Traditional Trades Advancement Program at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Historic Preservation Internship

Build your hands-on preservation trades skills at Great Smoky Mountains National Park through projects addressing a range of historic preservation needs. Over the course of a 26-week immersive experience, TTAP participants train and work alongside experienced NPS employees to preserve cultural resources and crucial infrastructure. This position is a great way to gain practical, hands-on experience and the foundation for a career in historic preservation.

Schedule : 10 / 6 / 25 - 4 / 6 / 26

Monday Thursday 7 am 5 : 30 pm

Location : North District Maintenance Yard, Gatlinburg TN

Key Duties and Responsibilities : This position is a great way to gain practical, hands-on experience and the foundation for a career in historic preservation. The projects at Great Smoky Mountains will focus on roofing projects for various structures including log cabins, barns, and wood frame houses. Additional tasks will include log cabin floor repairs, window restoration, masonry, and chinking replacement on log cabins. The ideal candidate is excited about hands-on trades work and should be able to demonstrate or discuss their interest in the historic preservation field. TTAP Placements must be able to commit to a 26-week term. This position is scheduled for April 7 October 3, 2025 (flexible start date) with weekends and federal holidays off.

Skills Training & Support Provided :

• Roofing, including safety standards
• Masonry (rock skirt and chimney)
• Window restoration (glazing and replacement)
• Chinking on log cabins
• Hand and power tools use
• General preservation maintenance
• OSHA 10 Construction certification

Position Benefits :

Required Qualifications :

Preferred Qualifications :

Hours : 40 per week

Compensation : $1,440 bi-weekly living allowance (pre-tax) All allowances are subject to applicable federal, state, and local taxes.

Personal Vehicle Information : Recommended

Equal Opportunity Statement : The Student Conservation Association, Inc., is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The SCA strives to cultivate a work environment that encourages fairness, teamwork, and respect among all staff members and is committed to maintaining a work atmosphere where lifestyles may grow personally and professionally.

The Traditional Trades Advancement Program (TTAP) is an internship program of the National Park Service for aspiring preservation tradespeople. TTAP participants train and work alongside experienced NPS employees at a specific park site to preserve historic infrastructure and cultural resources. These valuable resources need constant thoughtful and careful preservation, repair, and maintenance. By assisting with preservation projects, participants directly improve the physical conditions of nationally significant park spaces that are accessed and enjoyed by thousands of visitors each year. Participants gain practical, hands-on experience and the foundation for a career in historic preservation. They learn the fundamentals of historic preservation and receive on-the-job training in one or more traditional trades such as masonry, carpentry, woodcrafting, landscape preservation, and more. The program is committed to providing all aspiring preservationistsespecially those underrepresented in the tradeswith a unique opportunity to work on important real-world projects while building professional experience in America's national parks.