Environment for the Americas

Start/End Dates: May 13th, 2024 – August 9th, 2024 (12 weeks)

Compensation: $720 per week + on-site housing provided

Application Due: February 5, 2024

The Latino Heritage Internship Program (LHIP) seeks to engage Latino undergraduates and recent graduates ages 18 - 30, and up to 35 for veterans, for this unmatched leadership training program that is focused in the cultural and natural resource management. You must be (additional requirement):

• a U.S. citizen or legal resident.

• To qualify for a DHA-RAI position, applicants must be enrolled in a 4-year

institution of higher education in the semester FOLLOWING the internship (Fall 2024)

* NO, a personal vehicle is NOT required for this position.  Note: No, public transportation is available, and amenities are located near the housing and office.

Position Description: 

The Park Planning Fellow will be one fellow in an established cohort of interns that supports the national Park Planning and Special Studies Program and Regional park planning programs. This outstanding opportunity affords the Park Planning Fellow in-depth exposure and involvement in the National Park Service’s work to design and plan the future of national park units. In addition to being in a cohort with peers, the fellow will be supporting and collaborating with a professional community of NPS planners. The Park Planning Fellow will learn and contribute to how the NPS is addressing important issues facing the NPS and take a deep dive into the newly established guidance on general management planning. General management planning is informed by the National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978 and further articulated in NPS Management Policies 2.2 which states this type of planning sets the long-term goals for the park.

The Park Planning Fellow position provides an opportunity to be involved in the administration of national or regional planning programs. The Park Planning Fellow will support park planning projects that will improve national park infrastructure, expand visitor access and opportunities, evaluate potential new park sites as authorized by Congress, and engage local communities and organizations in planning processes. This position will help NPS staff and partners cultivate strong relationships through park planning processes which involve working with many disciplines, park stakeholders, and members of the public. 

This is the percentage breakdown we have generated for the fellow's time.

Responsibilities:

The Park Planning Fellow position provides an opportunity to be involved in the administration of national or regional planning programs. The Park Planning Fellow will support park planning projects that will improve national park infrastructure, expand visitor access and opportunities, evaluate potential new park sites as authorized by Congress, and engage local communities and organizations in planning processes. This position will help NPS staff and partners cultivate strong relationships through park planning processes which involve working with many disciplines, park stakeholders, and members of the public. 

This is the percentage breakdown we have generated for the fellow's time.

• 25% learning, admin, cohort support and sharing

• 25% portfolio management – The fellow’s time would be spent working on park planning portfolio review. The planning portfolio manager and lead support for the fellow will have example documents in place to guide this effort. The fellow will support and host conversations with park staff about inadequacies of their planning portfolio and strategies to address the gaps.

• 50% of the fellow’s work would be supporting the Niobrara National Scenic Riverway Comprehensive River Management Plan. This effort will set the long-term goals for this park and is in keeping with work other interns within this cohort will be doing. Critical to the success of this project is community engagement at the beginning, throughout, and upon completion. The project schedule will have the kick off to the project around the time the fellow is onboarding. The primary task will be to take the in-depth stakeholder analysis and advance the findings and recommendations for the project. 

Responsibilities associated with these priority planning efforts will depend on the phase the project is in during the Fellow’s term. Responsibilities are anticipated to include: 

• Background reading and research in order to better understand each unit’s unique history, characteristics, and planning needs; 

• Preparation for, and participation in planning team meetings;

• Participating in and helping the planning team prepare for scoping calls and/or working sessions, civic engagement efforts and workshops; 

• Contributing to discussions on how to enhance public outreach/civic engagement, particularly in underrepresented and tribal communities;

• Helping to prepare public communications materials;

• Joining regional discussions to debrief on projects, including determining where additional support may be needed or identify any areas of concern; 

• General project support such as notetaking, moderating, writing up outcomes of discussions and summaries of public input.  

• Fellows should feel empowered to ask questions and bring their unique experiences and perspectives into projects.

Qualifications:

• THE TYPES OF EDUCATIONAL MAJORS, DEGREES, AND CERTIFICATES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING, NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, HISTORY, ANTHROPOLOGY, HISTORIC PRESERVATION, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION  

• DEMONSTRATED ABILITY TO WORK COOPERATIVELY AS PART OF A LARGER TEAM 

• IS ORGANIZED, ABLE TO LISTEN, ASK QUESTIONS, AND THINK CRITICALLY

• HAS CONFIDENCE IN THEIR ABILITY TO CONDUCT LITERATURE REVIEW AND CARRY OUT INDEPENDENT RESEARCH

• PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE IN HANDS-ON, ON THE GROUND EFFORTS TO SUPPORT CONSERVATION AND RECREATION PLANNING

• PROFICIENCY IN THE MICROSOFT OFFICE SUITE

• KNOWLEDGE ABOUT PLANNING, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, OR RECREATION MANAGEMENT 

• ABILITY TO BALANCE MULTIPLE PROJECTS AT MULTIPLE LEVELS

• COMFORTABLE AND EFFECTIVE WORKING INDIVIDUALLY AND IN A TEAM SETTING

• DEMONSTRABLE INTEREST IN PARKS, LANDSCAPE DESIGN, OUTDOOR RECREATION, CONSERVATION, URBAN PLANNING, PUBLIC/YOUTH ENGAGEMENT, ETC.

• ABILITY TO TRAVEL AND WORK INDEPENDENTLY; TAKE INITIATIVE

• ABILITY TO BE FLEXIBLE AND ADAPT TO CHANGING PRIORITIES

• ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY WITH INDIVIDUALS BY PHONE AND EMAIL

• STRONG ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS

Direct Hire Authority (DHA)
Direct Hire Authority (DHA) at the successful conclusion of their internship. DHA status enables an agency to hire, after public notice is given, any qualified applicant. A DHA expedites hiring by eliminating competitive rating and ranking, veterans' preference, and "rule of three" procedures. For more information, please click HERE.

EEO Statement

Environment for the Americas provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.