Traditional Trades Advancement Program Intern – Wrangell-St Elias National Park

Build your hands-on preservation trades skills at Wrangell-St Elias National Park through projects addressing a range of historic preservation needs. Over the course of a 26-week immersive experience, TTAP participants train and work alongside experienced NPS employees to preserve cultural resources and crucial infrastructure. Participants learn the fundamentals of historic preservation and receive on-the-job training in a traditional trade, such as masonry, carpentry, monuments, and woodcrafting. You’ll gain practical, hands-on experience and the foundation for a career in historic preservation. The ideal candidate is excited about hands-on trades work and should be able to demonstrate or discuss their interest in the historic preservation field. TTAP Placements must be able to commit to the position from May 8 – Sept 29, 2023, with weekends and federal holidays off.

Positions available: 2
Daily Schedule: 4/10’s, Monday – Thursday 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Location Details: Report to Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark. This NPS site is a very remote, off-the-grid location. Housing is location 5 miles from the work site and an NPs shuttle is available for daily commute.

Skills Training & Support Provided:

• Historic roof system and truss repair
• Corrugated metal roofing install
• Carpentry, including foundation assessment and repairs
• Painting techniques
• Landscaping
• Fence repair
• General preservation maintenance

Project type breakdown:

Position Benefits:

• $1440 bi-weekly living allowance
• $650 Travel/commuting Allowance to/from project site
• Up to $1000 for independent professional development
• Travel and associated expenses for Historic Preservation Fundamentals course
• Housing included
• Public Land Corps Hiring Authority (at position completion)
• Training and networking opportunities with NPS and preservation professionals

Minimum Qualifications:

• Interest in historic preservation trades and continuing into the trades field
• Age restrictions: 18 – 30 (or 35 for Veterans)
• Must be able to commit to project dates: May 8 – Sept 29, 2023
• Must be willing to live in an off-grid, rustic 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 adders or scaffolding, and bend, stoop, climb, and work in awkward positions.
• Interest in using hand and power tools in an outdoor setting to complete projects

Special Requirements for appointment to Kennecott/McCarthy duty station: TTAP Participant must pass a pulmonary respiratory resistance test to determine the physical ability to perform the work required as a condition for appointment. All employees on site are subject to an initial medical examination and periodic blood tests as required by OSHA 29 CFR 1926.62 (at government expense). Lead is known to be present in the Kennecott area, primarily in the form of paint dust. As determined through air monitoring, respirators may be required. Respirators must be worn in compliance with 29 CFR 1910.134, which requires a good face seal. Presence of facial hair, glasses etc. are prohibited if it cannot be proven that such conditions do not prevent that requirement.
Preferred Qualifications:

• Current Alaska resident
• Experience living in remote and rustic settings

All applicants must meet Minimum Qualifications to be considered for the position. Those who may not meet all the Preferred Qualifications are encouraged to apply! Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and the National Park Service partner will conduct interviews.
No experience in preservation trades required!

The Traditional Trades Advancement Program (TTAP) provides hands-on, historic preservation trade skills training through an intensive learning-while-working experience at a National Park Service (NPS) site. TTAP aims to build the next generation of historic trades workers in order to continue the important work of preserving the historic resources and crucial infrastructure of national park sites. Carrying on the traditional trades in their modern form require much of the same materials, tools, ingenuity, skills, knowledge, and hard work that have been required for generations and cannot be replaced. By working alongside NPS staff on preservation projects, the intern will directly improve the physical conditions of a nationally significant park site that is accessed and enjoyed by thousands of visitors a year and contribute to the NPS mission. TTAP participants will benefit by gaining training in preservation trade skills, learning basic safety standards in a variety of work environments, and being introduced to general preservation principals and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

Expected Dates: May 8, 2023 – September 29, 2023

Location:
Mile 106.8 Richardson Hwy
Copper Center, AK 99573
US