Archival Member – Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve and New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service, is seeking one member to contribute to education projects alongside NPS Staff.

About Build Up Technical Internship Program: This position is part of the Build Up Technical Internship Program facilitated by the Historic Preservation Training Center. The Build Up Technical Internship Program is working to expand and diversify the National Park Service workforce while addressing critical maintenance needs by providing professional experiences in technical fields to students and recent graduates.

For more information about the Build Up Technical Internship Program, please visit the NPS website.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date: May 19, 2025

Estimated End Date: May 15, 2026

*a 52-week minimum commitment is required *

Location Details/Description: Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, located in South Louisiana, protects the cultural heritage and natural resources of Louisiana’s Mississippi River Delta region. The nearest cities to the park are New Orleans and Lafayette. The park includes many hiking and canoe trails through the wetland ecosystem.

For more information about Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, please visit the NPS website.

Position Overview:

The National Park Service (NPS) preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the national park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The National Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.

The NPS core values are a framework in which the National Park Service accomplishes its mission. They express the manner in which, both individually and collectively, the National Park Service pursues its mission. The NPS core values are:

• Shared stewardship: We share a commitment to resource stewardship with the global preservation community.
• Excellence: We strive continually to learn and improve so that we may achieve the highest ideals of public service.
• Integrity: We deal honestly and fairly with the public and one another.
• Tradition: We are proud of it; we learn from it; we are not bound by it.
• Respect: We embrace each other’s differences so that we may enrich the well-being of everyone.

The headquarters building at Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve and New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park currently has a backlog of 1000 linear feet of permanent files. We expect to identify and retain at least 300 linear feet of both active and inactive files and to accession and catalog the inactive files and prepare and store that material in the archive. After the sorting and reorganization of the backlog of permanent files, the project will prioritize and create a digitization plan for the entire archive that will be in three locations: the parks headquarters, University of New Orleans, and Cane River Creole National Historical Park.

Catalogs and indexes a large variety of materials. Uses the NPS automated cataloging system and procedures to catalog and manage archival collections. Enters data into systems. Assists in the preparation of finding aids. Ensures proper maintenance, storage, control, and record management of materials. Assists with for arranging/rearranging materials within space limitations. Assists in monitoring climate control systems and prepares proper folders, sleeves, boxes, and other physical housing in order to assure maximum preservation, organizational integrity, and accessibility for use. Assists the records manager and the curator in the identification of official records. Uses finding aids, automated databases, and other reference tools. Performs a variety of clerical functions in support of the organization. This may include, for example, handling office records and correspondence, managing computer equipment, ordering supplies, and handling duplication requests.

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promote exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups in the park. If the candidate demonstrates interest and abilities in other park management areas, there is flexibility to allow special projects and mentoring with other park staff.

Schedule: The position is full time 40 hours a week and works under a maxiflex schedule that can be flexible to the needs of the candidate and arranged with the supervisor with a total of 40 hours worked any day of the week from 600am to 630pm.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $840/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service and 640 hours of service. If the duration of a PLC-eligible term is not long enough for Members to accrue 640 hours of service (~16 weeks), the total hours served at the completion of the term may be eligible to be combined with hours accrued from another PLC-eligible term to meet the 640 hours requirement. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general eligibility information on our website.

Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and is not provided by ACE or the National Park Service.

Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position-specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support. Specific training may include federal resume-building.

Qualifications

Required:

• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• A valid driver’s license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request).
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history checks
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation.
• Member may not participate in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement.
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website.

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a minimum of a Master’s degree in Library Science, Museum Science, or Public History.
• Knowledge of archives, the archival process, and digitization.
• Ability and willingness to work as part of a team, and be independently motivated.
• Deep interest in the National Park Service, history, and museums.

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, hiking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking and hearing. Manual dexterity required for use of various tools, computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment. Required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch. Paper and files may be dusty.
• Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves boxes up to 40 lbs., ability to move boxes up to 60 pounds and pushes and frequently moves large rolling racks that hold 9 to 12 boxes.
• Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates. Mainly indoor, office environment conditions; indoor air quality is good and temperature is controlled.
• Noise Environment: Moderate noise such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic.
• Travel: This position does not require domestic travel.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The ACE member(s) may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold, rocky terrain, swamp or wetland conditions, biting insects, and potentially dangerous wildlife. The member is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow staff/members or resources. Trained staff will determine if files and material were subject to a loss of climate control and may contain mold or mold spores. Materials will be isolated and tested and affected material will be frozen to be made inactive prior to cleaning. Air quality and mold if found is monitored and tested in all work spaces.

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the NPS or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the NPS. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the NPS, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to NPS and ACE equipment training, certification and safety protocols is required.

To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience, and contact information for three professional/academic references to ACE’s online application page for this position on our website. Early consideration will be given as applications are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact ACE EPIC NPS Historic Preservation Project Manager, Kyle Ellison.

ACE values an inclusive workforce – if you meet at least 70 percent of the qualifications, we want to hear from you!

ACE participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information when you are hired to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

EEO: Employment with ACE is based upon ability, qualifications, attitude, and job-related factors. Every qualified employee or applicant has the same opportunity for recruitment, hire, training, transfer, promotion, compensation, demotion, termination, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information (including of a family member), veteran or military status, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, medical condition, marital or parental status, political affiliation, ethnicity, hair texture or style, arrest record, caste, hereditary status, endogamy, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal law.