Traditional Trades Advancement Program (TTAP) Member – Landscape Stewardship Corps – Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park

Summary American Conservation Experience (ACE), a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service’s Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, is seeking one member to contribute to landscape stewardship projects alongside Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Staff.

The Traditional Trades Advancement Program-Landscape Stewardship Corps is intended for enthusiastic individuals who possess an interest in gaining experience in the field of landscape preservation or horticulture. No background or previous experience in horticulture or historic preservation is necessary.

For more information about the National Park Service’s Traditional Trades Advancement Program (TTAP) – Landscape Stewardship Corps please visit: https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1098/traditional-trades-apprenticeship-program.htm

For more information about ACE, please visit: www.usaconservation.org.

Start Date: April 1, 2024

Estimated End Date: August 30, 2024

*a 26-week minimum commitment is required *

Location Details/Description: Nestled among the rolling hills of eastern-central Vermont, the Marsh Billings Rockefeller National Historical Park, Vermont’s only national park, preserves and interprets the history of the conservation movement in the United States through the stories of the three families associated with the property, the Marshes, Billingses, and Rockefellers. The park includes many historic structures, including the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Mansion and a series of exceptionally preserved nuclear fallout shelters, in addition to over 500 acres of the oldest scientifically managed forest in the United States and 20 miles of carriage roads and trails for visitors to explore. The park’s story ranges from George Perkins Marsh, an early prophets of the land conservation movement, to the Billings Family that put Marsh’s conservation findings into practice on their forest and farm landscape, to Laurance and Mary Rockefeller who not only continued the conservation ethic established for this land but carried it out to other lands and parks in the United States. The park is also home to the NPS Stewardship Institute, an advanced study institute established at the same time as the park to explore new avenues of conservation leadership and practice within the National Park Service. For more information about this park, visit www.nps.gov/mabi .

Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park is in the historic New England village of Woodstock, Vermont (population 3000) about twenty minutes from the larger communities of White River Junction, VT (14 miles) and Hanover, NH (20 miles), the home of Dartmouth College. Saint Gaudens National Historical Park is located twenty miles away in Cornish, New Hampshire. For more information about this park, visit www.nps.gov/mabi .

Position Overview: The ACE member will work with a highly skilled team of landscape gardeners and arborists from Marsh Billings Rockefeller National Historical Park and Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park (20 miles away) caring for the parks’ exceptional gardens and grounds.

The ACE member will experience the full range of behind-the-scenes preservation and maintenance activities required in managing a nationally significant historic landscape, and will receive training and mentoring from park staff. The position may also require the member to work independently on basic projects and assignments. Together with the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller staff, the ACE member will harness the power of teamwork, innovation, and perseverance to care for this unique national park while demonstrating the best of sustainability practices and creating outstanding visitor experiences. Daily work is performed according to prescribed plans or specific directions including detailed methods and tools. Working with the park’s gardener and grounds crew, you will assist with:

• The preservation of historically and/or botanically significant plants
• Flower garden maintenance including planting, watering, dead heading, weeding, fertilizing, flower arranging, assisting with bedding plant selection, and layout
• Hedge and Shrub maintenance including pruning, mulching, fertilizing, watering, and pest management.
• Waterfall and Lily Pond garden maintenance tasks
• Estate tree maintenance including watering and mulching
• Identifying hazards with the use of GIS and assisting with the removal of hazards along carriage roads.
• Turf and irrigation maintenance
• Assist the gardener with the diagnosis of plant nutrition and pest control needs, fertilization and herbicides.
• Carriage road and trail maintenance
• Maintenance of small engine equipment
• Working with youth crews in the summer.
• Historic apple tree pruning and potential to learn fruit-tree grafting skills

Schedule: Work schedule Monday – Friday 7:00 am-3:30pm EST. One week a month the ACE member will work with the gardener at Saint Gaudens National Historical Park.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $720/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. 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.

Housing: ACE members will be accommodated in provided housing at no cost for the duration of the term.

Professional Development Stipend: The ACE 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 will include OSHA-10 Certification and a Landscape Stewardship Fundamentals course.

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 valid driver’s license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request).
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required two-part criminal history
• 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 a minimum of a High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Willingness to learn and work as part of a team.
• Interest in horticulture, gardening, and/or tree care.

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. Ability to hike over rough terrain, and camp overnight under field conditions.
• 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 50 lbs., ability to move up to 50 pounds.
• Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates.
• Noise Environment: Moderate to high noise such as gas-powered chainsaws and other hand and power tools. 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, ticks, poison ivy 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.

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 the online application page for this position here: https://usaconservation.applicantpool.com/jobs/. Early consideration will be given as resumes are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact Member Coordinator, HPTC Programs, Kyle Ellison, at kellison@usaconservation.org.

EEO: American Conservation Experience provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, American Conservation Experience complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.