Massachusetts Historic Preservation Corps Member

Are you looking for the opportunity to learn hands-on preservation skills while building your professional resume and serving in State and National Parks? The 2025 Historic Preservation Corps is a unique program based in Massachusetts that offers participants training and experience in several historic preservation and maintenance trades including carpentry, window restoration, historic trail-side structure restoration, masonry, landscaping, painting, and more!

Schedule 

February 10, 2025 - December 12, 2025

Key Duties and Responsibilities 

Program Description: The MA Historic Preservation Corps is a 10-month program that runs February 10 through December 12, 2025. The program’s home base is located in Braintree, MA and project sites are scattered throughout the Greater Boston area and across the commonwealth. Training and projects aim to address historic preservation and maintenance needs on Public Lands in Massachusetts. This position is primarily hands-on and projects are often labor intensive. Before applying, applicants are encouraged to reflect on the concept of Service. This is an AmeriCorps position - not a typical job - and requires a commitment to not only serving at public lands and historic sites but also committing to a team and the community experience. Members of the Historic Preservation Corps should expect to meet regularly, reflect on their service, and contribute to the team-building process.

Schedule:

Corps members serve Monday – Friday, typically 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM. The daily schedule can change depending on the project location. Members can expect to serve 40-45 hours weekly with federal holidays off. This is a 1700-hour AmeriCorps position and corps members must reach that target in order to successfully complete the program. Members serve daily in small crews of four at the program’s Shop, the Boston Harbor Islands, the Charlestown Navy Yard or project sites in central or Western Massachusetts. Some projects will require members to spend up to 4 consecutive nights away from home at a project site at some point during the program. Housing and food budget will be provided for projects away from home that require overnight stays.

Program Benefits

• $1200 bi-weekly living allowance, before taxes

• $500 one-time travel/commuting allowance

• $6495 Segal Education Award at the end of completed service term

• SNAP eligibility up to $250 per month plus various discounts available to EBT card holders

• Health insurance, including vision and dental, and Childcare assistance available

• Professional Certifications including OSHA 10, Wilderness First Aid, Lead Safe Renovator

• Preservation training in carpentry, masonry, landscaping, trailside structure restoration, and more!

• The opportunity to serve in State and National Parks in Boston and throughout Massachusetts

• Networking opportunities with preservation professionals with state parks, NPS, and nonprofits across Massachusetts.

Training Opportunities:

• OSHA 10 - General Industry

• Lead Safe Renovator

• Wilderness First Aid & CPR

• Foundations of Historic Preservation (theory and documentation)

• Masonry & Repointing • Carpentry & Shop basics

• Window Restoration

• Lifts, ladders, and working at heights

• Leadership, resume building, and other professional development opportunities

Marginal Duties 

• Teleservice as make-up hours (including archives and gravestone transcribing, creating land acknowledgements, and project site research)

• Trail clean-up and park volunteer days

Required Qualifications 

• Ability to commute to specified locations in Boston daily

• Ability to serve with others on a team

• Interest in historic preservation and building skills in preservation maintenance; including carpentry, painting, masonry, window restoration, and other preservation maintenance tasks

• Ability to complete some project paperwork including project reports, output logs, and tool inventory

• Must be comfortable learning how to use hand tools and power tools to complete projects

• Physical effort is heavy to moderate for this position and requires occasional lifting or handling of objects or materials up to 50lbs, unassisted, following proper lifting procedures to avoid injury. Frequently required to stand while working, climb adders or scaffolding, and bend, stoop, climb, and work in awkward positions.

• Must be able to serve in diverse situations and various outdoor environments

Application instructions:

This position does not require previous experience. Please do not submit your resume as they are not required to apply, you may upload a Cover Letter or Letter of Interest. We do ask that you complete the application questions in their entirety. 

If you are selected for an interview, be prepared to discuss your interest in Historic Preservation Trades during the interview.

application deadline is December 20, 2024. 

Hours 

42.5 per week

Living Accommodations 

No housing provided, commuting required

Compensation  

• $1200 bi-weekly living allowance, before taxes

• $500 one-time travel/commuting allowance

• $7395 Segal Education Award at the end of completed service term

All allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes. 

Personal Vehicle Information

Recommended

Additional Benefits 

Wilderness First Aid Training

Health Insurance

AmeriCorps: Eligible/Required

Equal Opportunity Statement 

SCA strives to cultivate a work environment that encourages fairness, teamwork, and respect among all staff members. SCA is committed to maintaining a work atmosphere in which people of diverse backgrounds and lifestyles may grow personally and professionally. The Student Conservation Association, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. 

 Physical requirements and working conditions specific to the position are available in the full job description.