Historic Preservation Field Intern - SUMMER 2027

State of Missouri; Jefferson City (MO); On-site; USD 17,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Missouri, Central Office in Jefferson City, is offering a Historic Preservation Intern position focused on archaeology, archaeological curation, or architectural history under supervision. The role includes field surveys, site testing, artifact preparation, and documentation, with responsibilities across Phase I–III investigations and Section 106 processes.

The internship is wage-based with no benefits, limited hours (up to 1,039 per year) and a schedule of Monday–Thursday, early

Qualifications

• Enrolled in a relevant bachelor’s or post-bachelor’s degree program full-time (12+ credit hours).
• 30 credit hours completed/accepted toward current degree program.
• GPA of at least 2.0 out of 4.0.

Responsibilities

• Assist with archaeological investigations in proposed project areas, including Phase I, II, and Excavation III.
• Administer a project through the Section 106 process from notifications to final report.
• Process field data and prepare artifacts for analysis and curation.
• Catalog and curate archaeological material and excavation documentation.
• Photograph and evaluate architectural resources in project areas.
• Create, maintain, and track artifact databases and prepare technical reports.
• Perform other responsibilities as required.

Skills

Archaeology knowledge

Fieldwork

Data collection

Artifact cataloging

Education

Pursuing bachelor’s degree (archaeology)

Tools

Artifact databases

Job description

Job Location: Central Office, 601 West Main, Jefferson City, MO

Why you’ll love this position:

The historic preservation intern can focus on archaeology, archaeological curation, or architectural history (built environment). The archaeological duties will primarily focus on fieldwork, specifically survey and site testing with the possibility for site excavation. The work will involve the preparation of recovered artifacts for analysis and curation. The archaeological curation duties will consist of cataloging and processing artifacts and archaeological documentation. Architectural historian duties focus on background research and how to evaluate buildings and bridges for their historic significance. Responsibilities performed under direct supervision.

This position will be filled at a rate contingent with previous relevant intern experience.

• Assist with archaeological investigations in proposed project areas, including Phase I (identification), Phase II (assessment), and Phase Excavation III (data recovery).
• Administer a project through the Section 106 process from initial project notifications to field work to completion of a final report.
• Process field data to assist the archaeologist in analysis and report production, including completion of field documentation and preparation of artifacts for analysis and curation.
• Processing, cataloging, and curating archaeological material and associated excavation documentation.
• Photograph and evaluate architectural resources in project areas
• Create, maintain, and track artifact databases, develop queries, and assist in preparing technical reports.
• Perform other responsibilities as required or assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Enrolled in a relevant bachelor’s or post-bachelor’s degree program full-time (12+ credit hours).
• 30 credit hours completed/accepted toward current degree program. High school or other postsecondary program credits must be shown to be accepted by the current program through a degree transcript to apply.
• Possess and maintain an overall GPA of at least 2.0 out of 4.0, or equivalent.

Special Working Conditions And Job Characteristics

• This is a wage, non-benefits eligible position, working no more than 1,039 hours per year.
• Typical working hours are Monday through Thursday from 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• The position can be physically demanding as it entails some work in adverse weather conditions, rough terrain, and near areas of moving vehicular traffic.
• Drug testing, a physical, and a criminal background check will be required after a conditional offer of employment is made.

Why you'll love MoDOT:

We value team players who are open-minded and work well with others to accomplish goals and fulfill our mission of safety, service, and stability. We see the growth of our team members as an investment, both in MoDOT's future and yours. If you're looking for diverse opportunities, challenging work, and a flexible environment, we want to talk to you about joining our winning team. MoDOT operates on shared values and your success in our organization depends upon modeling these values. If you embrace these values, we welcome your application.

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