American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service, is seeking one member to contribute to engineering projects alongside NPS 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 the NPS website.
For more information about ACE, please visit our website.
Start Date: May 19, 2025
Estimated End Date: August 8, 2025
*a 12-week minimum commitment is required *
Location Details/Description: The Blue Ridge National Parkway is more than just a road, this varied habitat travels 469 miles through the southern Appalachian region, ranging from 649 feet at James River in Virginia to 6,047 feet at Richland Balsam in North Carolina, offers protection to an enormous diversity of plants and animals, as well as a wealth of cultural resources and history. Stretching from Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Parkway contains a diverse range of cultural resources, including 91 buildings, 2 sites, and 133 other structures that contribute to the Parkway’s eligibility for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a park steeped in tradition and recognized worldwide as a crossroads of natural and cultural richness. The Parkway serves to tie together a diverse landscape and lifestyle- connecting the past with the present and preserving the region’s heritage for the future.
The duty station for this position is Asheville, North Carolina.
For more information about the Blue Ridge Parkway, please visit the National Park Service website.
Position Overview: Under the Chief of Facility Management and Engineering for the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Engineering Intern will report daily to the Park Civil Engineer. The primary purpose of this position is to perform work and gain experience performing technical work related to Engineering. The work involves assistance functions in research, development, design, evaluation, construction, inspection, production, application, standardization, testing, or operation of engineering facilities, structures, systems, processes, equipment, devices, or materials associated with natural and/or cultural resources, and other physical assets.
Provides assistance to project teams for architectural and engineering task orders; duties may include collection of government provided data and materials for task orders, researching files, correspondence, previous studies, topographic surveys, etc.
Researches technical reports or other documents to obtain information for higher graded technicians or professionals. Assists in the preparation of graphs, charts or tables for use by others. Applies basic formulas to routine calculations. May be required to draft text for inclusion in documents.
Accompanies and observes higher-graded employees and/or the supervisor in their presentation of briefings, lectures, multi-media shows, etc. Assists in complex presentations and may be required to conduct simple presentations.
Travels to park sites to collect data and samples, take measurements and photographs, conduct surveys, attend meetings, inspect facilities and/or construction activities.
Inputs compiled data into Facility Management Software System (FMSS) as applicable. Performs cost estimates using Cost Estimate Software System (CESS).
Project work for the National Park Service considers financial, operational, and environmental sustainability, climate resiliency, and equity when considering projects for facility investment. While in this position you will be asked to perform work that helps the NPS to invest in our future, visitors, workplace, and in our heritage; through sustainable opportunities support facilities while prioritizing conservation and protecting natural and cultural resources, preserving and protecting those natural and cultural assets for future generations.
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: Monday – Friday 8am-4:30pm, with a 30-minute lunch
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.
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.
Direct Hire Authority: This position is classified as a DHA (Direct Hire Authority) Internship. DHA positions target exceptional, current upper-level undergraduate or graduate students who 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.
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.
Housing: Park housing is available for the duration of the term.
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 provided by the NPS may include on-the-job training related to data collection instruments, training necessary to access and utilize government computers, site -and job-specific safety training necessary tot preform directed tasks, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) training, training in RS Means / CESS software to preform cost estimating, and introduction to Facility management Software Systems and how they are utilized to collect and tract asset data.
Qualifications
Required:
Preferred:
Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:
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.
The work environment is comprised of the conventional office with periodic travel to project sites. The work involves moderate risk and exposure to moving equipment or machines, engine exhaust, associated high levels of noise, and outdoor weather conditions involving exposure to cold/hot, rain/sun, and a variety of other park conditions/features such as streams, rivers, or other bodies of water. Safety precautions may be required such as hard hats and steel toed boots.
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.
ACE values an inclusive workforce – if you meet at least 70 percent of the qualifications, we want to hear from you!