Visitor Services Technician (NPS, Manzanar National Historic Site)

The Research Associate Program at GBI, in cooperation with NPS at Manzanar Historic Site (MANZ), is recruiting one (1) Visitor Services Technician to participate in visitor and interpretation services at the site.
 

The Great Basin Institute seeks to hire a Research Associate (RA) to enhance Visitor Services at Manzanar National Historic Site (MNHS). The RA will support the interpretation and preservation of the Manzanar’s stories and resources and, among other duties, will:
 

Primary Responsibilities:

• Expand visitor services and enhance interpretive opportunities by staffing the visitor center desk;
• Provide orientation, information, and explanation to visitors about Manzanar’s historic context, interpretive themes, cultural and natural resources, management, and visitor opportunities;
• Using previously prepared research and documentation, lead guided walks, present talks, and answer questions on subjects related to the site and its stories;
• Will initiate informal interpretive contacts throughout the site; 
• Provide project support to address deferred/cyclic maintenance of interpretive exhibits/media;
• Digitize historic resources, such as scanning loaned or donated archives and photographs representing all eras of Manzanar’s history;  
• Help transcribe and check for accuracy oral histories to help make them accessible for public use; and
• Highlight the successes of these projects, including deferred/cyclic maintenance benefits, FLREA project accomplishments, as well as services and programs provided by the NPS and its partners at Manzanar.

This position will have intense and extensive public contact responsibilities. Passion for history and compassion for people is essential.

Timeline:

• September, 2025 - February 2025, 24 wks;
• Full time (40 hours/week); and
• Schedule: Thursday - Monday, 8.5 hours daily (30 minute lunch).

Location:

Manzanar is located on the west side of U.S. Highway 395, 9 miles north of Lone Pine, California and 6 miles south of Independence, CA. Manzanar War Relocation Center was one of ten camps where the US government incarcerated Japanese immigrants ineligible for citizenship and Japanese American citizens during World War II. The Manzanar visitor center offers extensive exhibits, a 22-minute park film, a bookstore, a Junior Ranger program, and an information desk.

Compensation and Benefits:

Compensation: $19.30 hourly;

Benefits:

• Company-paid comprehensive medical, dental (with option to upgrade in coverage), and vision insurance premiums;
• $25,000 Basic Life & AD&D insurance at no cost;
• Personal leave and holidays; and
• Access to Pro Deals.

 Housing:

• Shared US Forest Service (USFS) housing may be available to the selected participant at additional costs. USFS dorms are present in Independence (10 minutes from MANZ) and Lone Pine (20 minutes from MANZ). These facilities have some shared rooms and some single rooms. All rooms share kitchen and common living areas. Rates are typically around $210 a month; and
• If shared housing is not acceptable the selected participant will be expected to procure housing on their own. MANZ will assist in this process as much as possible.

Travel Reimbursement: Not-to- exceed $600.

Supplies/Gear Reimbursement: Not-to-exceed $100.

Required:

• Experience in a Visitor Center, or similar, operations (required) with leadership experience preferred;
• Some experience developing and implementing environmental education and outreach programs and curricula;
• Experience conducting interpretation, highly desirable;
• Desire to work closely with the public;
• Must provide a valid driver’s license and possess a clean driving record; and
• Successful applicants 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. The noise level in the work environment is usually low.

The overall nature of the (Indoors/Office) position is sedentary, requiring little physical effort and occasional light exertion. There is occasional exposure to environmental conditions such as heat, cold, and temperature changes.

How to Apply:

Please apply online through this application link by submitting an up-to-date resume, one-page cover letter that details your interest in the position, and any qualifications not fully described in your resume, contact information for three professional and/or academic references. Be sure to complete any preliminary questions prompted in the application and sign your application.

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority:

This project is federally funded through the Public Land Corps Hiring Authority. Participants serving under this authority may be eligible for the PLC non-competitive hiring status and certificate. The PLC Authority requires all applicants meet the age and US Citizen requirements. Additional information regarding the PLC can be found on the GBI website under the Research Associate Programs FAQ.

Notes:

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.

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.