Environment for the Americas

Start Date: 11/6/2025
End Date: Mid-October 2026 (about 1 year)
Stipend: $520/Weekly 
Application Deadline: October 10, 2025

Position Description:

This position is located within the Division of Natural Resource (NR) Management and Science with the main goal of providing critical natural resources support for managing, monitoring, and synthesizing natural resources data in the GGNRA.  The internship works closely with park staff and park partners and is roughly 80% field-based (though some weeks may have more office time) with a focus on wildlife monitoring, data collection, data QA/QC, and volunteer coordination and outreach. The intern will work in a wide variety of habitats and locations ranging from wetlands, coastal scrub, grassland, old-growth redwood and oak/bay laurel woodland, and rocky intertidal shoreline. Survey and monitoring tasks will be defined seasonally and collaboratively with NR Division Staff.

Work Products: Key deliverables of the internship

·             Wildlife management – Conducting various wildlife surveys of threatened and endangered and native wildlife including western snowy plover, bank swallows, Mission blue butterfly, and California red-legged frog. Assisting in project-related monitoring duties of various wildlife populations and their habitats, including the Marin Headlands coyote monitoring project, a large wildlife camera project, Alcatraz waterbird management, and resource monitoring and protection during special-events. By the end of the internship, the intern should be proficient in the various monitoring techniques utilized and will be leading some field data collection efforts. Intern will be responsible for writing up a data summary for at least one of the monitoring efforts or an agreed upon independent project.

·             Data collection – Recording, performing QA/QC, mapping, and updating work collected in databases using MS Access, MS Excel, GPS/GIS; managing equipment and supplies. Intern should become proficient with MS Access database use and ArcGIS computer mapping by the end of the internship.

·             Outreach – Assisting in various outreach efforts, planning and leading public events, implementing field safety, and providing information on wildlife and/or park projects.

NR Program support – Equipment maintenance and cleaning, including disinfecting of shared equipment; coordinating schedules for field work; attending relevant meetings; participating in trainings.

Qualifications

Required:

·        An interest in natural resource management, particularly conservation of wildlife and habitat, or relevant field.

·        Ability to work well in a team and independently; contributes to achieving wildlife management goals; supports efforts of the team.

·        Experience working outdoors, occassionally in inclement weather, able to carry up to 30 lbs.

·        Strong organizational skills and attention to detail

·        Fluency with basic computer programs (Microsoft Suite) and experience with data collecting/analyzing using GIS applications.

·        Daily driving of Gov’t fleet vehicles with equipment – valid driver’s license and good driving record.

Desired:

·        Education and/or experience in biological sciences, particularly in wildlife biology, entomology, ornithology, mammalogy, herpetology, field technique, environmental studies, or ecology.

·        Natural resource management experience 

·        Some fluency or willingness to learn data collecting and analyzing programs (GIS, GPS, Avenza, Survey123). May be learned on the job.

·        Work with staff and volunteers from diverse backgrounds that share a common interest in preserving and protecting natural resources and engage in outreach and education with park visitors and community members.

·        Good communication skills.

·        CPR/First Aid, Wilderness First Aid training.

Vehicle/Driver's License Requirements

Applicant must have a valid driver’s license and a good driving record.

Physical/Natural Environment:

Golden Gate National Recreation Area is one of the largest urban parks in the world. The recreation area stretches across three counties in California’s San Francisco Bay Area: Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo. In total, the legislative boundary of the park is comprised of more than 80,000 acres of land and ocean waters, with 18,500 acres directly managed by GOGA.

The park is part of the California floristic province which is recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot. It is also home to many different habitat types and a large diversity of plant and animal species. Many rare species are found within Golden Gate National Recreation Area including 37 federally threatened or endangered species including the mission blue butterfly, northern spotted owl, and California red-legged frog. Golden Gate National Recreation Area also preserves 91 miles of shoreline along the outer coast and in Tomales and San Francisco Bays and includes the nearshore waters within ¼ mile of the coast.

Weather is Mediterranean and ranges from dry summers (with occasional fog) to wet and cold in the winter. The dorm and field office are located within the Park.  There are no stores or other conveniences within the Park but are located nearby in the town of Sausalito and City of San Francisco.

Work Environment:

Year-round seasonal work along and off-trail will occur with exposure to poison oak, ticks, and steep rocky slopes. Conditions may be inclement with extreme wind and cold. Field days may vary but can number 3-4 per week during the spring and summer months. Field work will involve carrying equipment, backpacks, and water for at least several miles on or off trail. During the fall and winter months, data QA/QC and office related projects will account for 2-3 days of the week.   

Mentoring:

The NR intern will work closely on a day-to-day basis with various team members of the NR and Wildlife teams for at least 3 days a week for the duration for the internship with exposure to various wildlife management needs and experiences. We will pre-schedule meetings early in the internship: initially, to try to determine key areas where the intern has an interest in gaining experience; and then to have regular check ins on how the internship is going.

Learning Goals:

·             Primary goal would be to provide the experience to qualify and be competitive for a biological technician level job.

·             Gain natural resource management experience with a range of native wildlife, including threatened and endangered species

·             Learn various sampling and field techniques, project development and implementation. Be proficient enough to lead field surveys for one or two projects by end of internship.

·             Monitoring, data collection and organization, and intern will write a summary report for one of the monitoring projects.

·             Gain understanding for the unique management situations of wildlife within an urban interface. 

·             Participate in professional development opportunities through Park Academy Classes and various trainings such as CPR/First Aid, Wilderness First Aid, GIS/GPS, and data analysis tools.

EEO Statement

Environment for the Americas provides equal employment opportunities and prohibits discrimination of any kind. This policy applies to all aspects of employment.