Archeology Monitoring Member - Shenandoah National Park

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with Shenandoah National Park (SHEN) is seeking ONE Archeology Monitoring Member to assist with monitoring construction projects that include ground-disturbing activities, assessing the condition of existing sites both in the front-country and backcountry of the park, cataloging archaeological collections, conducting environmental housekeeping, and working in the park's collection. Duties will be done independently, in consultation with NPS staff, and jointly with NPS staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date: May 1, 2026

Estimated End Date: September 19, 2026 (or 20 weeks after start)

*a 20-week minimum commitment is required *

Location Details/Description: Shenandoah National Park Headquarters, Luray, Virginia

Shenandoah National Park contains 196,000 forested acres along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains in northern Virginia. The Park's backcountry of steep rugged terrain contains 500 miles of trails, including 95 miles of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, and nearly 80,000 acres of federally designated wilderness. Skyline Drive, the famous scenic tour road through the Park, follows the ridge crest for 105 miles and connects to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Nearly two million people visit the Park each year to enjoy views from the Skyline Drive, hike trails, rock climb, enjoy nature study, camp, or stay overnight in one of the Park's rustic lodges or backcountry cabins. The Park supports approximately 1,400 vascular plant species, numerous state-rare plant species, and a variety of forest community types. The mountain streams are inhabited by 40 species of fish, over 230 taxa of aquatic invertebrates.

For more information regarding Shenandoah National Park, or the National Park Service, please visit the NPS website.

Position Overview: The members primary job will be to monitor active construction projects that involve ground disturbance, conduct archeological site condition assessments using established protocols and forms developed for Northeast Region parks, and prepare archaeological reports and correspondence for the park's management team. The member work will be independent with some virtual guidance from the regional archeological program's zone archeologist, who is based in Baltimore, MD. The members park-based supervisor will be the park's Cultural Resources Manager. Monitoring reports will be completed on a weekly-or-more-frequent basis, and will summarize areas monitored and include photographs. When time allows, the member will also monitor the condition of the park's 120+ family cemeteries, accompanying park staff and volunteers into the backcountry and documenting cemetery conditions, including access conditions. The member also may be called upon to serve in an environmental monitoring role, or to lead small teams of cultural resource documentation teams.

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: Most weeks you will be expected Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm, although considerable flexibility assists in doing backcountry site visits and detailed site visits. All served hours are credited to the internship.

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.

This position is part of the Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement must meet the PLC Eligibility Requirements to be considered for this position. Members may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service and 640 hours of service. If the duration of a PLC-eligible term is not long enough for Members to accrue 640 hours of service (~16 weeks), the total hours served at the completion of the term may be eligible to be combined with hours accrued from another PLC-eligible term to meet the 640 hours requirement. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age (You must be between the ages of 16 and 30. Some agencies also interpret these guidelines to include veterans up to age 35) and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general eligibility information on our website.

Housing: The selected ACE members will be accommodated in park housing at no cost to the member, for the duration of the term.

Housing consists of several homes with double occupancy bedrooms; housing will most likely be at Park Headquarters in Luray, VA or within 10 miles.

Luray, VA is 5 miles from Park Headquarters and has all of the standard amenities (grocery stores, movie theater, shops, restaurants, library etc.). Laundry facilities are also available at park housing locations. Cell phone reception is not reliable. A personal vehicle is required for transportation related to personal needs (e.g., food shopping). The site is rural and there is no reliable public transportation. Members will have use of a government vehicle for work related travel.

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.

Qualifications

Required:

• Members must be authorized to work in the United States. ACE does not provide sponsorship for employment visas.
• 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 criminal history checks
• 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 located on our Indeed homepage.

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a Bachelor's Degree and/or have relevant experience in Archeology, or Anthropology with a focus in archeological duties
• Knowledge of the principles of archeological site survey, excavation, and monitoring, including site formation processes, and the cultural/historical development of the eastern United States from the Paleoindian period to 1900.
• Ability and willingness to work with a professional archeologist on a semi-independent basis, documenting sites, monitoring construction activities, and performing duties in a sometimes-remote field setting.
• Deep interest in human prehistory and history, including how people use the land and create archeological sites and features.
• Comfortable with rural living and extended periods of independent work.

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, hiking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking and hearing. Manual dexterity required for use of various tools, computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment. Required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch.
• Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to 50 lbs., ability to move up to 80 pounds.
• Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates.
• Noise Environment: Moderate noise such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic.
• Travel: This position does not require unique travel.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The ACE Member(s) may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold, rocky terrain, swamp or wetland conditions, biting insects, and potentially dangerous wildlife. The Member is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow staff/Members or resources.

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the NPS or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the NPS. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the NPS, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to NPS and ACE equipment training, certification and safety protocols is required.

To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience, and contact information for three professional/academic references to ACE's online application page for this position on our website. Early consideration will be given as applications are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact ACE EPIC NPS Eastern Member Manager, Emily Oostveen.

If you meet at least 70 percent of the qualifications, we want to hear from you!

ACE participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information when you are enrolled in a program to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

EEO: Employment or Service with ACE is based upon ability, qualifications, attitude, and job-related factors. Every qualified employee, member, or applicant has the same opportunity for recruitment, hire, training, transfer, promotion, compensation, demotion, termination, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, creed, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, citizenship status, genetic information, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, medical condition, marital or parental status, political affiliation, ethnicity, hair texture or style, arrest record, caste, hereditary status, endogamy, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal law.