Cultural Resource Management Member - Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service, is seeking ONE Cultural Resource Management Member to assist with digitizing archival materials and a variety of other cultural resource management projects alongside Cumberland Gap National Historical Park staff.

For more information on ACE, please visit our usaconservation website

Start Date: October 21, 2024

Estimated End Date: October 11, 2025 (or 51 weeks after start date)

*a 51-week minimum commitment is required*

Location Details/Description: Cumberland Gap National Historical Park - the corners of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia

The Park contains 24,000 acres of which 14,000 acres are proposed wilderness. The natural beauty of Appalachian mountain country, lush with vegetation, supports diverse populations of flora and fauna. Cumberland Gap has 70 miles of hiking trails, mountains, streams, and caves. Middlesboro, Kentucky is the nearest town and is large enough to accommodate three grocery stores, several restaurants, and a movie theater. Knoxville, Tennessee is approximately 1.5 hours away and holds many amenities of a large city.

For more information regarding Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, or the National Park Service, please visit the site website.

Position Overview: The overarching goal of this project is to catalog and preserve Cumberland Gap NHP's archival materials and improve access to resource management records and important park documents in addition to providing support for Cumberland Gap NHP's Cultural Resource Program Manager by assisting with cultural resource and museum management responsibilities.

Responsibilities will include:

Identifying, evaluating, and digitizing Cumberland Gap's archival materials to facilitate NPS staff and public access to important park archival materials. These duties could look like:

• Identifying and cataloging park archival materials into NPS databases, as needed
• Digitizing archival materials following established protocols
• Rehousing archival materials following established NPS procedures
• Creating finding aids as needed
• Making recommendations for future prioritization of preservation efforts
• Digitizing and rehousing up to 20 linear feet of archival materials

Assisting the Cultural Resource Program Manager to ensure Cumberland Gap and NPS resource obligations are met. These duties could look like:

• Conducting archeological site condition assessments
• Conducting historic structure condition assessments
• Entering data into NPS databases
• Assisting with archeological fieldwork as needed
• Assisting with museum management responsibilities (Annual Inventories of Museum Property, rehousing museum materials, cataloging Natural, Cultural, and/or archival materials)
• Photographing up to 2000 museum objects

The ACE Member will receive on-the-job learning experience with cultural resource management responsibilities within the National Park Service via professional mentoring and hands-on experience.

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: Likely M-F ~8am-4:30pm, 40 hours per week.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $650/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

Housing: Housing will be the responsibility of the ACE member. IF there is room in NPS shared-housing, it will be available at a monthly cost to the member; All utilities are included, but internet would be the members responsibility. The member may opt out of NPS housing in favor of their own housing.

NOTE: It can be rather difficult to secure rental accommodations in the Middlesboro area.

AmeriCorps Education Award Program: This position may be eligible for an 1700-hour AmeriCorps Education Award while serving under the EAP 2024/25 grant year program, valued up to (TBD) upon successful completion of a complete service term and 1700 hours.

Loan Forbearance: AmeriCorps members may also be eligible for federal loan forbearance. Additional enrollment steps are required.

Qualifying Child Care Coverage: AmeriCorps members may also be eligible for qualifying child care coverage. Additional enrollment steps are required.

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.

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.
• If driving is required: A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request).
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history checks
• 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 usaconservation website

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a minimum of a bachelor's degree and/or have relevant experience in cultural resource management or other related disciplines.

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. Required to navigate caves that include narrow passages and steep ledges.
• 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 30 pounds, ability to move up to 50 pounds.
• Environmental: A mix of outdoor and indoor conditions. Outdoor conditions include working in various climates and navigating through caves.
• Noise Environment: Moderate noise such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic.
• Travel: This position does not require unique travel.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The ACE member(s) may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold, rocky terrain, swamp or wetland conditions, narrow or steep cave features, 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.

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the partner 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 the usaconservation website. EEarly 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 Eastern Membr Manager, Emily Oostveen.

ACE values an inclusive workforce - if you meet at least 70 percent of the qualifications, we want to hear from you!ACE participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information when you are hired to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

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.

Current Openings for Cultural Resource Management Member Cumberland Gap National Historical Park Jobs at American Conservation Experience - EPIC