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.
Interns work in fields including:
- engineering,
- architecture,
- community planning,
- realty services,
- project management,
- social sciences,
- geographic information systems,
- publication services, and more.
Through this program, interns gain experience in their field of expertise, gain exposure to federal public land management, meet new mentors in their disciplines, and learn about potential job opportunities with parks and programs.
This program:
- Is open to current students and recent graduates (<2 years)
- Varies from 11 weeks – 1 year (depends on each position)
- Pays $21+/hour
- Some remote options available
- Participants receive non-competitive hiring status through the Public Lands Corps Hiring Authority or potentially Direct Hiring Authority into the National Park Service at the completion of their term.
Positions for the 2024 summer:
| Editor position | Lakewood or Remote |
| Visual Information Specialist Intern | Lakewood or Remote |
| Realty Intern | Remote |
| Cartographer Intern | Remote |
| Intermountain Region Park Road Ownership Identification | Remote |
| Communities of Practice Coordinator | Denver, CO or Remote |
| GIS Intern | Remote |
| Landscape Architecture Accessibility Intern | Remote |
| Leasing Planning Intern | GATE FOWA or Remote |
| Visitor Use Management & Equity Planning Intern | Remote |
| Historical Architect intern | Frederick, MD |
| Visual Information Specialist | Remote |
| National Park Service Planning Fellow | Remote |
| Land Use Planning Intern | El Portal, CA |
| Civil Engineer Intern | Gatlinburg, TN |
| Facilities and GIS Intern | Washington, D.C. |
| Civil Engineering Intern | Remote, Lakewood/Denver, CO, or in the Pacific West |
| Landscape Architect or GIS Intern | Vancouver WA, San Fran, Seattle, or remote, with travel to parks throughout the Pacific West region. |
| Historical Architect Intern | Anchorage, AK |
| Archivist | Frederick, MD |
| Project Management Assistant | National Capital Parks-East, Washington, D.C. |
** Build Up Technical Program Interns Spotlight **
Gabe Snider participated in the Build Up Technical internship program from June- September 2023. He worked with the architecture section of the Historic Preservation Training Center in Frederick, Maryland.
What did a typical day look like?
“Because I had a historic architect position, my typical day was spent in the HPTC office. Here I would work on research, organizing data, and writing reports, all collaboratively with my project team. We also had field days, where we would go out to a historic site to gather information, take photographs, or complete condition assessments.”
What is your favorite project?
“My favorite project was writing an HSR Part III for the Belmont-Paul House in Washington, DC. We had a lot of fun site visits to that house, and I got to learn a lot about how modern construction techniques intersect with the standards of treatment for historic buildings. As the headquarters of the National Woman’s Party, the site had a really fascinating history to learn about. As a new addition to the NPS, it was great to learn about (and be a part of) how the Park Service organizes and interprets a site like that.”
What advice would you give someone interested in Build Up?
“If you want to be directly involved in preservation work and learn as you go—directly from the people who do these jobs everyday—then these programs are right for you! They are fantastic opportunities to meet new people, learn new skills, and enjoy yourself all the while.”
Stephanie Didier was studying abroad in Denmark when she discovered this internship opportunity. Having studied sustainable development in Northern Europe, she was very excited to apply to Build Up’s Investment Planning Fellowship and thought it would be “the perfect opportunity to continue exploring how we can foster financial and operational sustainability in the U.S.” She started her internship in June 2023 and has been enjoying her time with the National Park Service!
What did a typical day look like?
“The beauty of this position is that my days are never the same. At the beginning of the week my team and I always sit down for group meetings to prepare for the week, making sure we are all on the same page, and we lay out our tasks and expectations. It is a great opportunity for the other fellows and I to ask questions, gain feedback, and share our thoughts with our supervisors. Once we have our tasks for the week, we collaboratively work on them, always bouncing off of each other’s ideas to prepare the best possible work. I usually have at least one meeting a day, but sometimes more if I am taking notes, facilitating meetings, or conducting interviews.”
What was your favorite project?
“By far my favorite project was conducting interviews this summer. The fellows and I had the opportunity to lead thirty-seven interviews with staff across various departments to gauge how well the “Investment Concept” process was working, which is the foundation for project development. Not only did I hear from so many perspectives about a complex topic, but I was able to learn more about their roles in NPS and how different teams come together.”
What did you learn the most?
“I believe one of the best skills that I learned was how to communicate efficiently and effectively. My fellowship has involved a lot of communication with senior leadership, regional staff, etc. who all have busy schedules and limited time. My supervisors have taught me how to craft communication materials that clearly lay out the task at hand fostering higher response rates and simpler correspondence.”
What advice would you give someone thinking about applying to Build Up?
“My biggest advice is to pursue every opportunity you can, trusting that you have something remarkable to offer. All three Investment Planning Fellows on my team come from different backgrounds, with varying experiences and majors, and I believe that is what has allowed us to have so much success during this year. We all bring something unique to the table, and it has shown me that if you can pinpoint what your skills are and hone in on them, you with go far. The Build Up program was the perfect opportunity for me, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a chance to learn, teach, and inspire.”
To learn more about HPTC internship opportunities:
Please sign up for one of the upcoming Zoom Expos here or email hptc_learning@nps.gov.
Ready to apply?
You can view active applications here: https://historictrades.org/national-park-service/
(Check back frequently to view new openings. Position start-dates and application deadlines vary for each position.)