Natural Resources Management Internship

Golden Gate National Parks, San Mateo, CA

To Apply: Email your resume and a thoughtful cover letter to Eric Wrubel at eric_wrubel@nps.gov.  Please include “Internship Application” in the subject line and of your email.

OVERVIEW

The Golden Gate National Recreation Area is seeking a motivated intern to support natural resource management projects in San Mateo County, located in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) is a destination for both local and international visitors with its sweeping vistas, immense biological diversity, and unique cultural resources. With over 15 million visitors annually and over 80,000 acres of land, the GGNRA is the largest urban national park in the country.

The GGNRA Natural Resources Division works to protect, conserve and restore biological and physical resources in the park. Our work is variable and covers a broad spectrum of activities including resource inventory and monitoring, identification and management of threats to sensitive resources, and community engagement in park stewardship.  We work in a variety of habitats from coastal prairies to redwood forests to support conservation of federally protected plants and animals, locally rare plant species, and sensitive ecosystems.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

– Working as part of a small team or occasionally independently, the intern will perform field-based work in San Mateo park units including Sweeney Ridge, Rancho Corral de Tierra, and Phleger Estate.
– Control invasive plant species using hand tools, power tools, herbicide and other methods.
– Plan and implement habitat restoration and revegetation field work.
– Perform contractor or volunteer oversight during vegetation management work.
– Record restoration progress; write work performed reports, enter into databases and work plans, and manage work performed data.
– Map vegetation and rare or invasive and plant populations using GPS data recorders; analyze and display mapped features using GIS technology.
– Assist in development and implementation of rare plant monitoring protocol for endangered Hickman’s potentilla.
– Monitor threatened and endangered wildlife including California red-legged frog, San Bruno elfin butterflies, and Mission blue butterflies.
– Prepare summary reports of monitoring, restoration actions, and experiments performed.
– Drive truck to/from work sites.
– Maintain tools and equipment.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

– A love of nature and physical outdoor work.
– Interest in resource management, ecological restoration, endangered species stewardship, and plant identification.
– Willing to apply herbicide as part of an integrated pest management strategy
– Basic computer literacy, Microsoft Word and Excel
– Ability to work independently and take on a leadership role as needed.
– Desire to work in a small team and to work with a diversity of people with different backgrounds, ethnicity, races, genders, sexualities, ages, and viewpoints.
– Good communication skills, including technical writing; treats others with respect; speaks and writes clearly and effectively.
– Experience, coursework or skill in the following areas is a plus: botany, taxonomy, ecology, restoration, geographic information systems (GIS), statistics, database operations, photography
– A valid driver’s license and good driving record.
– College degree in natural resource management, biology, ecology, or related topic

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

– This is primarily a field based position, with 1-3 days per week in the office. Must enjoy working outside in highly variable weather conditions and terrain while maintaining a good attitude.
– Must be willing to work in poison oak. Personal protective equipment against poison oak will be provided, but exposure to poison oak will happen and is unavoidable.
– Must be comfortable working around ticks and yellow-jacket wasps.
– Ability to lift, carry, and position objects weighing up to 40 pounds off trail in steep terrain in dense vegetation for up to six hours daily.

COMPENSATION

– Dorm-style housing, a taxable stipend of $225/week if your permanent residence is more than 50 miles from San Francisco.
– A taxable stipend of $375/week is provided if your permanent residence is less than 50 miles from San Francisco.
– Gain hands-on work experience at the National Park Service, working on applied plant and wildlife conservation.
– Professional development days are available to pursue an interest, including training and education opportunities in various departments within the National Park Service and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.
– Opportunity to attend Park Academy Classes on a variety of topics including resume building and interview skills, park orientation and history, flora and fauna, mapping and monitoring, computer skills, and more.
– Opportunities to work with staff and volunteers from diverse backgrounds that share a common interest in preserving and protecting our natural lands while engaging the next generation of park stewards.

TERMS

Position is open until filled. Interviews will begin December 9, 2019.

Desired Start Date: January 15, 2020

Term is 1 year

Full-time schedule, Monday through Friday, 40 hours/week. Occasional weekend work for volunteer events or wildlife monitoring.

To Apply: Email your resume and a thoughtful cover letter to Eric Wrubel at eric_wrubel@nps.gov.  Please include “Internship Application” in the subject line and of your email.

The Parks Conservancy and National Park Service strive to engage a workforce reflective of the community we serve. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, gender, national or ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, or physical disability.