Leasing Planning Member – Gateway National Recreation Area

SummaryAmerican Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service, is seeking one Leasing Planning Member to contribute to projects alongside Gateway National Recreation Area 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: June 3, 2024

Estimated End Date: August 30, 2024

*a 13-week minimum commitment is required *

Location Details/Description: Gateway spans over 27,000 acres across three units – Sandy Hook in New Jersey, and Staten Island and Jamaica Bay in New York City. The park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for millions of visitors every year. Gateway offers green spaces and beaches alongside historic structures and cultural landscapes.

This position may be completed in person at Gateway National Recreation Area or remotely. If completed in person, the primary worksite will be the park’s headquarters, located at Fort Wadsworth in the Staten Island Unit, and park housing will be provided in Staten Island at no cost.

In the event GATE selects an intern who will be authorized to work remotely, the park may fund an initial visit (approximately one to two weeks) for the intern to learn about the park and gain an understanding of the park’s complexities in real time.

For more information about Gateway National Recreation Area, please visit https://www.nps.gov/gate/index.htm.

Position Overview: The Leasing Planning Member will work across park divisions to develop an easy-to-understand handbook for park lessees. The handbook will be used to provide current and prospective lessees the ground rules for third party use of public lands and facilities. The handbook is meant for use as an overall but simple guide to understanding law, regulations, and policies, and their application to leased properties, to ensure the long-term success of the leasing program and the protection of park cultural, natural, and recreational resources.

The development of a leasing handbook is a multi-disciplinary effort. As a result, this placement will facilitate professional development for the selected Leasing Planning Member by providing exposure across park divisions including project management, facilities management, operations, public affairs, and resource stewardship, NPS policies, legal authorizations, and legal instruments. Developing the handbook will also build the member’s skills in working with park partners and stakeholders.

Schedule: Core hours of 9am to 5pm in member’s timezone.

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 visitor use management and resource protection 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 National Park Service Overview, Introduction to Leasing, Introduction to NEPA & Section 106, and any training required to access DOI systems (cybersecurity, privacy, etc.).

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 graduate level degree although exceptions can be made for highly qualified undergraduate students with relevant experience in public policy, real estate, or compliance.
• Knowledge of the real estate industry, law, environmental regulations, and/or public policy are helpful but not required.
• Ability and willingness to communicate effectively (written and oral), problem-solve, independently organize work, and collaborate with diverse stakeholders.
• Deep interest in environmental stewardship, public policy, real estate, and/or government

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 pounds, ability to move up to 10 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.