Position Title:  Urban Archaeology Corps(UAC) Archeological Technician– AmeriCorps Individual Placement  

Conservation Legacy Program: Southeast Conservation Corps

Site Location: Natchez Trace Parkway

Address: 2680 Natchez Trace Pkwy, Tupelo, MS 38804

Position Available: 2

Terms of Service:

Start Date: 02/10/25

End Date: 04/18/25

AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 300 hr

Purpose:

Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC) is a non-profit, AmeriCorps-affiliated organization. This individual placement is in partnership with the National Park Service and is an AmeriCorps Position.

SECC empowers young adults to cultivate compassion, responsibility, and grit through community service, and environmental stewardship.  

SECC selects young adults, ages 18-30, to complete conservation projects on public lands throughout the Southeast. SECC programs encourage environmental stewardship, foster community partnerships, and emphasize experiential learning. SECC serves a diverse population that is representative of the Southeast, including youth, graduates, veterans, and a cross-section of ethnicities and income levels.  

The Natchez Trace Parkway is a 444-mile recreational road and scenic drive through three states. It roughly follows the "Old Natchez Trace," a historic travel corridor used by American Indians, "Kaintucks," European settlers, slave traders, soldiers, and future presidents. Today, people can enjoy a scenic drive as well as hiking, biking, horseback riding, and camping along the Parkway.

The Resource Management division at the Natchez Trace Parkway seeks to preserve and protect the natural and cultural resources within its boundaries. The cultural resources section is seeking interns to assist the parkway Archeologist in working with the cultural resources.

Position Overview:

The Natchez Trace Parkway spans a total of 444 mi of roadway and encompasses 52,000 acres of land. The Parkway is seeking interns to assist in conducting assessments and updating databases to aid in future cultural resource management planing.

The intern will assist the Parkway Archeologist in archeological site assessments, submitting information to state agencies for records, and potentially participating in public outreach events. The assessments and records update with improve the Parkways ability to work on a comprehensive overview of cultural resources protected within its boundaries.

Description of Duties:

Conduct field condition assessments of archeological sites/subsites and prepare updates for the NPS Cultural Resource Information System (CRIS).

• Work with supervisor to plan and conduct archeological site/subsite field assessments.
• Relocate archeological sites/subsites and assess their condition using criteria provided by NPS resource management.
• Update CRIS records for each site/subsite assessment through GIS data and paper notes.
• Potential environment/human risk involved with this activity: Uneven terrain, hiking off trail/unmarked paths, hiking with equipment, slippery/ wet conditions, biting insects/wildlife encounters, ability to sit/stand for extended periods of time, potential interaction with Parkway visitors. Desk work, ability to sit/stand for extended periods of time, correspondence with state agencies.

Applies for state site numbers for archeology sites not registered with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).

• Work with supervisor to apply for state site numbers for archeology sites following guidance provided by Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee SHPO.
• Conduct background research using archival and GIS tools to compile information for state site number applications.
• Update CRIS and other related Parkway databases once state site numbers have been assigned.

Potential for archeological monitoring, subsurface testing, and public outreach opportunities.

• Work with supervisor to conducted archeological monitoring if necessary.
• Work with supervisor to conducted subsurface testing if necessary.
• Work with supervisor to organize a public outreach event if there is interest and an opportunity available.

Qualifications:

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• At least 18 years of age
• Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementary or secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant, and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.

 Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in history, archaeology, anthropology, or a related field; individual placement may be a junior or senior in college as well.
• Completion of field school
• Strong applicants will have experience in one or more of the following: museums and archives, public history, archaeology, Civil Rights history, African American history and culture, or southern history and culture. Successful applicants will also have experience working with museum collections, the ability to produce engaging and creative written content, and a passion for public-facing historical research.

Transportation:

A personal vehicle is not required but is strongly recommended due to the limited public transportation. A SECC vehicle will be provided for service related transportation only.

Physical Requirements:

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 functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. 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.

Time Requirements:

Typically, this position is expected to serve Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week -  but exact service schedules may vary. A half hour lunch break will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service.

Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

Orientation and Training:

• Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
• Meeting with regional cultural resources and curatorial staff; MCMS
• Archeological assessment methods (visual survey, field photography, Field Maps data collection), GIS, and CRIS
• SHPO guidance, CRIS, and other Parkway related databases trainings.
• Archeological monitoring and subsurface testing methods, GIS, building presentations for public outreach trainings.

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award: $1,565.08
• Living Allowance: $500 per week.
• Additional Benefit: $200 per week.
• Professional Development Funds: $2,451.25
• Possible student loan forbearance.
• Member Assistance Program – 3 free sessions of support with a counseling or work-life balance specialist.
• Uniform shirts
• Professional development opportunities (mentorship, resume support, etc.) and exposure to natural resource career paths.

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.

Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to:

• Bi-weekly timesheets
• Monthly Accomplishment Report
• Narrative Monthly Report.
• Bi-Monthly Check-Ins
• Midterm and Final Evals
• Exiting Task

Substance Free:

In accordance with a drug-free environment, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property. 

If you have questions about the position, please contact:

Heather R. Young, M.S. (she/her/hers)

Archeologist

Natchez Trace Parkway

heather_r_young@nps.gov 

If you have questions about the application process, please contact:

Ray Wilson (she/her/hers)

Individual Placement Coordinator

Southeast Conservation Corps

rwilson@conservationlegacy.org 

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. This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. Where a significant portion of the population eligible to be served needs services or information in a language other than English, the recipient shall take reasonable steps to provide written material of the type ordinarily available to the public in appropriate languages.

We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with AmeriCorps requirements. 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.