Build Up GIS Intern

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with NPS, is seeking 2 members to contribute to projects alongside NPS Staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date: 06/01/2026

Estimated End Date: 04/30/2027

*a 52 week minimum commitment is required *

Location Details/Description: The Land Resources Division guides and supports the land acquisition program for the National Park Service (NPS). Since its inception in 1916, the NPS has served as the ultimate caretaker of America’s most valuable natural and cultural resources, while providing for public use and enjoyment of those resources. Today, the National Park System totals more than 84 million acres, yet more than 2.6 million acres of privately owned lands remain within NPS boundaries. Acquisition of all privately owned land within a given park boundary is not always necessary and, in some cases, not feasible. However, many of these lands are important for visitor use and preservation of resources and have therefore been identified to be protected in fee or by scenic/conservation easement interest.

This position is anticipated to be completed remotely; however, office space is available in Lakewood and Ft. Collins, CO, should the selected candidate prefer to work on-site.

For more information about the NPS Land Resources Division, please visit the NPS website.

Position Overview: The selected candidate will complete a 12-month internship as part of the National Park Service Land Resources Division’s national GIS support team. The internship involves a wide range of GIS support activities, including GIS data conversion and the development of new digital land status datasets; right-of-way mapping; production of legislative, budgetary, and custom maps for departmental requests; geospatial data analysis; enterprise GIS maintenance and database administration; and support for lands-related webpages and online mapping applications. Together, these activities support the NPS mission to preserve and protect natural and cultural resources for current and future generations through federal land acquisition.

The intern will work with the project supervisor to identify a long-term “core” project with an extended timeline, while also assisting with shorter-term tasks and projects as a member of the support team.

Through this internship, the candidate will gain experience and develop skills in the following areas:

• ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Enterprise, and ArcGIS Experience Builder
• Researching, analyzing, and interpreting land records and legal land descriptions
• Collaborating effectively as part of a dynamic GIS support team
• Communicating with regional lands staff and program partners
• SQL-based database administration

Tentative Schedule:

• ­Week 1: Onboarding, orientation and core project determination.
• ­Weeks 2-4: Core geospatial project setup, independent cartography research, and initial collaboration with support team.
• ­Weeks 5-48: Continued core project and other team projects and tasks.
• ­Weeks 49-50: Core project conclusion and presentation highlighting achievements. Format TBD
• Weeks 51-52: Transition of final projects and tasks to other team members; offboarding.

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 is a 40-hour per week position with a flexible schedule. The selected candidate is expected to be available during core hours of 10am-2pm, Tuesday-Thursday (local time zone), with remaining hours scheduled in coordination with site mentor.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $1,000/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 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 eligibility information on our website.

This position is part of the Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement must meet the PLC Eligibility requirements to be considered for this position. Members 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 (You must be between the ages of 16 and 30. Some agencies also interpret these guidelines to include veterans up to age 35) and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general eligibility information on our website.

Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE or NPS. Because the internship can be conducted from a remote setting, no on-site housing will be provided.

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 federal resume building and job search navigation.

Qualifications

Required:

• Members must be authorized to work in the United States. ACE does not provide sponsorship for employment visas.
• 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 criminal history checks
• 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.
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website.

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as GIS.
• Knowledge of GIS and data management practices.
• Proficiency using ESRI desktop software.
• Knowledge of geodatabase design principles.
• Experience with spatial data standards and metadata.
• Highly motivated, able to work independently, a skilled communicator, and has an acute attention to detail.

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Primarily sedentary work. Requires prolonged sitting with occasional standing or walking. Requires use of hands and fingers for computer keyboard, mouse, and other standard office equipment. Talking and hearing required for meetings and virtual communication. No lifting, climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, hiking, or other physically demanding activities required.
• Vision Requirements: Requires close vision for computer work and the ability to focus on a screen for extended periods.
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: No lifting or force exertion required.
• Environmental: All work can be conducted remotely from the intern’s preferred location. The organization also supports working on-site at either the Lakewood or Fort Collins NPS office locations, based on the intern’s preference and availability. Work is primarily conducted indoors in an office environment.
• Noise Environment: Typical office environment with low to moderate noise levels.
• Travel: This position does not require travel.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: 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 ACE’s online application page for this position on our website. 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 ACE EPIC NPS Historic Preservation Project Manager, Kyle Ellison.

If you meet at least 70 percent of the qualifications, we want to hear from you!

ACE participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information when you are hired to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

EEO:  Employment or Service with ACE is based upon ability, qualifications, attitude, and job-related factors. Every qualified employee, member, 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, age, sex, creed, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, 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.