Job Listing
🔗GIS Intern – 640 hours

  • Internship
  • NCPE Internship
  • Washington D.C., DC (Remote)
  • $18.50 USD / Hour
  • February 20, 2025
  • Department: Cultural Resource GIS Facility
  • Job Reference #: 4114/4138
  • Job Qualifications:

    The intern would receive training in the NPS cultural resource spatial data transfer standards and work closely with the HABS/HAER/HALS database manager, as well as the CRGIS Enterprise GIS Specialist.
    The successful candidate should have an historic preservation background to be able to confirm what they identify in available mapping tools is indeed the building/resource that appears in the HABS/HAER/HALS pictures/drawings.
    The successful candidate would also have experience in ArcPro 3.X and GeoDatabases to create the spatial data using the data model already developed.  This internship will be performed remotely, with regular coordination and contact with CRGIS staff.

  • How to Apply:

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

  • Job benefits: Paid Time Off (PTO)
  • Physical Demands / Work Environment: none
  • Application Email: waso_cr-intern@nps.gov

Website National Park Service/NCPE Internship Program

The Cultural Resource Geographic Information Systems facility (CRGIS) is the only program within the National Park Service (NPS) dedicated to developing and fostering the use of GIS and GPS technologies in documenting, analyzing and managing cultural resources. For over 20 years the mission of CRGIS has been to institutionalize GIS and GPS into the daily practice of cultural resource management by adapting these technologies to field surveys and inventory maintenance, as well as addressing links between cultural resource databases using locational information, all with the aim of increasing the effectiveness of cultural resource planning.

The National Council for Preservation Education (NCPE)’s 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.  

The Cultural Resource Geographic Information Systems facility (CRGIS) is creating an NPS-wide national cultural resource GIS data set, incorporating all of the NPS national inventory databases.  At this time, CRGIS is focusing on incorporating the Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record/Historic American Landscape Survey (HABS/HAER/HALS) database into the enterprise.  The internship would be located jointly with CRGIS and HABS/HAER/HALS of the NPS, focusing on creating the necessary GIS data to represent the resources in the HABS/HAER/HALS inventory.

The internship further meets several of the Department of Interior’s priorities, particularly focusing on the streamlining of environmental and regulatory review, among others.  The internship will result in the creation of additional digital spatial data identifying cultural resources documented by HABS/HAER/HALS.  By creating this spatial data and incorporating it into the existing cultural resource national GIS data set, this project will help to streamline the regulatory review process through the integration of databases, creation of spatial data to find resources for planning purposes, as well as sharing this information with the public.  This project will help to identify those resources where baseline documentation, meeting regulatory requirements, has already been created, reducing regulatory response times, reducing mitigation efforts, and providing a more coordinated approach to resource management throughout the NPS.

The internship would involve examining the original HABS/HAER/HALS documentation through the Library of Congress website to find any clues to locations through the descriptions/photo captions/short histories, etc. The intern would then be responsible for converting this information into point GIS data through tools like Google Earth or ESRI ArcPro.  The intern would be responsible for confirming that the resource still exists, and incorporating the GIS data into the existing NPS cultural resource spatial data transfer standards, and eventually into the national cultural resource data set.

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.