Sign Shop Individual Placement

Title: Sign Shop Individual Placement

Location: Blue Ridge Parkway (Vinton, VA)

Position Dates: August 5 th , 2024 – March 7 th , 2025 (31-week term)

Pay: $600/week ($565/stipend + $35/housing allowance)

Status: This is a full-time, temporary, AmeriCorps National Service position.

Questions?Contact [email protected]

Appalachian Conservation Corps:

Our Individual Placement program works to connect young people to conservation service work across Appalachia and neighboring communities in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, DC, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. ACC is a program of Conservation Legacy, a nationwide network of conservation organizations.

Individual Placements gain hands-on experience at their placement site, and ACC supports them through their term, as well as provides a variety of benefits to help them succeed in achieving their career goals. ACC welcomes national applicants, but also emphasizes the engagement of local individuals who represent the communities in which they serve. 

Placement Site:

The Blue Ridge Parkway, (BLRI), Division of Maintenance & Engineering, seeks one Sign Shop intern to work 40 hours per week in a paid internship position for a duration of 31 weeks. Upon successful completion of this internship, the selected partner-hire could become eligible to apply for future positions under the Public Lands Corps Act non-competitive hiring authority.

Preference will be given to recent-era military veterans.

Position Summary:

This is a unique opportunity to learn a skilled trade in one of the treasures of the Southeast! Appalachian Conservation Corps and the Blue Ridge Parkway are seeking an Individual Placement to serve with the sign manufacturing facility. This position is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Maintenance Division, Plateau District, Vinton Sub-district. The intern will work under the maintenance supervisor and maintenance mechanic leader (sign maker). This position will assist the maintenance mechanic leader (sign maker) and will develop skills and knowledge of sign making duties including both sign maintenance and sign manufacturing.

The incumbent will learn to perform a variety of sign making methods and processes including but not limited to:

• Maintaining an electronic database of the sign inventory which is updated regularly and/or as shipments arrive. The database is used to generate reports for creating vendor orders. Prepares and places orders to maintain an inventory of sign making materials.
• Utilize computer aided design (CAD) software (Gerber or similar) to lay out and fabricate printed or cut vinyl graphics or text, as well as computer-aided routing. Utilizes plotter and computerized routers.
• Conduct periodic visual inspections of signs throughout the park to determine repairs and/or service required. Inspections may include the following activities: repair, refurbish, or replace.
• Repairs and refurbishes signs brought in by other Park staff.
• Perform simple and routine maintenance and repair of signposts.
• Applications of reflective sheeting to wood and aluminum to create traffic control, warning, regulatory informational and directional signs.
• Assist in applying reflective highway sign faces to aluminum material by use of an hydraulic press applicator.
• Perform letter routing and engraving of templates.
• Cut, route and paint trail signs and fabricate new signs.
• Assist higher grade sign workers or tradesmen in performance of their work.
• Member is required to keep clean shop, vehicles and equipment.
• Member will be expected to participate in scheduled conference calls, webinars, and meetings conducted throughout their term.
• Develop graphics and infographics.

• Develop internal content in SharePoint, Power BI, and Power apps.

The intern will gain an understanding of the Parkway's sign shop operation and the importance of maintaining informational and regulatory signs, which are critical for visitor safety when visiting the Parkway, whether they are operating a vehicle or hiking a trail. The intern will learn the significance of regularly maintaining Parkway signage to ensure adequate visibility for visitors and employee safety while also preserving the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.

Key Skills to be achieved:

• Will gain basic computer knowledge to use software programs designed for sign fabrication using routers, cutters, lasers, and printers.
• Developing knowledge and skills utilizing Gerber software to produce informational signage.
• Techniques and procedures to rehabilitate historic signs.

On-site housing at the park is available.

Benefits:

• $600/week ($565/stipend + $35/housing) paid bi-weekly
• $974.89 budget for Professional Development, travel or research purposes.
• Option to enroll in free health, vision, dental and mental health benefits.
• On-site housing at the park.
• A Segal Education Award of $3,447.50 u pon successful completion of service term, student loan forbearance and interest payoff.
• Member Assistance Program – 3 free sessions of support with a counseling or work-life balance specialist.
• Non-competitive hiring eligibility through the PLCHA when applying for federal jobs.
• Professional Development opportunities.

General Qualifications:

To qualify for this AmeriCorps position, you must be between the ages of 21 and 30, and a US citizen that has received a high school diploma or GED. All offers of employment are conditional upon completion of an acceptable check of the National Sex Offender Public Registry and federal criminal background check. Must be eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award.

• Possess a valid driver’s license.
• Comfortable working in an office environment and independently (remotely).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge and ability to develop digital media content on a variety of platforms.
• Knowledge and experience with building interactive reports in Excel
• Knowledge and ability to develop SharePoint Online content, Power apps, and Power BI.
• Knowledge and ability to develop content from a variety of application sources.

Our Promise:

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. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

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 job functions. 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.