Title: Cultural Steward Individual Placements

Location: Jamestown, VA

Dates of Service : **** May 20th, 2024 – November 15th, 2024 (26 weeks)

Positions Available: 3 Internships

Pay: $720/week ($600/stipend + $120/housing allowance)

Status: This is a full-time, temporary, 900-hour AmeriCorps National Service position.

Questions? Contact ACCrecruiting@conservationlegacy.org

_Applications will be accepted until March 20 th or until the positions have been filled. Submit your resume and cover letter through our website, www.appalachiancc.org/individualplacements _

**Appalachian Conservation Corps: **

Our Individual Placement program works to connect young people to conservation service work across Appalachia and neighboring communities in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, DC, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. ACC is a program of Conservation Legacy, a nationwide network of conservation organizations.

Individual Placements gain hands-on experience at their placement site, and ACC supports them through their term, as well as provides a variety of benefits to help them succeed in achieving their career goals. ACC welcomes national applicants, but also emphasizes the engagement of local individuals who represent the communities in which they serve.

**Position Summary: **

The Cultural Steward Individual Placement Program is based in Jamestown, Virginia. The National Park Service staff at Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail (Chesapeake Trail) are responsible for the protection of Werowocomoco in Gloucester, VA. National Park Service staff in consultation with seven tribal partners are gathering information about Werowocomoco and understanding it as a Native place.

Werowocomoco is an internationally significant Native place where the leader Wahunsenacawh, also known as Powhatan, lived and received the newly arrived English leaders. Archaeology shows that Native people had been living at Werowocomoco for thousands of years, and that by the year 1200, many homes were along the river bluff. The interior of the site included landscape features that marked it as a place of leadership.

Continuing in 2024, the National Park Service will host three people in this Individual Placement program that will introduce participants to major aspects of national park operations and then work with staff to apply new skills at and for Werowocomoco as circumstances allow.

Individual Placements will train with NPS staff from the Chesapeake National Historic Trail and Colonial National Historical Park to learn and apply principles from the divisions of Interpretation and Education, Law Enforcement, Facility Management, and Resource Stewardship and Science. Examples of training and projects may include: developing educational programs such as a Junior Ranger activity book and curricula, surveying and estimating the deer population at Werowocomoco, inventorying native and invasive plant species, assisting with archeological monitoring, observing patrols of Werowocomoco by law enforcement rangers, caring for the grounds and buildings at Werowocomoco. IP’s time will be divided between the divisions as opportunities allow.

Job Responsibilities are varied and change often during the IP’s term. Daily tasks include but are not limited to:

• Management of email and personal calendar

• Attending weekly all-staff meetings

• Developing and presenting interpretive programming

• Research time to complete and support project goals

• Multiple training opportunities are provided, both virtual and in-person.

• Archaeology field work

• Participate in day-to-day operations of a national trail, including public outreach, workshopping programs with teammates, answering inquiries, managing inventory of materials, event preparation

• Based on IP’s personal interests and skillset, duties, and special tasks will be assigned.

The long-term goal is for the participants to develop career paths leading to opportunities at Werowocomoco and other National Park Service sites. The position provides the Individual Placement with noncompetitive hiring authority under the Public Lands Corps Act. This hiring authority lasts for two years and makes the Individual Placement eligible for certain job positions within the NPS.

Typically, Individual Placements will primarily report to work at trail headquarters in Jamestown, VA. Additional work locations include Yorktown and Gloucester, VA and the local vicinity for other work-related training opportunities. Individual Placements will undergo a background check in order to attain the necessary credentials for accessing NPS computers and vehicles.

**Benefits: **

• $720/week ($600/living stipend + $120/housing allowance), paid bi-weekly

• 900-hour AmeriCorps Segal Education Award ($3,447.50) upon successful completion of service term (award amount varies based on length of commitment and can be used for paying off federal student loans or paying tuition for a Title IV accredited college)

• Professional development fund of $250

• Eligibility for the Public Land Corps Hiring Authority upon successful completion – noncompetitive hiring status for two years

• Possible student loan forbearance

• Member Assistance Program – 3 free sessions of support with a counseling or work-life balance specialist

• Depending upon the academic institution and program, this position may fulfill academic internship requirements

• Professional development opportunities (mentorship, resume support, alumni listserv, etc.) and exposure to resource management career paths

**Our Promise: **

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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 job functions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Required Skills

**Preferred Qualifications: **

• Preference will be given to qualified Native American candidates.

• Experience in public facing roles, customer service

• Experience working with Native American youth and young people or experience working in Native American communities.

**General Qualifications: **

• Be between the ages of 18 and 30 (exception for Veterans up to age 35)

• Have US Citizenship or Legal Permanent Residency status

• Have a high school diploma or GED

• Pass background checks: all offers of positions are conditional upon completion of an acceptable check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry and Federal and/or State criminal background check

• Must be eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award (individuals are eligible if they have not already completed 2 full years of AmeriCorps service, or 4 AmeriCorps service terms, whichever comes first – please contact us if you are unsure of your eligibility)

• Must have the ability to lift to 30 pounds.

• Valid driver’s license.

Required Experience

**Preferred Qualifications: **

• Preference will be given to qualified Native American candidates.

• Experience in public facing roles, customer service

• Experience working with Native American youth and young people or experience working in Native American communities.

**General Qualifications: **

• Be between the ages of 18 and 30 (exception for Veterans up to age 35)

• Have US Citizenship or Legal Permanent Residency status

• Have a high school diploma or GED

• Pass background checks: all offers of positions are conditional upon completion of an acceptable check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry and Federal and/or State criminal background check

• Must be eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award (individuals are eligible if they have not already completed 2 full years of AmeriCorps service, or 4 AmeriCorps service terms, whichever comes first – please contact us if you are unsure of your eligibility)

• Must have the ability to lift to 30 pounds.

• Valid driver’s license.