Visual Information Specialist – Denver Service Center Planning Division

Summary: American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service, is seeking one Visual Information Specialist to contribute to projects alongside Denver Service Center Planning Division 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: https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1098/build-up-internship.htm

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

Start Date: May 2024, contingent on receipt of PIV card.

Estimated End Date: 12+ weeks after start date, but flexible to 26 weeks.

*a 12-week minimum commitment is required *

Location Details/Description: The Denver Service Center, located in Lakewood, Colorado, is the central planning, design, and construction office of the National Park Service. The Center delivers services to National Park Service units across the country. This position is able to be completed in-person at the Denver Service Center, or is eligible to be fully remote.

For more information about the Denver Service Center, please visit https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1804/index.htm

Position Overview: The Visual Information Specialist member will support the Denver Service Center Planning Division with publications related tasks that include document formatting for print and digital publication, graphic design, and section 508 compliance/accessibility. The Member will use and learn to use tools from the Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.), the Microsoft Office Suite, and CommonLook 508 Plug-in for Acrobat. Task complexity ranges from using existing document templates to designing a document with a custom layout, for public meeting materials (postcards, flyers, annual reports, newsletters) and larger planning documents such as general management plans, wilderness plans, resource stewardship strategies, and other planning documents.

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: 9am to 5pm MT, or core hours of 9am to 5pm in the member’s timezone. Flexible scheduling options may be approved.

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.

Direct Hire Authority: This position is classified as a DHA (Direct Hiring Authority) Internship. DHA positions target exceptional, current upper-level undergraduate or graduate students that are interested in pursuing careers with the NPS. DHA positions will be rigorous internships that develop the participant’s technical and creative thinking abilities, leadership skills, and problem-solving capabilities.

DHA applicants will be involved in publications and design projects and be required to deliver a presentation to park leadership. After successful completion of the internship and all DHA program requirements, and after graduation from the member’s degree program, the member will be eligible to receive DHA non-competitive hiring eligibility.

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.

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 Section 508 compliance training and Allyant CommonLook PDF training.

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 current and valid form of ID (will be required to provide copies of ID’s upon hiring)
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required two-part criminal history check.
• 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.
• 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 minimum of an Associate’s degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as graphic design, communications, marketing, or related field.
• Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite and CommonLook.
• Ability and willingness to communicate with key stakeholders.
• Deep interest in management of public lands.

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.
• 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 5 lbs., ability to move up to 5 pounds.
• Environmental: 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 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.

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 applications are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact Member Coordinator, Historic Preservation Training Center Programs, Kyle Ellison at kellison@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.