Visual Information Individual Placement – C&O Canal NHP

Job Overview

Title: Visual Information Individual Placement 

Positions: Two internships available 

Location: C&O Canal National Historical Park, DC Metro Region (Part-Time Remote Eligible)   

Position Dates: July 29th, 2024 – June 20th, 2025 (47-week term) 

Pay: $682/week ($600/stipend + $82/housing allowance) + health, vision and dental benefits 

Status: This is a full-time, temporary, 1700 hour AmeriCorps National Service position. 

Questions? Contact [email protected]  

How to Apply: 

In addition to your resume, please submit 3 to 5 portfolio samples of your work. Work Examples should be of visual/graphic design work and provided in JPG or PDF file format www.appalachiancc.org/individualplacements 

Applications will be accepted until 5/1/2024. 

Appalachian Conservation Corps:  

Our Individual Placement program 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.  

Individual Placements gain hands-on experience at their placement site, and ACC supports them through their term, as well as provides a variety of benefits to help them succeed in achieving their career goals. ACC welcomes national applicants, but also emphasizes the engagement of local individuals who represent the communities in which they serve.  

The Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Canal National Historic Park: 

Preserving America’s early transportation history, the C&O Canal began as a dream of passage to Western wealth. Operating for nearly 100 years the canal was a lifeline for communities along the Potomac River as coal, lumber, and agricultural products floated down the waterway to market. Today it endures as a pathway for discovering historical, natural, and recreational treasures.  

Position Summary: 

Appalachian Conservation Corps and the National Park Service are seeking two Visual Information Specialists Fellows to assist with creating visual products that tell the layered history of the Chesapeake & Ohio National Historic Park.  

In this position, you will have the opportunity to be a part of the Interpretation, Education and Volunteer (IEV) team. The primary duties of these positions are to design outdoor interpretive displays, create visually appealing informational graphics, and assist in creating branded resources.  

This position is ideal for someone who has a background in graphic design as well as an interest in historical interpretation. The Individual Placement (IP) will work on office-based assignments as well as serve remotely under the mentorship and support of NPS staff. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: 

• Use of the Adobe Creative Suite to design prepared layouts and finished products for print media (such as brochures, exhibits, flyers, posters, etc.). Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Adobe Professional Acrobat, and Microsoft Office. 
• Research and formatting of visual assets (photographs, illustrations, maps, charts, diagrams, etc.) to support the interpretive signage, exhibits, and print materials. 
• Preparation of layouts for final production printing, including the preparation of artwork, photographs, charts, and graphs from layouts in collaboration with vendors specifications. 
• Organize, maintain, and expand the C&O branded library (templates and design assets) and become familiar with and apply the NPS brand standards. 

In addition, the IPs will be encouraged to attend NPS-sponsored trainings and have opportunities to study the fundamentals of interpretation and site-specific topics related to the natural and cultural history of Washington, D.C. and surrounding states. 

Housing is not provided. Candidates already located in Washington, D.C. and the surrounding areas are preferred. 

Benefits:  

• $600/week living stipend, paid bi-weekly 
• $82/week housing allowance, paid bi-weekly 
• Option to enroll in health, dental and vision insurance. 
• $1,042.25 budget for Professional Development, travel or research purposes. 
• A Segal Education Award of $6,895 upon successful completion of service term, student loan forbearance and interest payoff 
• Member Assistance Program – 3 free sessions of support with a counseling or work-life balance specialist. 
• Non-competitive hiring eligibility through the PLCHA when applying for federal jobs. 
• Professional Development opportunities. 

Required Skills

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Individuals with graphic design educational backgrounds, digital design, communications, marketing, history, English, museum studies and conservation welcome to apply. 
• Digital Media experience including photography, video, graphic design for digital platforms. 
• Familiarity with the Adobe Creative Suite to include Adobe Illustrator, Adobe PhotoShop, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Acrobat.  
• Working knowledge of Microsoft office to include Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook etc.  
• Familiarity with writing for various audiences. Knowledge of plain language principles. (https://www.plainlanguage.gov/).  

General Qualifications:  

To qualify for this AmeriCorps position, you must be between the ages of 21 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. 

• Possess a valid driver’s license. 

• Comfortable working in an office environment and independently (remotely). 

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.