Communities of Practice Coordinator – Denver Service Center Director’s Office

SummaryAmerican Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service, is seeking one Communities of Practice Coordinator to contribute to projects alongside Denver Service Center Staff.

About the 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 ACE, please visit: www.usaconservation.org.

For more information about the Build Up Technical Internship Program, please visit: https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1098/build-up-internship.htm

Start Date: May 15, 2024

Estimated End Date: August 30, 2024

*a 16-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: Foster institutional knowledge sharing through the advancement of the DSC Communities of Practice, which are focused on certain technical disciplines and types of work, studies and project delivery. The Coordinator will assist the subject matter experts in compiling technical information, work groups, and work samples along with co-hosting informal knowledge share sessions. Through this position, the Coordinator will see firsthand the hard work of the office professionals in the field.

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: Mon – Fri, 8:00am – 4:30pm (Standard 8 hour work days with lunch) or modified “5/4/9” schedule: Mon – Fri, 7:00am – 4:30pm (9 hour work days with lunch & with every other Friday off)

Times are MST, flexible for location of candidate.

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.

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.

Professional Development Stipend: The Build Up 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 may include NPS New Employee Orientation/Onboarding, DSC standard new employee Orientation and Introductions, NPS Operational Leadership, Facilitation 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 a Bachelor’s degree in Planning, Architecture, Engineering, Outdoor Recreation, Public Policy and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as Public Land Use, Visitor Use Management or Recreational Planning.
• Knowledge of but not limited to Planning, Architecture, Engineering and/or construction.
• Ability and willingness to be a go getter, cheerleader and organizer of the Communities of Practice. High energy to encourage involvement in this exciting new way to share information and be collaborative.
• Deep interest in creating better spaces and experiences for the visitors at National Parks.

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 Manager, 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.