Natural Resource Management Assistant – Big Bend National Park,

Start/End Dates: June 2, 2025 – August 25, 2025 (12 weeks)

Mosaics in Science seeks to engage ethnically and racially diverse young professionals in natural resource careers.

Eligibility Requirements:

• You must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident.
• A valid driver’s license is required.
• You must be a student in an accredited college with a graduation date after the internship ends.

Note: A personal vehicle is required for this position.

Position Description:

This intern will work under the direct supervision of the park Wildlife Biologist. They will receive training on standard operating procedures and safety protocols used across the National Park Service and other management areas. The primary focus of this internship will be surveying yellow-billed cuckoos during their breeding season. This work is essential to support the recovery of this threatened species in the park. Monitoring and comparing results from the past two years will enable the park to quantify the need for and impact of restoration projects. Big Bend National Park encompasses over 7,000 acres of designated critical habitat for this species.

The intern will be required to work in the field for four weeks, surveying yellow-billed cuckoos within critical habitats alongside the Wildlife Biologist, following the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) standard protocol. They will receive training on call-playback techniques and identifying yellow-billed cuckoos by sight and call. The intern will also assist the Wildlife Biologist in assessing habitat within the cuckoo survey transects, which will involve identifying dominant vegetation and estimating its relative cover percentage.

Collected survey data will be entered into standardized USFWS spreadsheets. The intern will also create survey detection maps in ArcGIS to provide to both the USFWS and the park. Since many high-visitation areas of the park overlap with critical habitats, this data is vital for ensuring compliance with park projects affecting these areas.

Throughout the project, there will be opportunities to collaborate with and inform other park divisions, such as Facilities Maintenance, Interpretation, and Visitor & Resource Protection. The intern will compile survey results, including supplementary information such as annual precipitation and river flow levels, into a comprehensive report. This report will be used to create a presentation for park staff, detailing the findings of the yellow-billed cuckoo surveys and comparing them with data from the previous two years. Sharing this information is crucial, as protecting threatened and endangered species influences many aspects of park operations and decision-making.

This internship will provide valuable experience in the natural resources field, equipping the intern with practical skills for their future career. The project requires a candidate who is well-organized and attentive to detail. While the supervisor will support and guide the intern, they will also allow for autonomy in completing the project.

Finally, this project aligns with the National Park Service’s mission and objectives by providing critical information to help Big Bend National Park protect and conserve the yellow-billed cuckoo, a threatened species.

Responsibilities:

• Create maps and spreadsheets from data collected during yellow-billed cuckoo surveys and submit them to the USFWS, adhering to endangered species permit requirements.
• Produce a report compiling survey results to serve as a resource for protecting the yellow-billed cuckoo within park operations.
• Present the findings of the 2025 yellow-billed cuckoo surveys to park leadership and employees, including comparisons with the results of the previous two years of surveys.

Qualifications:

• Ample college or graduate-level coursework in biological or physical sciences, with limited or no work experience applying this coursework in a professional setting.
• College-level coursework in the natural sciences, such as wildlife biology, geology, botany, ecology, or hydrology, or coursework in natural resource management or park/land management.
• Familiarity with the ArcGIS Online environment (including Survey123 or the Field Maps app).
• Experience hiking, camping, and navigating in the backcountry; monitoring or assessing disturbance to natural or cultural resources; documenting or reporting on treatments for invasive plants, fuels, or nuisance animals.
• Experience monitoring vegetation conditions; identifying wildlife, including mammals and birds; conducting environmental monitoring (such as water or air quality tests); and using ArcGIS to create maps or surveys.

Interns in this program will receive 480 hours toward the Direct Hiring Authority. See below for more information:

Direct Hire Authority (DHA)
Direct Hire Authority (DHA) at the successful conclusion of their internship. DHA status enables an agency to hire, after public notice is given, any qualified applicant. A DHA expedites hiring by eliminating competitive rating and ranking, veterans’ preference, and “rule of three” procedures. For more information, please click HERE.

EEO Statement

Environment for the Americas provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.