Certified Local Government Fellow - State, Tribal, and Local Plans & Grants Division

Certified Local Government Fellow - State, Tribal, and Local Plans & Grants Division

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS), is seeking one fellow to support NPS Staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

For more information about the State, Tribal, and Local Plans & Grants Division, please visit their page on the National Park Service website.

Start Date: 1/19/2026

Estimated End Date: 12/31/2026

Location Details/Description:

Fully remote within the U.S. or hybrid based out of Washington D.C.

Position Overview:

State, Tribal, Local, Plans & Grants Division (STLPG) is a grant division within the Department of Interior headquarters office that supports cultural resource programs through financial assistance and guidance to states, tribes, territories, local governments, and nonprofits across the country. The source of funding for the grants is Congressional appropriations from the Historic Preservation Fund. The fellow will work directly with NPS staff to support historic preservation efforts across the country. STLPG provides fellows with an active and involved experience that will contribute to their professional development and result in resume-building projects. STLPG usually has several fellows active on staff working on various projects that range from records management, GIS, law and policy, disaster resiliency, and state, tribal, and local government issues.

The Fellow develops working relationships internally and with preservation partners at the federal, tribal, state, and local levels, including nonprofit organizations. Duties will involve exposure to grant review and management, communications, databases, and understanding of the Federal Preservation Program, through direct interaction with the Department of Interior, National Park Service, State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (SHPO/THPO), and Certified Local Governments (CLG). Interaction with other national-level preservation partners may also be possible.

The Fellow will have the opportunity to:

• Assist in developing and maintaining external-facing databases that help manage the CLG program, as well as reviewing and certifying new communities, reviewing State CLG procedures for approval, and communicating with state and local partners.
• Work with the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions on partnership projects, including the preparation for the only national conference focused on the issues facing local historic preservation commissions and historic districts.
• Develop working relationships with preservation partners at the state level, especially 50 State CLG Coordinators.
• Contribute to grant review and management activities, with exposure to the award of at least $150 million annually in grant funding.
• Learn about the Federal Preservation Program via direct interactions with NPS, State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), and CLG and GIS staff.
• Contribute to the Federal Preservation Program to help local communities save the irreplaceable historic character of places.
• Contribute to preserving, protecting, and increasing awareness of our unique cultural heritage found in the built environment across the country.

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

Schedule: Monday to Friday, full-time, flexible hours and schedule depending on the candidate's needs. Class schedules may be accommodated.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $1,100/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 (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: Housing is the responsibility of the member and is not provided by ACE or the NPS.

Travel/Training: The member will have a $1,000 allowance to be used for travel and training purposes, as approved by ACE and the NPS.

Equipment: The NPS will provide a laptop, monitor, and other equipment as needed for a successful fellowship.

Provided Training/Orientation: The fellow's direct supervisor, the Chief of STLPG, will provide educational opportunities for the fellow so that they understand the state and local impacts of federal preservation law and policy.

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 current and valid form of ID (will be required to provide copies of ID's upon hiring), or if driving, a valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request). Members must be 21+ to drive due to ACE's 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:

• Experience working with State, Tribal, or local governments, or nonprofits on issues related to cultural resources, including historic preservation, urban planning, architecture, landscape architecture, architectural history, public history, or similar disciplines.
• Experience working with multiple levels of government and understanding of basic principles of historic preservation, architecture, architectural history, or grants management.
• Familiarity with the Federal Preservation Program, including the National Register of Historic Places
• Knowledge and use of digital media and digital communications in a professional context

Physical Demands, Work Environment, and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, using hands to handle or feel, talking and hearing, and manual dexterity required for use of computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment.
• Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral, and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.
• Environmental: Mainly indoor, office environment conditions; indoor air quality is good, and temperature is controlled.
• Noise Environment: Moderate noise, such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic.
• Travel: This position may require domestic travel.

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 ACE's 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 Program Manager, Andrew Garcia.

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.