NPS Historic Preservation Training Center – Caribbean Historic Preservation Masonry Intern (Historic Stewards)

Position Title: NPS Historic Preservation Training Center – Caribbean Historic Preservation Masonry Intern

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: San Juan, Puerto Rico

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: January/February 2025
• End Date: July/August 2025

Purpose:

Stewards Individual Placements (STE) provides individuals with service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants work with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits building institutional capacity, developing community relationships, and supporting ecosystem health.

This opportunity is brought in partnership with the NPS Historic Preservation Training Center (HPTC) which is dedicated to the safe preservation and maintenance of national parks or partner facilities by demonstrating outstanding leadership, delivering quality preservation services, and developing educational courses that fulfill the competency requirements of service employees in the career fields of Historic Preservation Skills, Risk Management, Maintenance, and Planning, Design, and Construction.

HPTC utilizes historic preservation projects as the main vehicle for teaching preservation philosophy and building crafts, technology, and project management skills. Our experiential learning approach emphasizes flexibility in addressing the unknown conditions encountered during the project and ensures that the goals of preservation are met.

Participant will benefit by gaining training in preservation craft skills, learning basic safety standards in a variety of work environments, and being introduced to general preservation principals and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards.  The outcome of each intern’s efforts will be the improvement of a variety of historic structures and making them more enjoyable and accessible to the public.

Description of Duties:

• Multiple projects involving historic preservation, masonry, traditional plastering techniques, as part of a team to accomplish large scale projects on historic assets in Old San Juan.
• Utilize hand tools, power tools and maintain and organize all worksite safety and equipment.
• Work in a team setting daily with a diverse group of trades staff and Project Leaders.
• Develop a skillset of competence and training for a desired craft in preservation trades.
• Basic interest in history, and Construction trades. Ability to work outdoors for up to 10-hour days/ shifts in hot humid and construction site conditions.

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• Must be 18-30 years of age, maximum 35 for Veterans with DD-214
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementary or secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant, and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.
• Moderate to heavy physical effort is required for this position, including occasional lifting or handling of objects over 75lbs using proper techniques.
• Standing or kneeling for long periods and will be required to climb ladders, work from scaffolding or platforms, work on uneven or angled surfaces such as a roof, and/or be able to work in confined spaces.
• Ability to stoop, bend, kneel, climb and walk in all manners of environmental conditions such as rain, mud, and extreme heat or cold.
• Interest in masonry or historic preservation 
• Driver’s License 
• Willingness to learn preservation skills and safety protocols. 
• Operate as a good team member within work crew and follow daily direction. 
• Follow HPTC’s project agreement and safety plan. 
• Be respectful of all members or crew and supervisor staff

 Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience in carpentry or construction is preferred but not required. 
• Open to current students and recent grads of historic preservation programs, previous TTAP members, and other applicants with background education or experience in historic trades
• Ability to commit to a 26-week experience of combined training and hands-on work
• Flexibility to work outside of traditional hours may be required

Physical Requirements:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve four 10-hour days per week, but exact service schedules may vary.
• Overtime available dependent on project assignment. 

Orientation and Training:

• Member will receive an orientation that includes training on a variety of preservation techniques.
• OSHA 10
• Opportunity to travel to different National Park Service sites.
• Opportunity to learn trade secrets from master craftsmen.

Benefits:

• $18/hr plus overtime
• Healthcare Coverage if Eligible
• Public Land Corps Hiring Authority Eligibility – must meet 640 hours of service 

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an intern, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.

Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

Kevin Record

Stewards Program Coordinator

681-666-3621

krecord@conservationlegacy.org