Archeological Collections Technician at Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve

Job Overview

Title: SECC Intern – Archeological Collections Technician (10 weeks)

Reports to: Steven Kidd, Chief of Science and Resource Management at Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve

Location: Based in Jacksonville, FL

Status: Seasonal, Full-time, Exempt – 300-hour AmeriCorps Service Term

Stipend: $690/week – paid bi-weekly

Other Benefits: Housing in the park, uniform shirts, protective equipment, trainings. Other development opportunities as available. $1,459.26 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion of service term.

Start/end date:  02/12/2024 – 04/19/24 (some start date/end date flexibility)

Positions available: 2

Positions open until filled.

Southeast Conservation Corps: 
SECC empowering young adults to cultivate compassion, responsibility, and grit through community service, hard work, and environmental stewardship.

Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC) empowers young people to attain compassion, responsibility and grit through community service, hard work and environmental stewardship. SECC is a local, non-profit, AmeriCorps affiliated organization based out of Chattanooga, TN. SECC selects young adults to complete conservation work projects on public, private and municipal lands throughout the Southeast. SECC fosters the personal development of corps members through environmental stewardship projects and experiential learning. Through community partnerships, SECC provides hands-on job training opportunities to young adults while simultaneously meeting natural resource needs throughout the Southeast.

Position Description:
Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve’s Resource Management division preserves the rich archeological sites reflecting of indigenous history dating back over 10,000 years.  This preserve also protects significant colonial era sites and Civil War and post-emancipation occupations of African Americans.

The current site of the Fort Caroline Memorial interpretive exhibit, a 2/3 scale model constructed in the 1950’s, is in danger of being submerged from climate change induced sea level rise. The interns will excavate shovel tests to determine if National Register of Historic Places eligible archeological sites are located within the area the fort replica is being moved to. Moving the fort exhibit will allow future generations the ability to learn about the French colonial occupation of the area.

Position Responsibilities:

1. Conduct archaeological survey for the proposed relocation.
2. Essential functions and responsibilities:

• Work alongside supervisor and GIS intern to record shovel test locations
• Record information from shovel tests on Survey 123 device.
• Collect artifacts and identify them in the lab.

1. Trainings provided in GPS, artifact identification, and cataloging.
2. Conduct visits to archeological sites within the Preserve.
   1. Essential functions and responsibilities:

• Work with Supervisor to learn to assess archeological sites within the Preserve.
• Travel to known archeological sites to access, photograph, and record conditions.
• Provide brief summaries in Survey 123 Device of any threats to the sites.
  1. Cultural Resource Inventory System (CRIS) training will be provided.

3. Assist Supervisor with setting up archeological site as UNF field school.
4. Essential functions and responsibilities:

• Work with Supervisor and University of North Florida archeology professor to prepare site for an upcoming archeological field school.
• Prepare and take inventory of equipment.

1. Training in the site history at St. Johns Period Shellring site.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Anthropology with a focus on archeology. At least one archeological field school or equivalent private sector work.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proficiency in use of computers – specifically Microsoft Suite and Excel
• Ability to operate vehicles, including towing and backing trailers.

AmeriCorps Qualifications: 
To qualify, you must be between the ages of 18 and 30 and a US citizen that has received a high school diploma or GED. All offers of employment are conditional upon completion of an acceptable check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry and federal criminal background check. Must be eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award.

Compensation:
Interns earn a living stipend of $980 per week (paid by-weekly) before taxes via direct deposit. Dorm housing within the park is also provided to interns. Upon successful completion of their term, interns will receive a Segal AmeriCorps education award for tuition at Title IV accredited learning institutions, AmeriCorps approved non-traditional continued education or paying off student loans.

Participation and Expedition Behavior:

• Work effectively as a member of a team despite potentially stressful and difficult conditions. This may require problem-solving on an interpersonal or group level as well as a willingness to accept differences.
• Contribute to a safe learning environment, no harassment of others for any reason.
• Willingness and ability to complete all aspects of the program including conservation projects, education, training, and national service. Members must commit to participating in all crew/team activities, including service days in local communities where applicable.
• Effectively communicate ideas and concerns as they arise directly to supervisors, colleagues, and organization staff.
• Have the cognitive ability to learn necessary skills and apply them to effectively carry out the service work requirements.
• Appropriately always represent the Program and AmeriCorps to the public and project partners.

Safety and Judgment:

• Effectively communicate danger to others in the form of either a warning of danger others may be encountering or a notification of personal distress, injury or need for assistance. You must be able to do so at a distance of up to 50 meters and in conditions with limited visibility or loud background noise such as darkness or high winds.
• Effectively perceive, understand, and follow direction by others so that you will be able to successfully execute appropriate and perhaps unfamiliar techniques to manage hazards. These directions may be given before the hazard is encountered or may need to be given during exposure to the hazard.
• Stay alert and focused for several hours at a time while traveling and working in varied weather conditions.
• Perceive and comprehend significant and apparent hazards, including those hazards previously identified by others.
• Respond appropriately to stress or crises.
• If taking prescription medications, participants must be able to maintain proper dosage by self-medicating without assistance from others.

Environmental Ethics:

Learn and practice ‘Leave no Trace’ techniques.

Outdoor Skills and Fitness (where appropriate):

• Learn and safely perform fundamental outdoor living/travel and work skills as appropriate to the project. Additionally, remain adequately hydrated, fed, and properly dressed to remain generally healthy and safe, avoiding environmental injuries.
• Live in a physically demanding, possibly remote environment for an uninterrupted period of up to several weeks. Conditions of this environment may vary significantly and may include severe and/or trying weather. The remoteness is such that it may require at a minimum one hour, but perhaps up to 12 hours, to reach the nearest advanced medical care.

Substance Free:
In accordance with a drug free workplace, alcohol and drugs are prohibited while participating in AmeriCorps and program activities and while on organization property.

Additional Notes:

All applicants must pass a criminal background and motor vehicle background check prior to hiring.

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.

To Apply:

Follow the SECC link and complete the application. Please include 3 references, resume, and copy of your transcripts (unofficial okay). You can put the references in a word doc and upload it alongside your resume. A cover letter is encouraged but not required.

If you have questions about the position, please contact:

Steven Kidd

Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve

Chief of Science and Resource Management

(904) 805-7510

[email protected]

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

Kahla Stewart

Intern Program Coordinator

Southeast Conservation Corps

(423) 402-6004

[email protected]