Job Listing
🔗Archeology Intern – 800 hours

  • Internship
  • NCPE Internship
  • Longmire, WA
  • $18.50 USD / Hour
  • February 20, 2025
  • Department: Mount Rainier National Park - Natural and Cultural Resource Division, Archaeology Program
  • Job Reference #: 4143b
  • Job Qualifications:

    Enrolled in, or recently graduated from, an Archaeology or Anthropology undergraduate program
    Knowledge of Cultural Resource Management laws as applicable to a federal agency (National Historic Preservation Act, Archaeological Resource Protection Act, Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act)
    Ability to hike and work in remote backcountry settings
    Experience with field techniques and specialized survey equipment
    Ability to work collaboratively with a team of cultural resource and preservation professionals
    Ability to identify pre-contact and historic artifacts, features and sites in the field

  • How to Apply:

    Click on the application button at this listing and follow the instructions to apply online.

  • Job benefits: Paid Time Off; Park housing is available
  • Physical Demands / Work Environment: Work requires some physical exertion such as: • long periods of standing and hiking outdoors in all weather conditions • walking over rough or uneven surfaces including undulating trails, steep hillsides, and off trail transects • sedentary indoor computer database work and artifact processing • Operating a government motor vehicle; a valid driver's license is required. • repeated lifting of moderately heavy items (like field backpacks, over night camping gear)
  • Application Email: waso_cr-intern@nps.gov

Website National Park Service/NCPE Internship Program

Mount Rainier National Park is 235,625 acres on the west side of the Cascade Mountain Range in Washington State. The park boundaries contain river valleys, old growth forests, subalpine meadows, and alpine glaciers. 97% of the park is designated wilderness, and the historic built environment is listed as a National Historic Landmark District showcasing early NPS architecture. Established in 1899 Mount Rainier National Park was first the traditional lands of the Yakama Nation, Cowlitz Indian Tribe, Squaxin Island Tribe, Nisqually Indian Tribe, Puyallup Tribe of Indians and the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe. Treaties that ceded the lands within the park include the Treaty of Medicine Creek (1854), Treaty of Point Elliot (1855) and the Yakama Treaty (1855). Indigenous culture remains present on the landscape, and their history is preserved in the archaeological record up to 9000 years ago.

The National Council for Preservation Education (NCPE)’s Internship Program is a partnership with the National Park Service (NPS) and other Federal agencies with cultural resource protection and public land management responsibilities. The purpose of the program is to accomplish needed and important work on federally protected lands while providing program participants with professional experience in their chosen fields. Interns work under the guidance of agency staff who are subject area experts to carry out the mission of the park.

To be eligible, applicants must be between 18 and 30 years old (or 35 if a veteran) when starting the internship, a college student or recent graduate (within the past 12 months at the time of application), enrolled in a degree-seeking program, and a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

The goal of the internship is to support Mount Rainier National Park’s archaeology seasonal field crew with cultural resource management activities. The successful candidate will be an undergraduate-level archaeology or anthropology student interested in expanding their knowledge base with these educational and training opportunities.

The intern will perform field and lab work, and data entry. The park archaeologist and seasonal crews will mentor the intern to enhance their skills in archaeological field methods and gain experience in Cultural Resource Management.

Depending on projects planned for the season, the intern will:

•            Perform systematic pedestrian surveys

•            Perform subsurface testing

•            Aid in project monitoring

•            Use a camera, GPS, compass, archaeological excavation equipment

•            Camp in a backcountry setting

•            Aid in site documentation

•            Clean and process artifacts

•            Use a computer for data entry, and limited report writing.

A background security investigation may be required prior to the start date. All NCPE internships accrue 4 hours of PTO for every 80 hours worked.

Qualified NCPE interns who complete their internships may count their position towards earning a Public Land Corps (PLC) Non-Competitive Hiring Authority certificate.  Once earned, the PLC certificate may be used to apply for eligible Federal permanent, temporary, or term positions. Visit https://preservenet.org/ncpe-internships/ for details about this benefit. Successful completion of the internship does not guarantee Federal employment.

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.