Natural Resources Intern

Embark on an exciting journey with SWCA as a Natural Resources Intern for Summer 2026 in our Baton Rouge, LA office. Join our dynamic team and be part of innovative solutions in the environmental sciences. SWCA, established in 1981, is a renowned name in the United States, recognized for sound science and creative problem-solving.

As a Natural Resources Intern, you’ll dive into both office and field projects, collaborating with skilled natural resource professionals. This internship offers a unique opportunity to launch your career in environmental sciences, supported by leadership dedicated to your professional growth.

The internship spans from June 1^st to mid-August 2026, providing flexibility for early starters and those interested in extending beyond August. Alongside impactful project work, our program includes regular presentations by SWCA leaders.

This is a paid 40-hour-a-week internship with a competitive rate of $19.00 per hour.

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

• Support project managers and field leads in various natural resources surveys, including wetland delineations/assessments, wildlife surveys, bat surveys, avian surveys, and botanical surveys.
• Engage in office tasks such as data clean-up, reporting, and other activities to support the Natural Resources and Environmental Planning teams.
• Conduct fieldwork across office locations and potentially nearby states, sometimes involving extended hikes either independently or with colleagues.
• 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 juniors or seniors pursuing a bachelor’s degree in an environmental-related field, or recent graduates within 12 months of May 1, 2026. Equivalent experience will also be considered.
• Applicants pursuing a Master’s degree will also be considered. Ph.D. candidates are not eligible for this program.
• Experience with natural resources fieldwork through coursework, projects, professional/intern experience, or volunteer work.
• Ability to mobilize for 2 week durations or more for fieldwork, agency meetings, stakeholder meetings, and client visits is preferred.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite software.
• Good communication, interpersonal skills, and attention to detail.
• Ability and willingness to learn new survey and monitoring techniques and protocols.
• Ability to maintain a flexible and changeable schedule.

Field-Based Role Additional Requirements:

• In instances where travel is necessary, the position may require up to 50%-75% fieldwork, including spending extended periods in field locations.
• Ability to travel, walk, and conduct fieldwork for long hours, sometimes in inclement weather and rugged terrain, with the capacity to carry equipment weighing up to 40 pounds.
• Ability to work safely outside in all weather conditions, execute tasks effectively, and adapt to shifting priorities.
• Ability to incorporate SWCA’s safety policies into your workflow

Helpful Skills:

• Demonstrate proficiency in identifying native plants, birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.
• Familiarity with GPS devices, digital data collection, and mapping software like ArcGIS.
• Technical writing experience

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 Baton Rouge, LA-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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