Hybrid Individual Placement - Cultural Resources Participant bei Student Conservation Association

Conservation Begins Here

Cultural Resources Participant

Position Summary 

The Individual Placement will have broad exposure to the Science and Resources Management Division at Big Bend National Park and will specifically work within the Cultural Resources Program under the direct supervision of the Park Archeologist and Museum Specialist. Projects will consist of a mix of field work and museum work. Field work will include performing archaeological site condition assessments throughout the park on sites that span a history of over 13,000 years, including significant indigenous cultural sites as well as later period sites associated with nineteenth and twentieth century ranching, farming, and mining prospects. In addition to archaeological site assessments, the intern may have the opportunity to participate in historic preservation work including adobe maintenance and repair. Museum work will include cataloging, labeling, and organizing archaeological materials, as well as compiling and entering metadata for historic photographs. Through this work, the intern will gain a wide range of experience and an understanding of the complexities, challenges, and ultimate rewards of working with the National Park Service and our Tribal partners and local community to manage cultural resources on over 800,000 acres.

Location 

Panther Junction, Big Bend National Park, TX

Schedule 

December 1, 2025 – April 6, 2026

Key Duties and Responsibilities 

The Individual Placement will work under direct supervision of the Park Archaeologist as well as the Museum Specialist. They will receive training on a wide variety of protocols for recording archaeological sites and working with collections in a museum/archive. Key duties and responsibilities will include revisiting archaeological sites in the park and performing condition assessments to identify impacts to sites since they were last recorded as well as updating missing or new data. Condition assessments are done using a digital tablet and the intern will be responsible for entering data in the field and downloading and integrating the data with the park specific database as well as the overall NPS database. As such, basic skills using ESRI software and ArcGIS are necessary to successfully perform the work. In addition to archaeological site assessments, the intern may assist with historic preservation projects and structural maintenance and condition assessments. In addition to these more field-based projects, the individual will also work with the Museum Specialist on a variety of ongoing projects including cataloguing objects and historic photographs, database management, condition monitoring, annual inventories, and routine exhibit maintenance.  If the Individual Placement has specific research interests (indigenous history, early ranching, mining, petroglyphs, historic cemeteries) we can work together to incorporate those interests into their work.

Marginal Duties 

Marginal duties may include organizing equipment, filing and organizing documents related to the museum or cultural resources management, and performing vehicle safety checks.

Age Requirement

• Adults 18 or older

Required Qualifications 

• Successful applicants should have some prior field experience and college or graduate level coursework in archaeology, historic preservation, or a related field.
• General knowledge and the ability to navigate and perform basic database entry and map making using ArcGISPro is necessary. The park also works with Survey123 and/or Field Maps applications as well as Avenza Maps. Knowledge of these programs is a plus.
• Experience and willingness to hike, camp and navigate in backcountry settings and tolerance of heat and a wide range of weather is necessary. Training will be provided to perform archaeological site condition assessments, including artifact and feature identification, as well as vehicle, radio use and safety protocols. Following training, the park archaeologist or a volunteer will sometimes accompany the member on site visits, but the applicant should be self-motivated and comfortable working alone in an outdoor setting.
• Please note that Big Bend is extremely remote, and it is necessary to have a personal vehicle to go the grocery store or get any other personal supplies/needs. There is a small grocery store in Terlingua (30 miles away) and a larger one in Alpine (100 miles away).
• Driver's license Vehicle for personal transportation

This SCA Position is authorized under the Public Land Corps Authority. All participants must be between the ages of 16 and 30, inclusive, or veterans age 35 or younger. Participants must also be a citizen or national of the United States or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States. Hours served can be applied toward the Public Land Corps (PLC) hiring authority.

Preferred Qualifications 

• College degree and/or graduate level coursework in anthropology, archaeology, historic preservation, or a related field.
• Previous archaeological field school or other professional or volunteer archaeological fieldwork experience.
• Basic knowledge and ability to identify lithic artifacts and stone tools as well as fire-cracked-rock and cultural features such as earth ovens, burned rock middens, and hearths.
• Previous experience identifying material culture and features typically associated with nineteenth and twentieth-century archaeological sites.
• Experience navigating with a GPS. Ideal applicants will have demonstrated experience and training working with ArcGIS Pro to upload data and create maps and surveys.

Hours 

40 per week

Living Accommodations 

Shared housing will be in Panther Junction, an active residential community consisting of [number] people including employees of NPS, Concession, Border Patrol, San Vicente School, and their families. Panther Junction is the primary housing area for most park employees, and contains the Park HQ, main Visitor Center, a US Post Office, gas station, and convenience store.

Compensation  

• Living allowance: $620 per week
• One-time relocation travel: $1,100.

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

Personal Vehicle Information

Required

Additional Benefits 

• Bear Safety
• Defensive Driver Training
• AmeriCorps: Not Eligible

Equal Opportunity Statement 

The Student Conservation Association, Inc., is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The SCA strives to cultivate a work environment that encourages fairness, teamwork, and respect among all staff members and is committed to maintaining a work atmosphere where lifestyles may grow personally and professionally.