Alaska Interpretation Intensive Member - Denali National Park and Preserve

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with National Park Service is seeking ONE member to contribute to the Interpretation Intensive project alongside Denali National Park & Preserve Staff.

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

Start Date: April 15, 2024

Estimated End Date: November 1, 2024

*a 29 -week minimum commitment is required *

Location Details/Description: Denali National Park and Preserve, AK

Denali National Park and Preserve is located in the heart of interior Alaska, a 2-hour drive south of Fairbanks, AK. There are nearly 200 residents inside the park over the summer, including seasonal ranger and Member housing, permanent ranger housing and park concessionaire housing. The nearby communities of Healy, McKinley Village and Cantwell include a limited range of restaurants, cafes, and recreational businesses (e.g. raft guides, flight seeing, etc.). There is a full-service grocery store 10 miles outside the park; however, employees commonly drive to Fairbanks (120 miles) for larger shopping and supply trips. Employees without personal vehicles can generally find rideshare opportunities to run needed errands.

For more information about Denali, please visit www.nps.gov/dena

Position Overview:

Members in the Alaska Interpretive Intensive will participate in Audience Centered Experience (also acronymed as ACE) based seasonal Interpretive training, develop and deliver original interpretive programs, participate in a multi-day training covering web and app authoring and interpretive writing and take the National Park Service's ACE Train-the-Trainer course. Members will work in the full breadth of a park interpretive program for the duration of the Intensive.

This position will work as part of the Denali National Park and Preserve interpretive team. An interpretation Member at Denali gets to experience the breadth of visitor services the park has to offer and immerse themselves in the park's incredible scenery and wildlife habitat. The Member learns and practices several different skills and duties as a frontline interpreter: informal visitor contacts at three different ranger contact stations and visitor centers; orienting visitors remotely on the park phone line, by email or through social media posts; engaging in fee collection and pass sales at the visitor center desk; and preparing and presenting a wide range of formal interpretive programs.

This position will experience developing and delivering interpretive talks - including Sled Dog Demonstrations, chats or pop-ups, a guided hike program, and an evening campground program. The Member will have professional support through formal interpretive coaching and peer reviews, mentoring or guidance with program development and outlines, and self-assessment tools and practices as they deliver each program throughout the season.

The Member also gets out on park trails regularly to rove and talk with visitors about natural and cultural history as well as wildlife safety. Members will receive training on crowd management and assertive communication in order to manage visitors around park wildlife; the interpretation team will ensure Members are comfortable with using these skills by deploying them with a backup/2nd staff member when they first work remote shifts and giving the Member the opportunity to practice crowd management with support.

The Member will also have a feature, term-long project. The park would like to overhaul our safety-related webpages and specifically the wildlife safety information, much of which is outdated. There would be opportunities for the Member to collaborate with the wildlife management team in developing the content for this page. Part of the strategy for this project would involve making the information more easily digestible and dividing the content into multiple new pages (wilderness safety, wildlife safety, etc.). Another option for a web-based project is expanding the park's archeology content. The Member could collaborate with cultural resources staff to develop content that interprets the purpose of archeology and highlights recent surveys and findings. The goal of the project would be to produce 2-3 new articles and an improved home archeology page.

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: Members of the Denali Interpretation team work a "5-4-9" schedule which allows for a three day weekend every other week. The first week consists of five 9-hour work days prior to the two-day weekend. The second week consists of three 9-hour work days and one 8-hour work day prior to the three-day weekend. Because Denali interpreters serve the public through Campground Programs and other evening shifts, a typical week starts with later shifts and ends with earlier shifts. The Member's schedule might look like 11:30am-9:00pm shifts the first day or two of the week, 9am-6:30pm shifts mid-week and ending the week on an early shift starting either at 7:30am or occasionally at 5:30am. During training the individual works Monday-Friday, but during summer the individual may have consistent mid-weekdays off (like Tuesday/Wednesday every other Thursday).

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $800/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: Housing is provided by the National Park Service. Housing is in shared cabins (2 occupants, each with a private bedroom and shared kitchen/living area) in a seasonal housing area with ~30 cabins comprising the neighborhood. The residents share a shower house which includes restrooms, showers and laundry. There are also amenities like an indoor recreation hall, outdoor fire pit and grill area, greenhouses, volleyball court and gear like bicycles/helmets available by checkout.

Project Travel: ACE members will have access to up to $6000 to be used for eligible relocation expenses and project travel.. Further details regarding distribution of these funds will be provided during the interview process.

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 Interpretive skills training, including how to develop and deliver original interpretive programs. Denali also provides a wide range of park skills training including CPR, group management, wildlife safety and off-trail travel training. Training is ongoing throughout the summer and may include job shadowing and expert speakers in park natural and cultural resource topics. The Member will also participate in a multi-day training covering web and app authoring and interpretive writing and take the National Park Service's ACE Train-the-Trainer 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 check.
• Willing to undergo a fee clearance background check, including credit 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.
• Member may not participate in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement.
• 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 an associate or bachelor's degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such public speaking, education in natural sciences and/or cultural resources.
• Knowledge of biology, plant identification, history, archaeology, etc. appreciated.
• Ability and willingness to learn new skills, provide customer service, learn park information quickly, work collaboratively on a large team, problem solve communication issues at the lowest level possible, be self-motivated to complete project work and pursue professional growth and flexibility for all that a dynamic summer in a National Park can bring when working with the public.
• Deep interest in working with the public and spending time outdoors in all types of Alaska weather conditions.

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Work conditions may include standing in one place, repetitive movements, answering repetitive questions, spending extended time at a visitor center desk or workstation, as well as extended time outside in a wide range of weather conditions, walking/hiking over uneven terrain on trails or in a wilderness setting, and riding in a bus or train. Member may need to carry a pack with up to 25 pounds of communications, safety, first-aid, and personal gear and be able to hike on uneven terrain such as river bars, tundra, through brush, and on scree or talus while providing an interpretive program. Accommodation to modify physical demands is available.
• Vision Requirements: No specific requirements, accommodation to modify vision demands available.
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Incumbent may need to carry a pack with up to 25 pounds, accommodation to modify weight demands available.
• Environmental: The position spends roughly half the time indoors and the other half with extended time outside in a wide range of weather conditions, walking/hiking over uneven terrain on trails or in a wilderness setting, and riding in a bus or train.
• Noise Environment: May occasionally experience moderate noise of bus, train or plane traffic along the park's road corridor. At the park's Sled Dog Kennels, may occasionally experience noise at higher levels with the option to use hearing protection (dogs barking during sled hook up or feeding time).
• Travel: This position does not require travel, but may provide the opportunity for travel 1-3 nights if the Member elects to participate in training or job shadowing that might take the Member to more remote parts of the park or to Anchorage, Fairbanks or Talkeetna.

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. Working in Alaska means living and working in bear and moose country. The park provides wildlife safety training for personal safety and safety working with the public in the presence of wildlife.

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the National Park Service or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by 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 ACE EPIC NPS Recruitment and Outreach Manager, Victoria Yee, at vyee@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.

Current Openings for Alaska Interpretation Intensive Member Denali National Park and Preserve Jobs at American Conservation Experience - EPIC