Mountain Farm Museum Member - Great Smoky Mountains National Park

EPIC • Cherokee, NC

1d • Onsite

About The Position

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with Great Smoky National Park, is seeking ONE Mountain Farm Museum Member to contribute to the Mountain Farm Intern project alongside NPS Staff. For more information about ACE, please visit our website. Start Date: mid-May/early June 2026 Estimated End Date: 12-weeks after start date a 12-week minimum commitment is required Location Details/Description: Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Cherokee, North Carolina Great Smoky Mountains National Park is unique among America's National Parks; located on the border between North Carolina and Tennessee, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is renowned for its rich diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of the ancient mountains and forests, and its preservation of the Southern Appalachian mountain culture. Oconaluftee Visitor Center is home to the Mountain Farm Museum. The Mountain Farm Museum includes farm buildings such as a farmhouse, barn, apple house, springhouse and a blacksmith shop. During the summer there are often chickens, pigs, and horses on the farm. For more information regarding the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, or the National Park Service, please visit the NPS website. Position Overview: The Mountain Farm Museum Member will work closely with the Mountain Farm Museum Manager to learn traditional farming techniques, livestock care, tool upkeep and repair, and basic construction (such as fencing). The member will also gain knowledge to skillfully demonstrate a variety of traditional Appalachian lifeways critical to interpreting the cultural history of the Smokies, such as blacksmithing, woodworking, hearth cooking, or broom-making. The member may have the chance to work closely with Cherokee, African American, and European crafters, artisans, storytellers, and demonstrators. The member will have the opportunity to gain formal and on-the-job training from park rangers to serve visitors through interpretive and educational programs as well. Work is primarily performed outdoors, occurs in all types of weather from snow, wind, and rain to sun and heat. Work may require standing for long periods of time or walking over rough and uneven terrain. 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: The schedule is a 5/9/4 schedule: over the course of two weeks, the member will work 9 hour days for 5 days w/2 days off one week and 4 days the following week (one of the days will be an 8-hour day) with 3 days off for a total of 80 hours. The member will be required to work weekends/holidays. Position Benefits Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours /week and will receive a living allowance of $600/week (pre-tax) to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly . This position is part of the Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement must meet the PLC Eligibility Requirements to be considered for this position. Members 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: ACE members will be accommodated in provided housing at no cost for the duration of the term. 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 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: Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a minimum of a bachelor's degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as livestock care and animal husbandry Knowledge of the use of hand tools, interpersonal skills, public speaking, practical knowledge of Appalachian lifeways, researching historical, technical, or scientific information Ability and willingness in public speaking 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. Weight Lifted or Force Exerted : Frequently moves up to [50] lbs., ability to move up to [50] pounds. Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently, working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates. Noise Environment : Moderate to high noise such as gas-powered chainsaws and other hand and power tools. 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 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 EPIC NPS Eastern Program Manager, Molly Nash. 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 enrolled in a program 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.

Requirements

• 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 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.

Nice To Haves

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a minimum of a bachelor's degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as livestock care and animal husbandry
• Knowledge of the use of hand tools
• interpersonal skills
• public speaking
• practical knowledge of Appalachian lifeways
• researching historical, technical, or scientific information
• Ability and willingness in public speaking

Responsibilities

• learn traditional farming techniques, livestock care, tool upkeep and repair, and basic construction (such as fencing)
• skillfully demonstrate a variety of traditional Appalachian lifeways critical to interpreting the cultural history of the Smokies, such as blacksmithing, woodworking, hearth cooking, or broom-making
• serve visitors through interpretive and educational programs

Benefits

• Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours /week and will receive a living allowance of $600/week (pre-tax) to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly
• Members may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service and 640 hours of service.
• Housing: ACE members will be accommodated in provided housing at no cost for the duration of the term.
• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees