Community Science Intern with Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy

Start Date: June 2 2026
End Date: March 5 2027
Internship Duration: 9 months
Compensation: $800 per week
Work Style: Hybrid
Schedule: Full time 5 consecutive days during field season including some evening and weekend shifts; scheduling will vary based on program needs.

Application Deadline: April 17 2026

Position Overview:

The intern will support the Hawkwatch program primarily. As a secondary focus the intern will conduct raptor banding fieldwork and help perform associated tasks. Additionally there will be opportunities to get creative making science-based content and activities for in-person and online outreach and community engagement. Interns are also required to take part in professional development activities throughout the parks.

Position Description:

Volunteer support public engagement & outreach

Respond to email inquiries about our community science programs.

Assist staff in volunteer management tasksfor example preparing training materials sending weekly email announcements updating volunteer documents and databases.

Support planning and managing volunteer events.

Help transport set up and clean up materials and equipment for volunteer events.

Help volunteers safely participate learn and have fun at events.

With support create science communication content such as taking photos contributing short summaries for email newsletters and social media and designing activities to engage the broader community in science .

Assist at other community outreach events in Marin and San Francisco as needed.

Represent the Parks Conservancy to the public in a positive and professional manner.

Fieldwork

Learn the Hawkwatch quadrant method to identify and count 19 species of raptors.

Learn techniques in raptor trapping and banding.

Help with avian husbandry as needed.

Participate in team fieldwork with careful adherence to protocols in accordance with training.

Drive pickup trucks and other vehicles safely on fire roads surface streets and remote roads in Marin County.

Data Management

Enter data into project-specific platforms

Participate in conducting quality control checks on data contributed by volunteers.

General

Understand and closely follow protocols to maintain a safe work environment.

Communicate in-person and by email phone videoconference a consistent timely and professional manner.

Keep survey and program equipment in good working condition and proper storage.

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

College degree or equivalent experience in ecology environmental studies resource management geography biology science education environmental education or another related field

At least 1 year (can be cumulative) of experience working face-to-face with members of the public (e.g. customer service camp counselor community outreach activities)

Some experience spending time outdoors recreation counts

At least 1 year of driving experience

Experience using spreadsheets and email

Physical Requirements and Work Environments:

Work is performed both in both office and outdoor settings

Work is primarily performed standing or walking

Fieldwork often requires standing on an open hillside for 6 hours under a range of weather conditions

Fieldwork may include sitting on a stool for up to 8 hours

Animal care requires contact with live birds and their aviaries.

Work requires squatting and kneeling

Frequently lifts carries and positions objects weighing up to 50 pounds

Adequate vision to spot and ID birds of prey as well to read small fonts may include corrective lenses

Must drive 4WD vehicles over rough dirt roads; drivers license required

Ability to condense safety guidelines into field trainings and situations

Some work is performed sitting at a desk and in front of a computer

Work location is Ft. Cronkhite Marin County California and throughout the Marin Headlands

Work week will include weekend days some holidays and some evenings

About the Organization:

The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is the nonprofit partner of the National Park Service overseeing the Golden Gate National Recreation Area 84000 acres of national parkland spanning the San Francisco Bay Area including Muir Woods Ocean Beach Crissy Field and Alcatraz Island. The Parks Conservancy is a membership organization created to preserve the Golden Gate National Parks enhance the experiences of park visitors and build a community dedicated to conserving the parks for the future.

With our local and federal partners the Parks Conservancy is committed to the work of supporting Bay Area national parks as places where we can further racial and social justice for our community and climate resilience for these protected lands.

The Conservation and Community Science Department (CCS) supports the ecological and climate-adaptive work of the Parks Conservancy the National Park Service and our One Tam partners. Together we strategically fill gaps in our ecosystem knowledge and coordinate conservation actions at a landscape scale while creating opportunities to connect people parks and partners.

TheGolden Gate Raptor Observatory (GGRO) is one of our suite of community science programs and is operated by the Parks Conservancy and the NPS. Staff and 100 volunteers work together to study the birds of prey migrating through the Marin Headlands each fall. GGRO has two core program areasraptor banding and Hawkwatchcontributing over 10000 hours of volunteer service hours to the GGNRA each year.

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.