SWCA Environmental Consultants’ Ecological Restoration Group is looking for an Ecological Restoration Intern to assist during our Summer 2026 field season, with projects primarily located in Nevada, Michigan and Vermont.
The selected intern will support a diversity of field based and office-based tasks and will work with talented, multi-disciplinary teams of ecological restoration and natural resource professionals. This position provides great opportunities for an Intern to enter and launch a career in environmental sciences, supported by leadership focused on the professional development of team members. The intern will report into our client services ecosystem restoration team.
This position requires a demonstrated interest in natural sciences, a good attitude, willingness to learn, flexibility, and good communication skills. This internship will occur during the Summer 2026 (early June – mid-August). Candidates who can start earlier than June 2026 will be considered and those who can remain past August may provide additional value.
In addition to project work, the internship program includes regularly scheduled presentations by SWCA leaders. This is a paid, 40 hours/week internship with an hourly rate of $19.00/hour. The person can be based anywhere in the continental United States but be prepared to travel to states listed above, or others if we win new projects.
Please submit a cover letter to be considered for this position.
Application deadline: Our team will begin reviewing applications immediately, and interviews will be scheduled with qualified candidates on a rolling basis. The application process will remain open until we have received a robust pool of qualified candidates. Once we have identified suitable individuals, we may close the application process without prior notice. We appreciate the time and effort invested by all applicants and will carefully consider each submission.
What you will accomplish
- Work in a team setting to complete ecological restoration tasks
- Effectively communicate with other project team members and follow instructions well
- Implement and complete tasks and responsibilities delegated by Field Supervisors
- Assist with basic marketing, outreach, and visual support tasks related to ecological restoration projects (e.g., project photography, field documentation, graphics, or content for reports, presentations, or outreach materials), as needed
- Take positive action and accountability for assigned work
- Adheres to the safety program and looks out for the safety of others, promptly communicating and mitigating safety hazards.
experience and qualifications for success
Minimum qualifications:
- Currently enrolled in a college or university, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in an environmental related field with coursework in environmental sciences, biology, ecology, landscaping, ecological restoration, plant installation, or something similar, or a recent graduate within 12 months of May 1, 2025. Or equivalent experience. Students who have completed at least their junior year in college/university are preferred.
- Experience with natural resources field work (e.g., environmental, natural, water, biological, ecological, etc.) through classwork, honors thesis or Capstone projects, professional/intern experience, or volunteer work.
- Must have good communication, interpersonal skills, and attention to detail.
- Must have ability and willingness to learn new survey and monitoring techniques and protocols.
- Ability to work well in a team setting and collaborate with others.
Important for Field-Based Roles:
- Ability and willingness to work in remote field locations for extended periods, including multiple consecutive weeks, with limited access to services or connectivity
- Ability to participate in strenuous manual labor, travel to a location, walk and conduct fieldwork for long hours, sometimes in inclement weather, rugged terrain, and ability to carry equipment and supplies weighing up to 50 pounds.
- Ability to work outside in all weather conditions, effectively execute tasks, and conform to shifting priorities and demands.
- Valid driver’s license and the ability to drive a 4WD vehicle on backcountry roads required.
Helpful Skills:
- Familiarity with GPS devices and digital data collection, and/or mapping software such as ArcGIS
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite software
- Technical writing experience
- Interest or experience in marketing, communications, graphic design, or visual storytelling, including use of tools such as Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop), Canva, or similar platforms
- Experience supporting outreach materials, presentations, reports, or digital content related to environmental or scientific projects
- Photography or basic video documentation skills for field projects are a plus
Why Work at SWCA:
SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing employee-owned firm, providing a full-spectrum of environmental services. Our Vision (the North Star) is to make SWCA the best workplace and industry leader in sustainability, bringing sound science and creative solutions to global environmental challenges while maintaining a dedication to employee-ownership. We live our core values: we collaborate as #OneSWCA; we are #AlwaysLearning, we #NeverSettle, and we #GiveBack.
We are 100% employee-owned, and we build our success together. With offices across the United States, SWCA is one of the largest environmental compliance firms and ranks among Engineering News-Record’s Top 200 Environmental Firms. We offer a supportive, team-oriented work environment and competitive wages and benefits, including an 100% employee stock ownership plan (retirement).
At SWCA, we support our team members in developing their careers to make them leaders in their industry. Our Career Landscape initiative is a process and guide designed to help develop chart rewarding career paths for employees at SWCA. We encourage professional conference attendance, internal and external professional development and training programs, education reimbursement, a Science and Leadership Program, and bonuses for publications meeting certain criteria. All regular status employees are eligible to participate in SWCA medical, dental, vision, employee assistance, wellness, life and disability plans, and are eligible to participate in the SWCA 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust.
If you need assistance accessing SWCA’s website, completing the online application, or require accommodations at any point during the hiring process due to a disability, please contact us at accommodations@swca.com or call 1-480-581-5378. We’re committed to providing an inclusive and supportive experience for all candidates. This contact information is specifically for accommodation requests; other inquiries will not receive a response.
EOE – women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply. At SWCA Environmental Consultants, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds, including those with diverse experiences and veterans, to apply. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce enhances creativity, innovation, and overall organizational success.
SWCA is committed to salary equity and salary transparency for all its employees. In alignment with this commitment, SWCA posts good faith pay ranges in all its advertised job postings to promote pay equity and transparency.
An employee in this US-based position can expect an hourly rate of $19.00 per hour. Actual pay within this range may depend on experience, qualifications, geographic location, client requirements where applicable, and other factors permitted by law. Regular-status employees are also eligible for performance bonuses. Candidates are also encouraged to consider SWCA’s Total Rewards package, which includes a competitive Benefits Package, forward-thinking workplace flexibility, outstanding corporate culture, award-winning career development, and more.
SWCA continues to invest deeply in career development programs, delivering our award-winning Career Landscape support resources to accelerate the growth of our staff. We recognize the valuable skills and experiences our internal team members bring to SWCA’s continued success. Qualified internal candidates are encouraged to apply and will be seriously considered for this position. We believe in promoting from within, where possible, providing our existing employees with compelling opportunities to advance their careers.
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