Preservation and Environmental Sustainability Intern
Internship Summary
The Preservation and Environmental Sustainability Intern will support the stewardship of the museum by assisting with building conditions assessments and the development of operations and maintenance manuals for repairs while focusing on a sustainability approach. This internship provides hands-on experience in preventive conservation, facilities documentation, and preservation planning within a museum context.
The intern will work closely with museum staff, preservation professionals, and facilities personnel to document existing conditions, identify maintenance needs-specifically through the lens of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, and help create clear, usable manuals that guide appropriate repair and maintenance practices consistent with preservation standards.
This internship is a great opportunity for someone who is considering working in the fields of history, historic preservation, community development, museum operations, facility management or environmental sustainability careers. The student will be supervised by the Vice President for Preservation, Facilities, and Landscape and the Director of Environmental Sustainability.
Upon completion of the 10-week internship, the intern will have gained practical experience and knowledge of:
- Detailed conditions assessment for historic buildings
- Preventive maintenance strategies for historic house museums
- Facilities management, energy efficiency, and environmental sustainability best practices for historic buildings
- Professional documentation and technical writing skills
- Nonprofit museum operations
More information about our historic houses and at SBM can be found at:
https://www.strawberybanke.org/houses
Duties and Responsibilities
- Capture the current condition of three buildings through photographs and written description documents.
- Develop best practices and recommendations for energy efficiency and environmental sustainability for the three buildings.
- Begin to formulate a long range maintenance plan, repair priorities, and operations manual.
Qualifications
- Must be enrolled as a current undergraduate or graduate student in good standing or have just graduated in order to be eligible for an internship.
- Students in historic preservation, architecture, museum studies, conservation, facilities management, environmental sustainability, or a related field preferred.
- Must be able to observe, document, and describe building elements and conditions clearly
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Excellent written, oral, and communication and presentation skills required as well as basic photography and computer skills
- Must have a laptop
- Must be physically and mentally able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodations.
Physical Requirements:
- Work entails moving around the 10-acre site, for extended periods of time outdoors in all weather conditions. Must be able to bend, stoop, and kneel, and must be able to lift/carry moderate weight.
- Must be able to sit for long periods of time as needed for computer based work.
Requirements of all Strawbery Banke Museum Staff:
SBM is committed to fostering a workplace that is truly equitable, inclusive, and accessible for a diverse group of staff, volunteers, and visitors. As such, it is an essential requirement that every SBM staff member:
- Exhibit a positive, collegial attitude and ability to work cooperatively with others at all levels of the organization including direct reports, colleagues, supervisor, volunteers, and visitors of all ages, abilities, and cultural backgrounds;
- Actively contribute to an organizational culture of empathy, dignity, trust, and respect. Each person at SBM agrees to proactively prevent and address issues such as unconscious bias, harassment, gender disparity, racial inequity, political divisiveness, and barriers to accessibility; and
- Foster inclusive and engaging interactions, accommodate safety and comfort needs and requests, and to provide the best visitor experience possible. Staff members equally share the responsibility of immediately addressing a deficiency, and/or, notifying the appropriate department or supervisor to address any situations.
Optional Housing
Optional on-site housing is provided in Hough House for interns who need housing.
Hough House is open to all interns regardless of sex or age. While the common areas in Hough are co-ed, the bedrooms are single-sex based on the gender with which each intern identifies, and interns should expect to have a roommate for the duration of their stay in Hough House.
About Strawbery Banke Museum
Strawbery Banke Museum is a 10-acre living history museum located in the heart of downtown Portsmouth. The museum interprets daily life in the same historic waterfront neighborhood over 300+ years, making the 37 historic buildings accessible to a wide range of visitors one of our primary goals. Strawbery Banke hosts an ever-growing number of special events and programs throughout the year. Seasonal and holiday signature events are time-honored traditions that help make Portsmouth the vibrant destination it is. Strawbery Banke is continually ranked as TripAdvisor’s #1 “Thing to do in Portsmouth”, Yankee Magazine Editors’ Choice: Best of New England Classics “Best Historic Village” and the 2020 Best of the Seacoast in the Entertainment & Leisure category for Best Group Event/Tour/Activity.