Job Listing
🔗Preserve Montana Trades Corps

  • Full Time
  • Temporary
  • Helena, MT
  • $600 USD / Week
  • March 30, 2026
  • Job Summary: Build your hands-on preservation trades skills with the Preserve Montana Trades Corps, a nine-week pre-apprenticeship preservation trades training program grounded in context-based learning that will run from June 1-July 31, 2026.
  • Job Qualifications:

    MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

    • Strong interest in history, historic preservation, traditional building trades, construction trades, architecture, engineering or related fields. Experience or education in any of these fields is not required.
    • Must be between 18 and 29 years of age.
    • Must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent legal resident.
    • Must possess a high school diploma or GED certificate.
    • Must be able to commit to training program dates: June 1 – July 31, 2026.
    • Must be willing and able to use hand and power tools to complete projects.
    • Must be willing and able to camp in the outdoors up to a week at a time.
  • How to Apply:

    Apply online at:  https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/yCTP_Dqyw30uEFletkT6xQ.

    For more information visit www.preservemontana.org. Any questions can be directed to Restoration Director Eli Smith at eli@preservemontana.org.

    Application deadline: March 30, 2026, at 5:00pm MST.

  • Job benefits: • Housing • $500 round-trip travel allowance for relocation • Uniform and tools • Federal holidays • Transportation to off-site projects
  • Physical Demands / Work Environment: Physical effort is heavy to moderate for this position and requires occasional lifting or handling of objects or materials up to 50lbs, unassisted, following proper lifting procedures to avoid injury. Frequently required to stand while working, climb ladders or scaffolding, and bend, stoop, climb, and work in awkward positions.
  • Application URL: https://preservemontana.org/preserve-montana-trade-corps/

Website Preserve Montana

Since 1987, Preserve Montana has served as the statewide nonprofit preservation organization for Big Sky Country. Our mission is to protect historic places, traditional landscapes and cultural heritage across Montana.

Love working with your hands? Want a career with purpose? The Preserve Montana Trades Corps is calling. Train in traditional building trades, restore historic places, and gain real-world experience alongside expert mentors.

The nine-week training program is a boots-on-the ground solution to the workforce shortage in the preservation trades. It is designed to train young adults in the traditional building trades, give them experience on a career path in preservation carpentry and construction trades, and preserve rural historic properties across Montana.

Corps members work alongside Preserve Montana’s skilled restoration staff on real-world projects across rural Montana. You will learn and develop skills in several historic trades, such as window restoration, preservation carpentry, log work, and general building maintenance. The ideal candidate is excited about hands-on trades work and building a career in the traditional building trades. Corps members must be able to commit to the training program in its entirety.

Skills Training & Certifications

  • Certifications:
    • Historic Preservation Fundamentals
    • OSHA 10
  • Hand-tool and machinery use/safety
  • Historic building documentation and condition assessment
  • Trainees will be exposed to the following traditional building crafts and skills, dependent on projects:
    • Carpentry and joinery
    • Historic finishes
    • Roofing
    • Masonry
    • Timber framing
    • Historic building maintenance

For more information, visit https://preservemontana.org/preserve-montana-trade-corps/.

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.