Interpretation and Community Outreach Individual Placement

Title: Interpretation and Community Outreach Individual Placement

Location: Petersburg National Battlefield in Petersburg, VA

Dates of Service: August 7^th, 2023 – August 2^nd, 2024 (52 weeks)

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

Status: This is a full-time (40 hour/week), temporary, 1700 hour AmeriCorps National Service position.

Questions? Contact ACCrecruiting@conservationlegacy.org

Position listing will remain open until 6/7.  

Appalachian Conservation Corps:

Appalachian Conservation Corps (ACC) 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.

Through partnerships with federal, state, and local partners, we offer Individual Placement positions to assist young people in gaining meaningful experience that will further their professional goals. Individual Placements serve at a partner site throughout their term, and ACC provides support from start to finish.  ACC welcomes national applicants, but also emphasizes the engagement of local individuals who represent the communities in which they serve. 

Petersburg National Battlefield:

Petersburg National Battlefield is an expansive park with locations spread over 33 miles. It is located around the City of Petersburg, south of Richmond, Virginia. The park was established to commemorate the 9.5-month long siege during the Civil War. This position is with the Department of Interpretation, who’s role at the park is to be the face of the park, by offering daily ranger programs, staff a visitor center, and offer special programs/outreach.

Position Summary:

Appalachian Conservation Corps and the Petersburg National Battlefield are seeking an Interpretation and Community Outreach Individual Placement (IP) to work alongside National Park Service staff and learn the skills necessary to become an interpretive ranger, focusing on working with the public, with a focus on under-told stories, highlighting diverse voices and the Black History of the area.

This year long AmeriCorps position will include training on various topics, including history, interpretation and education, and safety. During their term, the IP will gain experience involving interpretation of the parks history to a variety of audiences and learn how to address difficult topics in projects and programs, including slavery and race. They will also work to build relationships and engage the local community of Petersburg through this project.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Act as the face of the park, greeting visitors at a contact station or in the field.
• Learn about the park and help people plan their visit.
• Research, develop, and present formal interpretive programs that are audience centered.
• Work closely with staff on interpretive media projects, including social media, the website, brochures, and signage.
• Planning and hosting community outreach and educational programs for the local community.

During their term, the IP will work alongside National Park Service staff and trained on Interpretive program development and presentation, social media and other digital media, design for print media, event planning.

Benefits: 

• $600/week living stipend, paid bi-weekly 
• $120/week housing allowance
• Option to enroll in Health/vision/dental insurance
• $6,495 AmeriCorps Segal Education Award upon successful completion of 1700 hour service term (award amount varies based on length of commitment andcan be used for paying off federal student loans or paying tuition for a Title IV accredited college) 
• $1000 professional development fund
• Housing may be provided
• Eligibility for the Public Land Corps Hiring Authority upon successful completion – noncompetitive hiring status for two years when applying for federal positions.
• Possible federal student loan forbearanceand interest payoff
• Member Assistance Program – 3 free sessions of support with a counseling or work-life balance specialist
• Depending upon the academic institution and program, positions may fulfill internship requirements

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

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with customer service and presentations/public speaking
• Students of History, Anthropology, diverse cultures of the United States, Natural Sciences, Parks and Recreation, Communications, and other relevant fields are welcome

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)
• Possess a valid driver’s license

How to Apply:

In addition to your resume, please submit a one-page cover letter highlighting why you are interested in this position and how your background and experience will help you succeed in this position. Applications are only accepted through our website, www.appalachiancc.org/individualplacements.

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 a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.