Curatorial Member - Steamtown National Historic Site

Curatorial Member - Steamtown National Historic Site

Summary: American Conservation Experience a nonprofit Conservation Corps in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS) is seeking 1 Member to contribute to curatorial and collection management projects alongside NPS Staff.

For more information about ACE please visit our website.

Start Date: 09/15/2025

Estimated End Date: 12/06/2025

*a 12-week minimum commitment is required *

Location Details/Description: Steamtown National Historic Site (Scranton PA)

Steamtown National Historic site is located in downtown Scranton PA the largest city in Northeastern Pennsylvania with 76000 residents. Elevation ranges from 650 to 1400 feet above sea level. The city offers hospitals recreational opportunities entertainment venues a variety of grocery stores and other shopping opportunities. The park is walking distance to the Steamtown Mall (The Marketplace at Steamtown). The County of Lackawanna Transit System (COLTS) operates public bus service for the city and its surrounding area. Average winters in Scranton are cold and snowy. Temperatures range from 19F to 57F with occasional below freezing days. Daily high temperatures are around 38F.

For more information please visit their NPS website.

Position Overview:

All aboard! Develop collection management skills at Steamtown National Historic Site while working hands-on with museum collections related to Americas railroading history. The ACE member will assist the parks curatorial staff with routine housekeeping and environmental monitoring in exhibit spaces and collection storage areas to ensure the preservation and protection of museum collections and to enhance the visitor experience to the site. In addition the member will learn to safely handle research and document museum objects while creating an inventory and proposal documents for found in collection items to present to the parks Collection Advisory Committee for possible inclusion in the museum collection. The member will participate in researching and writing social media posts that feature museum collections and projects completed during the internship. If time permits the member may also help with a project to organize and add books to the parks research library.

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.

Schedule: Mon-Fri 8:00am - 4:30pm.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute 40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $680/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses dispersed bi-weekly.

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service and 640 hours of service. If the duration of a PLC-eligible term is not long enough for Members to accrue 640 hours of service (16 weeks) the total hours served at the completion of the term may be eligible to be combined with hours accrued from another PLC-eligible term to meet the 640 hours requirement. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility or view general eligibility information on our website.

Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE or the NPS. A $1200/month housing allowance will be available via reimbursement (3 months total).

Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures clear guidance on prohibited activities and networks for support. Specific training can include safety training park operations training and specialized collections management training.

Qualifications

Required:

• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident as required by U.S. government contracts
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional positive and enthusiastic manner.
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone and be a positive contributing member of a group.
• A current and valid form of ID (will be required to provide copies of IDs upon hiring)
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history checks
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets beginning of term feedback forms end of term evaluations and for longer terms a mid-term evaluation.
• Member may not participate in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement.
• To learn more about eligibility requirements please visit our our website.

Preferred:

• Candidate is enthusiastic about history and preserving/protecting cultural material.

• Demonstrates attention to detail.

• Works well individually and in a team setting.

• Experience with or willingness to learn object handling cataloging inventorying writing acquisition proposals and utilizing a museum collection database.

• Experience conducting historical research.

Physical Demands Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting standing walking using hands to handle or feel reaching with hands and arms talking and hearing. Manual dexterity required for use of various tools computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment. Required to stoop kneel climb stairs and/or crouch. Walking short distances between office/storage space and exhibit space is required.
• Vision Requirements: Requires close distance peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus. The use of corrective lenses is suitable.
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Lifting and moving objects approximately 30-50 pounds may be required.
• Environmental: Mostly indoors in an office setting museum storage and museum exhibit space. The ACE member will share an office with and work closely with the museum technician. Some spaces lack environmental controls including air conditioning and heat.
• Noise Environment: Moderate noise such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic.
• Travel: This position does not require unique travel.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The ACE member(s) may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold rocky terrain swamp or wetland conditions biting insects and potentially dangerous wildlife. The member is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self fellow staff/members or resources.

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties one will be provided by the NPS or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the NPS. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) typically provided by the NPS will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to the NPS and ACE equipment training certification and safety protocols is required.

To Apply: Please submit your resume a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience and contact information for three professional/academic references to ACEs online application page for this position on our website. Early consideration will be given as applications are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact ACE Associate Director- EPIC NPS Amy Rupp.

ACE values an inclusive workforce - if you meet at least 70 percent of the qualifications we want to hear from you!ACE participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information when you are hired to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

EEO: Employment with ACE is based upon ability qualifications attitude and job-related factors. Every qualified employee or applicant has the same opportunity for recruitment hire training transfer promotion compensation demotion termination benefits employee activities and general treatment without regard to race color religion creed sex gender national origin pregnancy ancestry citizenship status genetic information (including of a family member) veteran or military status age physical or mental disability sexual orientation gender identity or expression medical condition marital or parental status political affiliation ethnicity hair texture or style arrest record caste hereditary status endogamy or any other classification protected by applicable local state or federal law.