CRDIP Curatorial Member - Boston National Historical Park

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 Member to gain experience working with Boston National Historical Park's collection of over 600,000 items rich in industrial history, urban archeology, and archives.

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

Start Date: June 3, 2024 (flexible)

Estimated End Date: August 23, 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. To learn more: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/tellingallamericansstories/join-us.htm

Location Details/Description: Boston National Historical Park- Boston, MA

The earliest Native Americans adapted this landscape for their survival. They lived on the harbor's islands and peninsulas for protection, trapped seafood on its vast tidal plains, and used the coastline and rivers for transportation. When interactions with Europeans began in the 1500s, the people of this place were called the Massachuset. By the early 1600s, English colonists chose to settle this harbor for many of the same advantages. The beginning of this settlement marks the beginning of Boston's written history.

Throughout the next four centuries, the story of Boston has been one of revolution: Stories of dramatic change, intense conflict, painful exploitation, but also empowering pursuits of freedom. Not just one singular "freedom," but many different understandings and ideas of freedom. For more information about the park, please visit: https://www.nps.gov/bost/index.htm

Position Overview: The Curatorial Member will get a behind-the-scenes look at the collections both on exhibit and in collection storage. Working with the park's Museum Curator, the ACE Member will gain experience working with the park's collection of over 600,000 items rich in industrial history, urban archeology, and archives that include textual records, photographs, and architectural drawings. Collections include historical and archeological objects as well as archives that document the sites that the park administers at the Charlestown Navy Yard, Bunker Hill, Dorchester Heights and onboard the USS Cassin Young, a WWII and Cold War Era Navy ship. The major job responsibilities will be to:

• Positively identify museum objects and archives
• Check object locations, accession paperwork, condition, and record findings on NPS collection inventory forms
• Improve the storage environment, description in catalog records, and organization of objects and archives

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: Full-time position Monday to Friday; 8:30am-5:00pm. Collections inventory involves both office work on collection records and checking object locations in storage and in exhibits around the park; work occurs both in the office and the field.

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: Park dorm-style housing is provided at no cost for the duration of their term.

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 may include collections or archives training.

Qualifications

Required:

• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Attention to detail and sustained focus for long stretches of time
• 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 current and valid form of ID (will be required to provide copies of ID's upon hiring)
• Willing to undergo and must pass the 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 object handling, cataloging, and writing object descriptions
• 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 indoor environment conditions; indoor air quality is good and temperature is controlled. Work may take place outside or in non-climate controlled facilities, such as outbuildings, basements, or storage facilities.

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 CRDIP Member Manager, 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 : $600