Traditional Trades Advancement Program (TTAP) Member – Landscape Stewardship Corps – Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park

Summary American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service’s Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park, is seeking one member to contribute to landscape stewardship projects alongside Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park staff.

The Traditional Trades Advancement Program-Landscape Stewardship Corps is intended for enthusiastic individuals who possess an interest in gaining experience in the field of historic landscape preservation or horticulture. No background or previous experience in horticulture or historic preservation is necessary.

For more information about the National Park Service’s Traditional Trades Advancement Program (TTAP) – Landscape Stewardship Corps please visit: https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1098/traditional-trades-apprenticeship-program.htm

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

Start Date: April 1, 2024

Estimated End Date: September 27, 2024

*a 26-week minimum commitment is required *

Location Details/Description:  Known as the “National Park for the Arts,” Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park celebrates the gardens, home, studio and art of internationally renowned sculptor, Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848-1907). The park is in the picturesque rural community of Cornish, about thirty minutes from the large college town of Hanover, New Hampshire. Stretching along the Connecticut River, the park’s 190 acres of formal gardens, open fields, and dense forest is punctuated with twenty historic buildings all linked through hiking trails. In partnership with the nonprofit Saint-Gaudens Memorial, the site promotes the arts through exhibitions, special events, and programs throughout the summer.

For more information about Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park, visit www.nps.gov/saga.

Position Overview: The ACE member, working in conjunction with a dynamic, skilled and motivated landscape maintenance staff from Saint-Gaudens and Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller (a nearby national park in Woodstock, Vermont) will care for the site’s exceptional flower gardens, cutting gardens, hemlock hedges, specimen trees, shrubs, walkways, and Class “A” turf. One week a month, the ACE member will work with the gardener at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park. For more information about the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park see, https://www.nps.gov/mabi/index.htm. The Saint-Gaudens NHP gardener will provide the ACE member mentoring and training, and the opportunity to work independently on select projects.

Together with Saint-Gaudens staff, the ACE member will harness the power of teamwork, innovation, and perseverance to care for this unique and nationally significant park while demonstrating the best sustainability practices and creating outstanding visitor experiences. Daily work is performed according to prescribed plans or specific directions including detailed methods and tools. Working with the park’s gardener and grounds crew, the ACE member will assist with:

• Preservation of historically and/or botanically significant plants
• Flower garden maintenance including planting, watering, dead heading, weeding, fertilizing, flower arranging, assisting with bedding plant selection and layout, and other summer and fall tasks
• Hedge maintenance including pruning, mulching, fertilizing, watering, and pest management
• Shrub and vine maintenance including pruning, mulching, watering, fertilizing, and pest management
• Estate tree maintenance including watering, mulching, fertilizing, pest management. and grafting
• Historic apple tree pruning to learn fruit-tree grafting skills
• Turf maintenance including fertilizing, watering, and pest management
• Assist the gardener with the diagnosis of plant nutrition and pest control needs, fertilization and herbicides
• Trail and gravel road maintenance.

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: This position will have a Monday-Friday, 7:00 am to 3:30 pm schedule.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute about 40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $720/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. 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: ACE members will be accommodated in provided housing at no cost for the duration of the term.

Professional Development Stipend: The ACE Member will receive $1,000 of professional development funds that can be used for approved purposes.

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 will include OSHA-10 Certification and a Landscape Stewardship Fundamentals course.

Qualifications

Required:

• 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.
• Hold a valid driver’s license and insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request)Hold a minimum of a High School Diploma or equivalent
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required two-part criminal history
• 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
• Willingness to learn and work as part of a team
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website https://www.usaconservation.org/epic/#eligibility-requirements

Preferred:

• Strong interest in horticulture, gardening, and/or tree care

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. Ability to hike over rough terrain, and camp overnight under field conditions.
• 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 50 pounds.
• Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates.
• Noise Environment: Moderate to high noise such as electric and gas-powered hedge trimmers and other hand and power tools.
• Travel: This position may 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.

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 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 Member Coordinator, HPTC Programs, Kyle Ellison, at kellison@usaconservation.org.

EEO: American Conservation Experience provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, American Conservation Experience complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.