Position Title: Pecos National Historical Park Traditional Trades Apprenticeship – AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps
Site Location: Pecos National Historical Park
1 Peach Drive, Pecos, New Mexico 87552
Terms of Service:
Start Date: 04/14/2025 End Date: 10/10/2025 AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 900 hour
Purpose:
It is the mission of the Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps to "lead our nations back to cultural and ecological well being." The Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps has offices in Acoma, Albuquerque, Gallup (Navajo Nation), Zuni, and Hopi. Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps serves local Indigenous communities in the regions we operate.
The National Park Service (NPS) and Historic Preservation Training Center are seeking individuals to participate in the Traditional Trades Advancement Program (TTAP) at Pecos National Historical Park (NHP). These AmeriCorps position(s) will receive introductory training in preservation masonry and will develop an understanding of historic resource stewardship while helping to preserve our nation’s historic resources. This AmeriCorps program provides participants with marketable skills and excellent exposure to the historic preservation career field within the NPS as well as the private sector.
The important cultural and historic resources at Pecos NHP are constantly under threat from natural and human caused impacts. Interns will receive introductory training in preservation masonry (stone and adobe), making adobe bricks, applying mud plaster and preserving earthen architecture. They will develop an understanding of resource stewardship that will help preserve our nation’s important cultural resources. The interns' work will directly contribute to the preservation of a National Historic Landmark, called the Pecos Pueblo and Mission, which is also the primary resource the park was established to protect. Other projects will help preserve historic resources that contribute to the parks significance.
Interns will assist with preservation maintenance of the primary ruins at Pecos NHP. Work will include mixing and making adobe bricks, mortar and plaster; building adobe walls and brick veneers that protect historic adobe walls, mud plastering adobe walls, repairing adobe walls by repointing mortar joints, crack stitching, and building and maintain brick and mortar caps on the top of walls. Stone masonry work will consist of resetting stones in mud mortar and repointing mortar joints. Some work may be carried out on scaffolding if needed.
Description of Duties:
1) Preserve and Repair the Earthen Architecture of the Pecos Spanish Colonial Mission Church and Convento: This project will address deferred maintenance on the Pecos Mission Church and Convento, which dates from 1625-1838. The site represents one of the oldest and largest missions in the northern southwest.
Essential functions and responsibilities:
i. Preparing mortar mixtures
ii. Making adobe/mud bricks using forms
iii. Replastering mud caps and resetting adobe masonry
iv. Replacing deteriorated mud plaster surfaces
v. Building new brick veneers that protect original walls.
vi Repointing masonry joints with new mud mortar
vii. Drain repair and contouring to improve drainage
viii. Room backfill to protect subsurface deposits
viv. Site Documentation
2) Stabilization of the South Pueblo Site: This project will repair and stabilize the stone masonry remnants of the Pecos Pueblo South portion also called the South Pueblo.
Essential functions and responsibilities:
i. Preparing mortar mixtures
ii. Removal of historic stabilization mortars
iii. Resetting loose cap and mid-wall masonry
iv. Replacing or resetting deteriorated masonry
v. Drain repair and contouring to improve drainage
vi. Room backfill to protect subsurface deposits
vii. Site Documentation
Qualifications:
United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alienAt least 18 years of age up to 30 years old. Up to 35 if a military veteran. Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of elementary or secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant, and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education awardAgrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.Valid Driver's LicensePositive Attitude Ability to work 10 hour days in heat and sunAbility to hike rough, uneven terrain,Willingness to learn and work as part of a teamAbility to follow oral and written instructionsNo prior experience to Historic Preservation needed
Physical Requirements:
Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.
Time Requirements:
Orientation and Training:
Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities. Member will receive an orientation on Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps Individual Placement Program - responsibilities and requirements of the program.Member will receive training with the National Park Service (NPS) - Historic Preservation Training Center (HPTC) on basic fundamental principles of Historic PreservationMember will receive training on Defensive Driving via Conservation LegacyMember has $1,000 to utilize for professional development opportunities.
Benefits:
Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $3,697.50Living Allowance of $600 per week.Additional Benefit of $120 per week.Paid Professional Development Opportunities Public Land Corps (PLC) Hiring Authority EligibleHealthcare Coverage if EligibleLoan forbearance if EligibleInterest Payments if Eligible
Evaluation and Reporting:
As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.
Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking.
Supervisor Name and Contact Information:
Ancestral Lands Individual Placement Contact information: Kiana Etsate-Gashytewa kiana@conservationlegacy.org
Pecos National Historical Park Contact information: Jeremy Moss jeremy_moss@nps.gov
Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply. This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. Where a significant portion of the population eligible to be served needs services or information in a language other than English, the recipient shall take reasonable steps to provide written material of the type ordinarily available to the public in appropriate languages.
We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with AmeriCorps requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.