role-model behavior for the public on park trails
- Utilize and ensure care of park PPE safety gear
- Members will use NPS provided PPE as required, maintain it properly, and report any damage or needed repairs; caring for tools and PPE is essential to member safety.
Salary: $720.00 per week (equivalent to $18/hr.)
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.
Eligible NCPE interns who successfully complete their internships may count their position towards earning a Public Land Corps (PLC) Non-Competitive Hiring Authority certificate. To be eligible to earn a PLC certificate, an intern must be 30 years old or younger (or 35 if a veteran). Once earned, the PLC hiring authority certificate may be used to apply for eligible Federal temporary, term, or permanent positions. Successful completion of a NCPE internship does not guarantee Federal employment. Contact manager@preservenet.org for more details.
Eligibility
To be eligible, applicants must be
*at least 18 years old;
*no older than 30 years of age (or 35 years if a Veteran) when beginning the internship; applicants who are 31 or older (or 36 or older if a Veteran) are not eligible;
*currently enrolled in a degree-seeking academic program at the college level (or recently graduated within the past 12 months)
*be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident.
Interns are not allowed 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 anytime 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 username 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. A PDF is preferred, labeled Your Your Last Name_Your First Name_Transcript. (2) a resume or CV (curriculum vitae). Please limit to a maximum of 4 pages; 2 pages are preferred. A PDF is preferred but jpg, png, doc, or docx file types are accepted. 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 an application round; there is no limit at other times of the year. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!
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.