Job Listing
 🔗Historic Preservation Intern

  • Internship
  • Stratford, VA
  • $1800 USD / Year
  • February 17, 2025
  • Department: Preservation
  • Job Summary: The Preservation Department of Stratford Hall is seeking a qualified intern to participate in its Preservation Internship program. The intern will assist in the daily operations of the Preservation Department and will report to the Director of Preser
  • Job Qualifications:

    Desired Qualifications and Experience:

    • Knowledge of 18th-century building materials and techniques.
    • Desire to work professionally in a museum setting.
    • Ability to work independently.
    • Ability to problem solve.
    • Knowledge of common architectural terminology.
    • Hands-on historical restoration/preservation training and/or experience.

    Education:

    • Working towards or recently completed a degree in the Historic Preservation Field.
    • Applicants should have completed one year of preservation coursework.

    Specialized Skills:

    • Knowledge of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
    • Familiarity with 18th-century building methods, materials, and their inherent risk.
  • How to Apply:

    Interested applicants should send a personal letter of interest no more than 500 words, stating reasons for wanting to intern at Stratford Hall including their goals for the internship and dates available for work, a resume and list of two references. The applicant should be prepared to send examples of their work if requested.

     

    Application materials should be received by February 17, 2025. Materials should be emailed with Historic Preservation Intern in the subject line to: lmanderson@stratfordhall.org

     

    All questions can be directed to Phil Mark, Director of Preservation, at (804) 493-1975 or pmark@stratfordhall.org.

  • Physical Demands / Work Environment: • Ability to perform construction work, including lifting and carrying and associated manual labor. • Ability to lift and carry up to 80 lbs; Ability to stand for long periods of time; Ability to bend and crawl; Ability to climb and balance on ladders and scaffolding, with heights up to 20 ft. • Understand the inherent nature of working with historic materials and their various forms. • Ability to work outside in varying weather conditions (rain, heat, humidity) for extended periods.
  • Application Email: lmanderson@stratfordhall.org 

Website Stratford Hall

Stratford Hall is located in Westmoreland County on the beautiful Northern Neck of Virginia. Stratford Hall is a 45-minute drive from Fredericksburg, two hours from Washington DC and 90 minutes from Richmond, VA. This National Historic Landmark is set on over 1,800 acres with over 2 miles of Potomac River waterfront. The Great House circa 1738 and related buildings are among a handful of exceptionally intact structures from colonial Virginia. In addition to the Great House, Stratford Hall also features a reconstructed 18th century gristmill, a newly installed 18th century garden and a Colonial Revival garden that dates to the 1930s. Stratford Hall was the home to four generations of the Lee family, which includes two signers of the Declaration of Independence, Richard Henry Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee. It was also the home of Revolutionary War hero “Light Horse” Harry Lee and the birthplace of Robert E. Lee.

Selection of Duties, Work and Opportunities:

Perform hands-on preservation/restoration work on the historic structures. This work could involve:

  • Exterior painting. This will require the proper prep work for painting and usually leads to wood repair work.
  • Masonry work and repointing.
  • Window glazing and repair.
  • Plaster work and repair.
  • Wood repair and carpentry.
  • Other hands-on opportunities may arise during the internship as well.

Be involved in the day-to-day operations of Stratford Hall’s Preservation and Maintenance Departments.

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.