Grassland Restoration GLOBE Intern- Minnesota

Organization: Nature Conservancy

Position Title: Grassland restoration GLOBE Intern

Location: Cushing, Minnesota

Hours and Compensation: 

• This is a full-time, temporary internship position with a position term of June 1, 2014 – August 8, 2014.
• Housing is provided
• $12.00/hour for undergraduate students; $14.00/hour for graduate students and above

Application Deadline: January 7, 2014

Organization Overview

The Nature Conservancy is the leading conservation organization working to make a positive impact around the world in more than 30 countries, all 50 United States, and your backyard. Founded in 1951, the mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. Visit www.nature.org/aboutus to learn more.

Through the GLOBE (Growing Leaders on Behalf of the Environment) internship program, The Nature Conservancy hires students and recent college graduates to fill paid internship positions during a 10-week summer internship. This is a unique opportunity for students and recent graduates to bridge the gap between what is learned in the classroom and on-the-ground work in the world of conservation. Additionally, the GLOBE program provides interns with the chance to directly work toward a sustainable future for our planet on the side of the Conservancy, the world’s largest environmental organization.

The Nature Conservancy offers GLOBE internships in the following areas: Conservation/Environmental Studies, Science, Information Technology (Computer Science), Marketing/Business, Marketing (Photo editing/Production Assistant), Communications, MBA Finance, Policy, Government Relations, Audit, and Philanthropy.

Description

The Grassland Restoration Intern will travel throughout the Prairie Forest Border Ecoregion in central and southeast Minnesota participating in preserve management activities which may include some or all of the following functions:

• Remove exotic species and/or species monitoring (including the  use of herbicides)
• Prescribed burn preparation, implementation, and post-fire monitoring
• Brush and tree removal
• Seed harvest and planting
• Monitoring

This job travels around the Central and Southeastern parts of Minnesota that allows interns to see several preserves ranging from Tallgrass Prairies to Savannas to Sand Prairies.  They will learn about a variety of plant communities, and the animals that live there.  Interns will also learn about the geography and culture of Minnesota. Interns can expect to spend the majority of their time away from their primary residence while preforming conservation work in the field.

Qualifications

• One year experience, coursework or other training in conservation, forestry, wildlife, ecology, range management or other related field.
• Experience managing and prioritizing tasks.
• Experience performing physical work.  Able to lift and carry 45 pounds.
• Experience performing administrative duties emphasizing detail-oriented tasks.

Preferred

• Ability to work independently and cooperatively with a wide variety of people in potentially fatigued conditions and maintain a positive attitude.
• One year experience, coursework or other training in wildlife, ecology, or other related field.
• Ability to identify flora and fauna and follow established monitoring protocol once trained.
• Ability to operate various types of tools and equipment in a safe and efficient manner (e.g. Truck, ATV, pumps, mower, hand tools, GPS units, etc) once trained
• Follow instructions closely and work independently of supervisors.
• Ability to perform physical work, sometime under adverse conditions or in inclement weather.
• Manage time and diverse activities under deadlines while delivering quality results.
• Working knowledge of common software applications (e.g.; Word, Excel, Web browsers).
• Communicating clearly via written, spoken, and graphical means.
• Willingness to live and work in an isolated rural environment and share living quarters.
• Ability to work cooperatively with a number of staff and external parties, sometimes under pressure or adverse conditions, in order to complete project work and goals in a timely manner.
• Formulate ideas and communicate clearly with others, both orally and in written form.
• Work and communicate effectively with a diverse group of people, including scientists, preserve staff, and others, to provide and obtain needed information.
• Valid driver’s license and clean driving record.

ELIGIBILITY

1. The Nature Conservancy’s GLOBE program candidate should demonstrate at least one of the following:
2. Contribution to The Nature Conservancy’s diversity. Applicant has circumstances, experiences, skills or talents that would benefit others and would enhance the diversity of the organization.
3. Commitment to diversity. Applicant has shown and can demonstrate a deep and active commitment to the issues of conservation and human diversity.

Other Eligibility Requirements:

1. Applicant has exceptional academic aptitude and record;
2. Applicant is able to demonstrate a commitment to conservation of the natural world;
3. Applicant must be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program. Recent graduates applying for internship positions should be graduates of the past 2 years.

Intern Selection Process

• Applications will be screened for eligibility, qualifications, experience level related to the project
• Applicants will be notified of next steps in the process (within 4 weeks after posting date ends)
• 2-3 phone interviews will be conducted for applicants selected to interview
• Additional information may be required before making a final decision
• All applicants will be notified of final selection by mid-March.

How to Apply

To apply to position number 41480, submit resume and cover letter as one document. Resume, cover letter, and 3 references are required for each position. All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on January 7, 2014.

Failure to complete all of the required fields may result in your application being disqualified from consideration. The information entered in the education and work experience sections are auto screened by the system based on the basic qualifications of the position.

You must click “submit” to apply for the position. You may select “save for later” if you prefer to create a draft application for future submission. Once submitted, applications cannot be revised or edited.