Conservation Assistant Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

Traditional Trades Advancement Program (TTAP) Member - Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

SummaryAmerican Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service, is seeking 1 member to contribute to projects alongside NPS Staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date: 10/19/2026

Estimated End Date: 04/17/2027

*a 26-week minimum commitment is required *

Location Details/Description: The intern's primary service location will be at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Empire, Michigan. Most daily assignments will originate from the park's maintenance facility, with work taking place throughout the park as operational needs require. The intern will support the Roads and Trails team and park mechanics by maintaining vehicles, equipment, and small engines used across the park's mainland and, as needed, supporting maintenance activities at other park locations.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore protects nearly 72,000 acres of world-renowned dunes, forests, inland lakes, wetlands, historic farms, and more than 65 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline. The park offers exceptional opportunities for hiking, camping, paddling, and exploring historic and cultural landscapes. Nearby communities such as Empire and Glen Arbor provide grocery stores, restaurants, and other essential services while offering the welcoming atmosphere of northern Michigan. Cell phone reception is generally available in developed areas and nearby towns but can be intermittent or unavailable in more remote areas of the park, including portions of the backcountry and shoreline. This internship provides the opportunity to gain hands-on experience maintaining the equipment that supports one of the National Park Service's most iconic landscapes while living and working in a nationally recognized outdoor recreation destination.

For more information about Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, please visit the NPS website.

Position Overview: The intern will work primarily with the Roads and Trails team under the guidance of the park mechanic. Day-to-day responsibilities will include performing preventive maintenance, assisting with diagnostics and repairs on park vehicles and equipment, maintaining service records, organizing tools and parts, and supporting repairs on tractors, trucks, trailers, water pumpers, mowers, and other small engines. The intern may also assist with maintaining roads, trails, historic apple orchards, the park nursery, and other cultural landscape features as operational needs require. The position involves working outdoors in a variety of weather conditions, lifting equipment and materials, and following established safety procedures while operating tools and machinery.

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: "5/4/9 Work Schedule" Mon-Thur 7:00am – 4:30pm; Fri 7:00am-3:30pm. Every other Friday off.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $720/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 and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general eligibility information on our website.

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.

Preferred:

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a minimum of a high school diploma or GED.
• Ability and willingness to take directions and participate in a team.
• Deep interest in historic and landscape preservation.

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. Ability to hike over rough terrain, and camp overnight under field conditions.
• Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to 25 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.] [Mainly indoor, office environment conditions; indoor air quality is good and temperature is controlled.
• Noise Environment: Moderate to high noise such gas-powered chainsaws and other hand and power tools. Moderate noise such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic.
• Travel: This position may require domestic 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 Project Coordinator Kyle Ellison.

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.