TITLE: Civil Engineering Student Intern REPORTS TO: Jeremiah Glasz, Civil Engineer; Natchez Trace Parkway LOCATION: Tupelo, MS                  STATUS: Seasonal, Full-time, Exempt (450-hour AmeriCorps National Service Term) STIPEND: ~$580 weekly (paid bi-weekly) HEALTH BENEFITS: Not Health Benefit Eligible OTHER BENEFITS: Training, uniform shirts, and protective equipment provided. Other development opportunities as available. $1,638.89 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion of service term. POSITION DATES: 5/10/21 – 7/30/21 (12 weeks) POSITIONS AVAILABLE: 1

SOUTHEAST CONSERVATION CORPS (SECC):

SECC empowers young people to attain compassion, responsibility and grit through community service, hard work and environmental stewardship. SECC is a local, non-profit, AmeriCorps affiliated organization based out of Chattanooga, TN. SECC selects young adults ages 18 - 35, to complete conservation work projects on public, private, and municipal lands throughout the Southeast. SECC fosters the personal development of corpsmembers through environmental stewardship projects and experiential learning. Through community partnerships, SECC provides hands-on job training opportunities to young adults while simultaneously meeting natural resource needs throughout the Southeast. SECC positions focus on place-based learning, life skills development, appreciation of diversity, civic responsibility, and career development. SECC also provides an opportunity for interns to learn about the local environment, environmental issues and introduces individuals to recreation and resource management careers.    

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

The National Park Service (NPS) preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. As a unit of NPS, the Natchez Trace Parkway commemorates the historic travel corridor known as the Natchez Trace, which is one of the oldest transportation routes in North America. The modern Parkway stretches 444 miles and takes more than 10 hours to drive from end to end through three states, 25 counties, and 20 communities. The combined residential population of the counties it traverses is nearly two million. In addition, there are more than 3,000 commercial and private landowners immediately adjacent to the Parkway boundary. The modern Parkway was completed in 2005 and now covers one of the largest geographic ranges of any unit in the national park system. The Parkway corridor, which spans five degrees of latitude, includes 52,000 acres of impressive scenic, natural, cultural, and historic resources representing a variety of traditional southern landscapes—forests, wetlands, prairies, rivers, pastures, and croplands. In 1996, the Natchez Trace Parkway was designated a National Scenic Byway and All-American Road for its significant historic, cultural, natural, and scenic qualities. Almost 6 million people visited the Parkway in 2014, which makes it the eighth most visited National Park Service place in the nation. Headquarters is based in Tupelo, Mississippi.

The intern will provide support to the Civil Engineer within the maintenance division of the Natchez Trace Parkway in planning, developing, and implementing transportation and infrastructure projects including roads, bridges, culverts, trails, building, water and sewer systems.

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• Field investigations and surveys
• Project scoping and assessments
• Development of draft project/contract documents based on existing templates while learning and implementing applicable standards and codes
• Construction inspection and field reports
• Project management
• Administration of contracts and agreements
• Compliance
• Database operations

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Enrolled in ABET accredited Civil Engineering degree program pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Previous engineering design or construction industry experience

AMERICORPS QUALIFICATIONS:

To qualify, you must be between the ages of 18 and 30 (exception for Veterans up to age 35), and a US Citizen, National, or Legal Permanent Resident that has received a high school diploma or GED. All offers of employment are conditional upon completion of an acceptable check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry, state, and federal criminal background checks. 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). 

COMPENSATION:

Interns earn a living stipend of ~$580/week ($1,160 dispersed bi-weekly before taxes) via direct deposit. On-site housing, training, uniform shirts, and protective equipment is provided. Upon successful completion of their term, interns will receive a $1,638.89 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award for tuition at Title IV accredited learning institutions, AmeriCorps approved non-traditional continued education or paying off student loans.

PARTICIPATION AND EXPEDITION BEHAVIOR:

• Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem-solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences.
• Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of others for any reason.
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national service. Members must commit to participating in all crew/team activities, including service days in local communities where applicable.
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization staff.
• Have the cognitive ability to learn necessary skills and apply them to effectively carry out the service work requirements.
• Appropriately always represent the Program and AmeriCorps to the public and project partners.

 SAFETY AND JUDGMENT:

• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance. You must be able to do so at up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or high winds.
• Effectively perceive, understand, and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute appropriate and perhaps unfamiliar techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during exposure to the hazard.
• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions
• Perceive and comprehend significant and apparent hazards, including those hazards previously identified by others.
• Respond appropriately to stress or crises.
• If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self-medicating without assistance from others.

ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS:

Learn and practice ‘Leave no Trace’ techniques.

OUTDOOR SKILLS AND FITNESS (WHERE APPROPRIATE):

• Learn and safely perform fundamental outdoor living/travel and work skills as appropriate to the project. Additionally, remain adequately hydrated, fed, and properly dressed to remain generally healthy and safe, avoiding environmental injuries.
• Live in a physically demanding, possibly remote environment for an uninterrupted period of up to several weeks. Conditions of this environment may vary significantly and may include severe and/or trying weather. The remoteness is such that it may require at a minimum one hour, but perhaps up to 12 hours, to reach the nearest advanced medical care.

  SUBSTANCE FREE:

In accordance with a drug free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.

THIS PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE TO ALL ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS, WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, DISABILITY, AGE, SEX, POLITICAL AFFILIATION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, OR RELIGION. 

TO APPLY:

Follow the SECC link and complete the application. Please include a resume. A cover letter and references are encouraged but not required.

If you have questions regarding the application process, please contact: 

Darby Reed Enrollment Coordinator Southeast Conservation Corps (304) 860-0320 dreed@conservationlegacy.org 

Required Skills Required Experience

REQUIRED EDUCATION

• A related associates (or relevant current industry license or certification) and 4000 verified occupational/industry hours within 7 years;
• OR, a related Bachelor's or any Master's degree with 18 discipline related credits and 2000 verified occupational/industry hours within 7 years.

RELATED DEGREE, CREDENTIAL, AND/OR OCCUPATIONAL EXPERIENCE:  Process heating and/or cooling, HVAC Technician, HVA certification or license, Mechanical Engineer, DOL apprenticeship credential in HVAC,

PREFERRED EDUCATION

• AAS Degree in HVAC/R preferred but not required.