Freelance Intern Historic Preservation Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Position Title:Build Up Historic Preservation Project Management Intern - San Juan National Historic Site

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: San Juan, Puerto Rico

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: July 2026
• Term Length: 26 Weeks

Purpose:

Stewards Individual Placements (STE) provides individuals with service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our cultural resources. Participants work with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits building institutional capacity, developing community relationships, and supporting ecosystem health.
STE in partnership with the National Park Service and Historic Preservation Training Center are seeking an individual for an exciting new opportunity as a Build Up Historic Preservation Project Management Intern. The goal of this position is to provide a technical internship that facilitates the opportunity to learn the full scope HPTC programming. This position provides a structured introduction and learning opportunities in the fields of Park Planning, Facilities, and Land Management within the National Parks Service system. The individual selected for this opportunity will receive direct mentorship from NPS Staff, Project Supervisors and on site field training.

The Historic Preservation Training Center (HPTC) utilizes historic preservation projects as the main vehicle for teaching preservation philosophy and building crafts, technology, and project management skills. Our experiential learning approach emphasizes flexibility in addressing the unknown conditions encountered during the project and ensures that the goals of preservation are met. The HPTC completes research, planning, and documentation, as well as preservation project execution of historic structures for future preservation, restoration, or rehabilitation for a variety of uses.

Projects for 2026 will provide opportunities to gain experience in historic structure reports (HSRs), documentation drawings, compliance reviews, conditions assessments, and rapid assessment style reports, field based practical project execution, financial management and safety program experience. All activities will be conducted under the direct supervision of the Caribbean Section Manger and San Juan based preservation teams.

Description of Duties:

• Historic structure reports (HSRs), documentation drawings, compliance reviews, condition assessments, preservation maintenance plans, rapid assessment-style reports, etc., under the supervision of the Section Manager or other Preservation Services Staff.
• Duties will include field inspection/assessment, historic fabric investigation, field documentation, archival research, and composing treatment recommendations.
• Field work is completed with weather in mind but could occur in hot temperatures with precipitation in local park units or those which require overnight travel from HPTC San Juan headquarters.
• Office work is completed indoors in the historic SHPO offices in Old San Juan.
• Project focus will be on the Fortaleza, historic Wall preservation in Old San Juan. Historical Park
• Opportunities to travel to other project sites in the continental US or US Virgin Islands may be available.
• Field Inspection/Assessment
• Historic Fabric investigations
• Field Documentation
• Archival Research
• Treatment Recommendation Composition
• On site day-to-day safety inspections
• Planning
• Masonry application techniques and methodology
• Project reporting and ledger balancing and projections.

MinimumQualifications

• United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien
• Ages 18-30 (Up to 35 with veteran status documentation)
• 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 award
• Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check.
• Very strong communication skills (writing/editing)
• Very strong organizational skills
• Ability to work independently
• Possess a valid driver's license

Preferred Qualifications:

• Successful candidate(s) should be architecture or historic preservation students and should be familiar with historic construction methods and historic preservation philosophy, including The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
• Hands-on experience with field documentation, archival research, material assessment, construction or historic trades (Masonry, carpentry, etc.)hands on skills, use of Microsoft excel, and solid writing skills are preferred. Please articulate these skills in your application.
• Candidate(s) must provide their own laptop, with access to, at the minimum, email, Microsoft Word, and excel. All other field tools, materials, and equipment (including required PPE) will be provided by HPTC

Our Commitment:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work 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. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week, but exact service schedules may vary.
• Overtime availability dependent on project assignment.

Orientation and Training:

• Involvement in dynamic team, get experience in and have impact on a national program in the National Park Service
• Exposure to many individuals in youth programs, historic preservation, and training world of National Park Service
• Ample professional and individual development opportunities to be determined by intern and supervisor

Benefits:

• Weekly Living Stipend and Additional Benefit equivalent to $25/hr
• Upon graduation, planning fellows who successfully complete their internship are eligible for non-competitive hiring into the NPS
• Travel to National Park Service sites available
• Networking across the National Park Service
• Healthcare Coverage if Eligible

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an intern, performance will be evaluated on whether 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:

Kevin Record

Program Coordinator

krecord@conservationlegacy.org

(681) 666-3621

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.