Education and Outreach Member (Cades Cove) Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Summary

American Conservation Experience a nonprofit Conservation Corps in partnership with the National Park Service is seeking ONE Education and Outreach Member to contribute to implementing and delivering interpretive programming to park visitors alongside Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM) staff.

For more information about ACE please visit our website.

Start Date: Tentatively December 15 2025 (potential for start date to shift)

Estimated End Date: May 2 2026

Location Details/Description: Great Smoky Mountains National Park Townsend TN

Cades Cove is a broad grassy valley surrounded by mountains and is one of the most popular destinations in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It offers some of the best opportunities for wildlife viewing and has a large collection of historic structures for visitors to explore. An 11-mile one-way loop road circles the cove offering motorists and cyclists the opportunity to sightsee at a leisurely pace.

For more information regarding Cades Cove and Great Smoky Mountains National Park or the National Park Service please visit the parks website.

Position Overview: Independently provide high quality visitor services through contacts in Cades Cove interpretative programs and special events to improve the publics understanding and appreciation for Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

• Develop and thoroughly research programs that meet National Park Service standards and share information about the parks natural and cultural resources.
• Lead curriculum-based education programs during the fall for students in grades K-12.
• Present programs to large groups of 20-100 people.
• Write and create interpretive media including articles social media posts and bulletin board displays.
• Assist visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park by orienting them to recreational activities such as hiking biking wildlife viewing and other activities within the park.
• Manage traffic and wildlife jams independently or on a team using radio communications.
• Rove trails to provide hiker information promote safety and assist with clean-up.
• Initiate tactful conversations about park resources with visitors to encourage compliance with rules and regulations.
• Explore the work of the National Park Service by shadowing a variety of careers within the park based on the interns interests and future career goals.

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: 5-4/9 schedule - work one 5-day work week and one 4-day work week each pay period. Friday-Tuesday (days off Wednesday Thursday and every other Friday). Hours - 7:30 am - 5 pm one day every 2 weeks will be 7:30 am - 4 pm.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute 40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $600/week to cover 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 (You must be between the ages of 16 and 30. Some agencies also interpret these guidelines to include veterans up to age 35) and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility or view general eligibility information on our website.

Housing: Park housing may be available. There is no cell phone reception in Cades Cove and a personal vehicle is required due to the site being remote with no reliable public transportation. The Member will have use of a government vehicle for work and project-related travel. Wi-Fi is available in the office and park housing areas but can be unreliable at times.

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.

Qualifications

Required:

• Members must be authorized to work in the United States. ACE does not provide sponsorship for employment visas.
• 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 valid drivers license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request). Members must be 21 to drive due to ACEs insurance and liability requirements.
• 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 website located on our Indeed homepage.

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a minimum of a bachelors degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as environmental education interpretation biological sciences natural resource management ecology history education cultural resources park management or a related discipline.

• Knowledge and skills in the principles of education and interpretation.

• Knowledge of or willing to research and learn more about the natural and cultural history of the Southern Appalachian Mountains.

• Excellent public speaking skills.

• Enthusiastic about serving with audiences of all ages.

Physical Demands Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting standing walking hiking carrying 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. Ability to hike up to 3 miles over rugged and uneven terrain.
• Vision Requirements: Requires close distance peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to 15 pounds ability to move up to 15 pounds.
• Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates.
• 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 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 EPIC NPS Member Manager Corinna Mokotoff.

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 or Service with ACE is based upon ability qualifications attitude and job-related factors. Every qualified employee member 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 age sex creed national origin pregnancy ancestry citizenship status genetic information veteran or military status physical or mental disability sexual orientation 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.