Summary
American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with Shenandoah National Park (SHEN) is seeking ONE Archeology Monitoring Member to assist with monitoring construction projects that include ground-disturbing activities, assessing the condition of existing sites both in the front-country and backcountry of the park, cataloging archeological collections, conducting environmental housekeeping, and working in the park's collection. Duties will be done independently, in consultation with NPS staff, and jointly with NPS staff.
For more information about ACE, please visit: www.usaconservation.org.
Start Date: May 5, 2024
Estimated End Date: September 21, 2024 (or 20 weeks after start date)
Location Details/Description: Shenandoah National Park Headquarters, Luray, Virginia
Shenandoah National Park contains 196,000 forested acres along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains in northern Virginia. The Park's backcountry of steep rugged terrain contains 500 miles of trails, including 95 miles of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, and nearly 80,000 acres of federally designated wilderness. Skyline Drive, the famous scenic tour road through the Park, follows the ridge crest for 105 miles and connects to the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Nearly two million people visit the Park each year to enjoy views from the Skyline Drive, hike trails, rock climb, enjoy nature study, camp, or stay overnight in one of the Park's rustic lodges or backcountry cabins. The Park supports approximately 1,400 vascular plant species, numerous state-rare plant species, and a variety of forest community types. The mountain streams are inhabited by 40 species of fish, over 230 taxa of aquatic invertebrates.
For more information regarding Shenandoah National Park, or the National Park Service, please visit: www.nps.gov/shen/
Position Overview:
Your primary job will be to monitor active construction projects that involve ground disturbance, conduct archeological site condition assessments using established protocols and forms developed for Northeast Region parks, and prepare archeological reports and correspondence for the park's management team. You will be working under the professional supervision and direction of the regional program's zone archeologist, with a park-based supervisor who also is the park's curator. Monitoring reports will be completed on a weekly-or-more-frequent basis, and will summarize areas monitored and include photographs. When time allows, you will also monitor the condition of the park's 120+ family cemeteries, accompanying park staff and volunteers into the backcountry and documenting cemetery conditions, including access condition. You also may be called upon to serve in an environmental monitoring role, or to lead small teams of cultural resource documentation teams.
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: Most weeks you will be expected Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm, although considerable flexibility assists in doing backcountry site visits and detailed site visits. All served hours are credited to the internship.
Position Benefits
Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $500/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.
AmeriCorps Education Award Program: This position may be eligible for an 675-hour AmeriCorps Education Award while serving under the EAP 2023/24 grant year program, valued up to $2,626.27 upon successful completion of a complete service term and 675 hours.
Loan Forbearance:
Qualifying Child Care Coverage:
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 information online: https://www.usaconservation.org/epic/#eligibility-requirements.
Housing: The selected ACE members will be accommodated in park housing at no cost to the member, for the duration of the term.
Housing consists of several homes with double occupancy bedrooms; housing will most likely be at Park Headquarters in Luray, VA or within 10 miles. If housing is located further than 10 miles from Luray, VA, a government vehicle is intended to be provided for transportation to and from the work site. If one is not available, there will be a travel allowance provided. Luray, VA is 5 miles from Park Headquarters and has all of the standard amenities (grocery stores, movie theater, shops, restaurants, library etc.). Laundry facilities are also available at park housing locations.
Relocation Allowance: ACE members will have access to up to $400 to be used for eligible relocation expenses. Further details regarding distribution of these funds will be provided during the interview process.
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.
Qualifications
- 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).
- 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 or as defined by AmeriCorps
- To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website https://www.usaconservation.org/epic/#eligibility-requirements.
Preferred:
- Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a Bachelor's Degree and/or have relevant experience in Archeology, or Anthropology with a focus in archeological duties
- Knowledge of the principles of archeological site survey, excavation, and monitoring, including site formation processes, and the cultural/historical development of the eastern United States from the Paleoindian period to 1900.
- Ability and willingness to work with a professional archeologist on a semi-independent basis, documenting sites, monitoring construction activities, and performing duties in a sometimes-remote field setting.
- Deep interest in human prehistory and history, including how people use the land and create archeological sites and features.
Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:
- Physical Demands:
- 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 50 lbs., ability to move up to 80 pounds.
- Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates.
- Noise Environment: Moderate noise such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic.
- Travel: This position does not require unique 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.
Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety:Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the NPS will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to NPS
Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience, and contact information for three professional/academic references to the online application page for this position here: https://usaconservation.applicantpool.com/jobs/ Early consideration will be given as resumes are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact EPIC NPS Recruitment and Outreach Specialist, Emanuel Aragon Cruz at ecruz@usaconservation.org.
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.
