Historical Architect Technician (NPS, Southeast Regional Office)

Great Basin Institute, founded at the University of Nevada, Reno in 1998, is a mission-driven non-profit organization headquartered in the eastern foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. GBI has been a leader in the conservation stewardship field for over two decades, supporting thousands of individuals pursuing a career in public land management or advancing their academic standing.

In partnership with the NPS’ Southeast Regional Office, GBI seeks to hire one Historical Architect for a 12-month up to 4 years placement to help with implementation of is to provide meaningful service opportunities for cultural resource professionals to work in direct collaboration with the National Park Service Southeast Regional Office (SERO) and park staff to support the preservation, stabilization, and documentation of historic structures and cultural landscapes impacted by storms and natural disasters. Project participants will apply professional historical architecture practices to assess conditions, develop treatment recommendations, and support compliance-driven project execution.

Through this effort, participants will gain hands-on experience in the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) documentation process, strengthening their technical skills in historic preservation, architectural documentation, and federal compliance. This work supports broader NPS cultural resource stewardship goals and contributes to disaster recovery efforts funded through the Disaster Supplemental Appropriations Fund, advancing resilience, asset protection, and continued visitor access for current and future generations.

Primary objectives of this project that will be implemented by the Historical Architect include, but are not limited to:

• Conducts condition assessments and prepares Historic Structure Reports (HSRs), Cultural Landscape Reports (CLRs), and preservation treatment plans.
• Develops architectural designs, drawings, and specifications for preservation, stabilization, and rehabilitation of historic buildings and structures.
• Ensures compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
• Supports Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) or technical lead on design and construction projects involving historic assets.
• Reviews project proposals, construction documents, and scopes of work for impacts to cultural resources.
• Provides technical assistance to park staff, regional offices, and partners on preservation best practices and project development.
• Coordinates with interdisciplinary teams including engineers, historians, archaeologists, and facility managers.
• Participates in long-range planning efforts and asset management programs, including integration with systems such as FMSS/PMIS.
• Conducts field inspections and site visits to monitor project progress and ensure adherence to preservation standards.

**Note: This position is contingent upon final funding approval. Employment offers and start dates may be adjusted based on the availability and confirmation of funding.**

Location:

The National Park Service Southeast Regional Office is headquartered in Atlanta—a major metropolitan hub and transportation center serving the southeastern United States. Atlanta provides access to a diverse and resource-rich region spanning coastal, piedmont, and mountainous landscapes, as well as a deep and nationally significant cultural history.

Natural features, cultural resources, and recreational opportunities abound throughout the Southeast Region. Within a day’s travel of the regional office, visitors and staff can access world-class outdoor experiences including hiking and backpacking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, coastal exploration and wildlife viewing along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, and paddling, fishing, and ecological study within the Everglades National Park. The region also supports a wide range of cultural and historical experiences, from Civil War battlefields to sites central to the Civil Rights Movement.

The Southeast Region is home to more than 70 national park units, including national parks, seashores, rivers, battlefields, and historic sites, which collectively welcome tens of millions of visitors annually. These units preserve nationally significant natural landscapes and tell the stories of Indigenous peoples, early American settlement, and pivotal moments in the nation’s history.

National park units in the Southeast Region date back to the early years of the National Park System. Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, established in 1890, was the first national military park in the United States and marked an early expansion of federal preservation efforts. Since then, the Southeast Region has grown to include a wide and diverse portfolio of protected lands and historic places that continue to support the National Park Service mission.

Timeframe: 54-week appointment with the possibility of extension

REQUIRED:

• Bachelor or master’s degree in history, historic preservation or architecture.
• Demonstrated experience working with Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software (AutoCAD).
• Demonstrated experience applying The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
• Demonstrated experience preparing Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) drawings.
• Demonstrated familiarity with the National Register of Historic Places.
• Demonstrated experience preparing a Historic Structure Report (HSR).

Successful applicant(s) must complete a Department of Interior (DOI) Background Investigation (BI) or submit paperwork to NPS human resources indicating an active and fully adjudicated BI has already been completed prior to beginning position. If you already have a fully adjudicated BI, please let us know in your Application.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS  

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands, stand, walk, bend, and have specific vision abilities to include close and distance vision, and ability to adjust focus working with computer business equipment and other job/industry specific equipment.

NOTE:  This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the organization’s ongoing needs.

NOTE: All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment background check.

Disclaimer: Although the organization has attempted to accurately and thoroughly describe this position, GBI reserves the right to change the same, including to change, add to or subtract from the duties outlined, within the sole discretion of the organization, at any time, with or without advance notice.