Career Exploration Members – Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park

Career Exploration Members – Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park

Summary:

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS) is seeking 2 Career Exploration Members to contribute to interpretation and youth programs alongside NPS Staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit: www.usaconservation.org.

Start Date: June 25, 2024

Estimated End Date: August 17, 2024

*an 8-week minimum commitment is required *

Location Details/Description: Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park (Woodstock, VT)

Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park is located in the year-round resort community of Woodstock, Vermont – an area of great natural beauty alongside the Ottauquechee River in the foothills of the Green Mountains. The park opened for the first time to visitors in 1998 and is the first unit of the National Park System to focus on the theme of conservation history and the changing nature of land stewardship in America. It manages and interprets the early 19th century Billings/Rockefeller mansion and grounds complex. The park also includes a 500-acre forest on the slopes of Mount Tom where hiking, nature study, and cross-country skiing are popular with visitors. The park is also home to the NPS Stewardship Institute and the Northeast Temperate Inventory and Monitoring Network (NETN).

Vermont has many affordable communities nearby that offer an outstanding quality of life. Full-service communities near Woodstock include Lebanon and Hanover, New Hampshire, and White River Junction, Queechee, and Bridgewater, Vermont. Boston is 2.5 hours from Woodstock, VT while Montreal, Quebec, is just over 3 hours away.

For more information, please visit https://www.nps.gov/mabi/index.htm

Position Overview:

Members will support the NPS and 1) assist with hands-on work projects in a variety of park divisions at MBRNHP (interpretation, resource management, facilities management, cultural resources), 2) participate in leadership and skill development workshops and mentoring, 3) plan and execute a daylong youth summit, and 4) serve as NPS liaisons at park visitor centers and special park events.

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.

Schedule: These positions will generally work 8:30-12:30, Tues-Sat.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: Members are expected to contribute 20-40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $350/week dispersed bi-weekly.

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 CPR and First Aid, Diversity and Inclusion, leadership, and safety.

Qualifications

Required:

• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts
• If under 18, onboarding paperwork requires information and signatures from a parent or legal guardian
• 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 current and valid form of ID (will be required to provide copies of ID’s upon hiring).
• 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.
• Strong interest in learning about careers in the National Park Service or allied fields
• Willingness to work outdoors.
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website https://www.usaconservation.org/epic/#eligibility-requirements.

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, hiking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, and reaching with hands and arms. Manual dexterity required for use of various tools, computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment. Required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, ladders, and/or crouch. Ability to traverse uneven and/or unpaved exterior areas throughout the park grounds.
• Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to 25 lbs., ability to move up to 50 pounds.
• Environmental: The work is performed in an office and in the field. Field work includes exposure to extreme weather conditions and terrain, poisonous plants, biting insects, and wild animals. Approximately 50% of the work will be in a climate controlled, shared office setting or standing at a desk in the climate controlled visitor center. The other 50% will be primarily outdoors. Summers are typically mild to hot with daytime temperatures averaging in the 70s to 90s and evening temperatures in the 50s or 60s. Spring and Fall are typically mild to cool with daytime temperatures averaging in the 70s and evening temperatures in the 30s or 40s.
• Noise Environment: Moderate to high noise such as hand and power tools. Moderate noise such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic.
• Travel: Occasional travel up to 20 miles between parks may be required. All driving on duty will be in a government vehicle. Upon being hired the initial background check will require fingerprinting at a facility that may be up to 2 hours from a given residence. This will need to be completed prior to the start date.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: Members 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.

Equipment Use/Safety: 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.