The National Council for Preservation Education (NCPE) Internship Program is a partnership with the National Park Service and other Federal agencies with cultural resource protection and public land management responsibilities. Its purpose 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 to complete projects or undertake programs in furtherance of the park’s mission.

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.  

Two interns will be hired from this notice, each for 640 hours. Interns will be based in Rome, New York, at Fort Stanwix National Monument; job duties will focus on collections work for Women’s Rights National Historical Park, Martin Van Buren National Historic Site, and Fort Stanwix National Monument.

The interns will have the opportunity to learn about park collections management and preservation, and will be able to contribute meaningfully to museum collection work under the direction of the Women’s Rights NHP Cultural Resource Manager. The successful candidates will work 8-hour days, either part-time or full-time, beginning in the spring or summer of 2026. Duties include housekeeping for collection spaces, environmental monitoring of exhibit storage spaces, and assisting in the processing and management of museum collections for each of the three (3) parks. This work may include cataloging, housing, and ensuring proper documentation when necessary. Candidates should have a passion for museum work, archeology collections, and the National Park Service’s mission. There will be opportunities to develop social media and web content to share the museum collections with a general audience. Attention to detail, excellent organizational and oral and written communication skills, and an ability to work independently is required. A valid driver’s license is also required as travel between parks is expected.

A background security investigation may be required prior to the start date. All NCPE interns accrue 4 hours of paid time off (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.