National Park Svc. Business Plan Initiative

The National Parks Business Plan Initiative (BPI) is a creative public/private partnership designed to promote the long-term health of our national parks through development of improved financial planning and management tools. The BPI is a joint effort of the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) and the Student Conservation Association (SCA). Each summer, graduate students from leading business and public policy schools become management consultants in selected national park units. Consultants work with park staff to produce a business plan that clearly outlines park operational requirements, identifies financial resources that are currently available, and analyzes any funding gap that exists. Consultants also work with park staff to identify operational and investment priorities and develop strategies for meeting those needs. In addition, a handful of park units that have produced business plans in the past will be revisited to update their plans and/or perform various in-depth analyses to assist in program development.

Up to 25 consultants will be assigned to two- or three-person teams at national park units across the country. The group of parks participating during the summer of 2004 session has not yet been finalized, but a final list is expected by the end of January. 

Job Description 

For 2005, the internship will begin with a week of training around June 5th and likely conclude on August 19th (11 weeks total). A follow-up meeting with senior NPS managers, SCA, foundation partners, and others is typically held in mid-October in Washington, D.C. 

Over the course of the summer, teams of consultants will interview park staff and review budgets and other relevant documents in order to:

Analyze the park's programs, operations, and activities as mandated by Congress (e.g., endangered species monitoring, road maintenance, interpretation, visitor safety)

Identify standards of operation for each program Document current sources and uses of funds

Identify gaps between park needs and current funding Analyze the policy and program implications of various funding options

Quantify future funding requirements

Develop financial and management strategies for addressing funding shortfalls

Perform ancillary analyses as required by park unit management teams 

Qualifications, compensation, and the application process will be distributed with the formal announcement in late December of 2004. To receive the official announcement individually, send a letter of interest to BPI@thesca.org.

For more information about. The National Park Service, visit http://www.nps.gov; National park units, visit http://www.nps.gov/parks.html