Descendants Project Historic Preservation Fellow

Position Summary

Blanchard House Institute Fellow: Louisiana Heritage Tourism Corridor
Blanchard House Institute Fellow will work on site with The Descendants Project at St. John's Baptist Parish, 45 miles north of New Orleans, LA. This Fellow will work in collaboration with The Descendants Project and Blanchard House Institute, as well as many of their partners and community groups.
The Fellow will assist with creating a community historic preservation program including the preservation of historic properties. This location will soon become a National Register Historic District and contribute to the Great River Road National Historic Landmark. The Fellow will help in creating and hosting workshops that will inform the community and connect them with grants if they own a contributing resource. The Fellow will also support the restoration of a former store and developing a grocery store for the community with a mobile grocery component. This could include tasks such as urban farming, seeking and submitting grants to support the work, engaging the community, and others as required.
This position is 40 hours per week and requires work on holidays, weekends and hours other regular business hours as necessary.
Anticipated start date: April 14th, 2025. This is an on-site position.

Location: Vacherie, LA

Schedule

May 5, 2025 - April 17, 2026

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage multiple projects including meeting deadlines, communicating with partners, completing tasks, and more
• Communicate with partners and community, ensuring successful and timely completion of work projects
• Assist with historic preservation projects ranging from trail and land maintenance to building preservation
• Assist with urban farming projects
• Create and host workshops that help inform and educate community on the Great River Road National Historic Landmark
• Assist with implementation of mobile grocery application including research, recommendations, development, community education, and other tasks as appropriate
• Help develop a funding pipeline including researching grant opportunities, developing materials, and submitting grants
• Coordinate community engagement
• Ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse socio-economic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds
• Ability to work effectively in different temperatures and work environments including extreme heat
• Ability to understand and embrace the full history of the site
• Create and maintain a safe service and project environment
• Log outcomes in SCA's database
• Uphold a positive representation of Blanchard House Institute, The Descendants Project, and SCA

Marginal Duties

• Support with reporting and materials development as needed
• Maintenance that could include vegetation removal, weeding, and pruning
• Additional support provided to site partner as needed

Required Qualifications

• Project management experience
• Good communication skills both verbal and written
• Familiarity with the region
• Collaborative approach to work and the ability to manage projects independently
• Experience working with community members
• Experience with preservation/conservation/restoration skills such as trail maintenance, habitat restoration, gardening, and historic preservation of buildings
• Must be minimum of 21 years of age
• Must have the ability to legally work in the U.S.
• Ability to perform manual, physical labor indoors and outdoors
• Must be able to lift and/or move 25 pounds or more
• Ability to work at a desk with a computer or laptop
• Minimum of a two-year college degree
• State-issued Driver's License; personal vehicle

Preferred Qualifications

• Public speaking
• Experience with historic preservation and economic development
• Experience with tourism

Hours

40 per week

Living Accommodations

The Fellow would need to find their own living accommodations. Blanchard House Institute/The Descendants Project could assist as needed.

Compensation

• Compensation is $900/week
• Health insurance is offered with this position
• One-time relocation allowance of $650

All allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes.

Personal Vehicle Information

Recommended

Additional Benefits

Interpretive Skills
Health Insurance
AmeriCorps: Not Eligible

Equal Opportunity Statement

SCA strives to cultivate a work environment that encourages fairness, teamwork, and respect among all staff members. SCA is committed to maintaining a work atmosphere in which people of diverse backgrounds and lifestyles may grow personally and professionally. The Student Conservation Association, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.

Physical requirements and working conditions specific to the position are available in the full job description.