CRDIP Curatorial Assistant - Steamtown National Historic Site

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS) and through the Cultural Resources Diversity Internship Program, is seeking a Curatorial Assistant to assist Steamtown National Historic Site staff with collection management, monitoring, and cataloging.

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

Start Date: May 20, 2024 (preferred)

Estimated End Date: August 9, 2024

*a 12-week minimum commitment is required *

The Cultural Resources Diversity Internship Program (CRDIP) is a professional development internship that introduces students and recent graduates, from backgrounds historically underrepresented in the National Parks, to career opportunities within Cultural Resource Management in the NPS. CRDIP participants will have the opportunity to attend several professional development webinars as well as write blogs or create videos about their projects throughout their term.

Location: Steamtown National Historic Site, Scranton, PA

Steamtown National Historic site is located in downtown Scranton, PA, the largest city in Northeastern Pennsylvania with 76,000 residents. Elevation ranges from 650 to 1,400 feet above sea level. The city offers hospitals, recreational opportunities, entertainment venues, a variety of grocery stores, and other shopping opportunities. The park is walking distance to the Steamtown Mall (The Marketplace at Steamtown). The County of Lackawanna Transit System (COLTS) operates public bus service for the city and its surrounding area. Average summer temperatures range from 54°F to 80°F with occasional heat waves. For more information about the park, please visit https://www.nps.gov/stea/index.htm

Having a personal vehicle is not required, but is highly recommended for commuting and to access groceries and other needs on days off. Public transportation and ride share are available, but may be limited.

Position Overview: The ACE member will assist the park's curatorial staff with routine housekeeping and environmental monitoring in exhibit spaces and collection storage areas weekly and monthly to ensure the preservation and protection of museum collections and to enhance the visitor experience to the site. The member will learn to safely handle, label, and document museum objects while rehousing archeology collections to meet NPS standards. The member will also research storage options and create a processing/cataloging plan for the extensive Nathan Manufacturing Company pattern parts collection. The collection relates to the companies' archives, and consists of molds, templates, and patterns used in the manufacturing and maintenance of steam locomotives. The ACE member will also assist museum staff with:

• Completing monthly entries into databases that document important environmental data used by park staff to make management decisions regarding the preservation and protection of the park's museum collections.
• A project to rehouse archeology collections to reunite artifacts with their original parent accessions was begun in response to a recommendation made in the park's 2019 Collection Management Plan (CMP).
• The ACE member will provide the park with storage options for the Nathan Manufacturing Company collection and a plan forward for processing/cataloging the objects.

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development, promote exposure to land management agencies, and networking with professionals. Opportunities may include gaining experience in different conservation fields (natural or cultural), shadowing different work groups within the park, and/or assistance at other National Park Service sites.

Schedule: Full-time position; Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm EDT.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $600/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

AmeriCorps Education Award Program: This position may be eligible for an 450-hour AmeriCorps Education Award while serving under the EAP 2023/24 grant year program, valued up to $1,824.07 upon successful completion of a complete service term and service hours.

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

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 here.

Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE or NPS. A reimbursement not to exceed $1,200/month will be provided to help offset the cost of housing, in addition to the weekly living allowance.

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. Park-specific onboarding and training will be provided, which may include site orientation, safety training, new/seasonal park operations training, collections management training, workshops on resume building and applying to federal jobs, and regular training and webinars focused on collection management. There will also be the opportunity to visit nearby cultural institutions to learn about how other public history sites are managed.

Qualifications

Required:

• Candidate is enthusiastic about history and preserving/protecting cultural material
• Demonstrates attention to detail
• Works well individually and in a team environment
• 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 flexible, working both self-directed and alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• Ability to pass ACE required three-part criminal 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 here

Preferred:

• Possess a degree, experience, and/or demonstrated interest in public history, cultural resource management, museum studies, or a related discipline
• Experience with or willingness to learn object handling, cataloging, and writing object descriptions
• Experience conducting historical research
• Experience photographing objects
• Bilingual applicants are encouraged and welcome

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, and reaching with hands and arms. Manual dexterity required for use of various tools, computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment. Required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch.
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Ability to move up to 50 pounds.
• Environmental: Mostly office environment conditions; indoor air quality is good and temperature is controlled. A portion of the work may take place outside or in non-climate controlled facilities, such as outbuildings, basements, or storage facilities..
• Noise Environment: Moderate noise such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The ACE member(s) may encounter environmental conditions/hazards such as pest excrement and/or mold but will be provided proper protective equipment. The member is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow staff/members, or cultural resources.

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 the recruiter and CRDIP Member Coordinator, Samira Rosario Martinez, at srosario-martinez@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.

Salary : $1,200