Interpretation and Community Outreach Individual Placement with Petersburg National Battlefield

Job Overview

Title: Interpretation and Community Outreach Individual Placement

Location: Petersburg National Battlefield in Petersburg, VA

Dates of Service: Oct. 20, 2025 to Aug. 7, 2026 for a 42-week term

Pay: $770/week (600/living stipend + 170/additional benefit)

Status: This is a full-time (40 hour/week), temporary 1200-hour AmeriCorps National Service position.

Questions? Contact [email protected]

Position listing will remain open until 8/25.   

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.

Petersburg National Battlefield:

Petersburg National Battlefield is an expansive park with locations spread over 33 miles. It is located around the City of Petersburg, south of Richmond, Virginia. The park was established to commemorate the 9.5-month long siege during the Civil War. This position is with the Department of Interpretation, whose role at the park is to be the face of the park, by developing and offering family programs, staff a visitor center, and offer special programs/outreach.

Position Summary:

Appalachian Conservation Corps and the Petersburg National Battlefield are seeking an Interpretation and Community Outreach Individual Placement (IP) to work alongside National Park Service staff and learn the skills necessary to become an interpretive ranger, focusing on working with the public and sharing under-told stories. The primary focus of this role is to interpret the historical significance of City Point, Virginia, within the context of Petersburg National Battlefield. By integrating existing research into new digital media formats, the IP will enhance visitor engagement and education regarding the multi-layered history of the site, which includes its origins as an Appomattoc Indian Village, its role as a plantation, and its significance during the Civil War.

This 42-week AmeriCorps position will include training on various topics, including history, interpretation and education, and safety. During their term, the IP will gain experience involving interpretation of the park’s history to a variety of audiences and learn how to address difficult topics in projects and programs, including slavery and race. They will also work to build relationships and engage the local community of Petersburg through this project.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Act as the face of the park, greeting visitors at a contact station or in the field.

• Learn about the park and help people plan their visit.

• Research, develop, and present family programs that are audience centered.

• Work closely with staff on interpretive media projects, including social media, the website, brochures, and signage.

• Planning and hosting community outreach and educational programs for the local community.

• During their term, the IP will work alongside National Park Service staff and trained on Interpretive program development and presentation, social media and other digital media, design for print media, event planning.

Benefits:

• $770/week (600/living stipend + 170/additional benefit)
• Option to enroll in free health, vision, and dental benefits

• $5,176.50 AmeriCorps Segal Education Award upon successful completion of 1200-hour service term (award amount varies based on length of commitment and can be used for paying off federal student loans or paying tuition for a Title IV accredited college)

• $1,000 professional development fund

• Eligibility for the Public Land Corps Hiring Authority upon successful completion – noncompetitive hiring status for two years when applying for federal positions.

• Possible federal student loan forbearance and interest payoff

• Member Assistance Program – 3 free sessions of support with a counseling or work-life balance specialist

• Depending upon the academic institution and program, positions may fulfill internship requirements

• Professional development opportunities (mentorship, resume support, alumni listserv, etc.) and exposure to natural resource career paths

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with customer service and presentations/public speaking

• Students of History, Anthropology, Natural Sciences, Parks and Recreation, Communications, and other relevant fields are welcome

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).

How to Apply:

In addition to your resume, please submit a one-page cover letter highlighting why you are interested in this position and how your background and experience will help you succeed in this position. Applications are only accepted through our website, www.appalachiancc.org/individualplacements.

Our Promise:

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.