Community Science Intern with Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy

Start Date: June 2, 2026 - March 5, 2027 (9 months)
Compensation: $800 per week support for field gear

Application Deadline: April 17, 2026

To apply: Submit a cover letter, resume, and three references through the Environment for the Americas portal. 

Environment for the Americas and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy seek to engage young professionals in natural resource careers.  To participate in the internship program you must: 

• Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident. 

• Be willing to undergo a background check upon hiring.

• Have a valid driver’s license and at least one year of driving experience.

• Have a personal vehicle for this position.

Position Description: 

Environment for the Americas in partnership with the Golden Gate National Park Conservancy (GGNPC), is seeking an intern to support the Conservation and Community Science Department at GGNPC. The intern will primarily support the Hawkwatch program. As a secondary focus, the intern will  conduct raptor banding fieldwork and help perform associated tasks. Additionally, there will be opportunities to create 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. The work week will include weekend days, some holidays, and some evenings.

Position Responsibilities:

Volunteer Support, Public Engagement & Outreach

• Respond to email inquiries about our community science programs.

• Assist staff with volunteer management tasks—for example, preparing training materials, sending weekly email announcements, and updating volunteer documents and databases.

• Support the planning and management of volunteer events.

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

• Help volunteers participate safely, learn, and enjoy events.

• With support, create science communication content such as taking photographs, 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 for 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, etc. in a consistent, timely, and professional manner.

• Keep survey and program equipment in good working condition and stored properly.

• 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 one 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 experience counts

• Experience using spreadsheets and email

• Adequate vision to spot and identify birds of prey, as well as read small fonts (corrective lenses permitted).

• Must drive four-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicles over rough dirt roads; driver’s license required 

• Willingness and ability to stand on an open hillside for up to six hours under a range of weather conditions. Fieldwork may also include sitting on a stool for up to eight hours.

• Animal care requires contact with live birds and their aviaries.

• Ability to lift, carry, and position objects weighing up to 50 pounds. 

Physical Requirements and Work Environments:

• Work is performed both in both office and outdoor settings  

• Animal care requires contact with live birds and their aviaries.

• 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
  
  

About the Site:

The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is the nonprofit partner of the National Park Service overseeing the Golden Gate National Recreation Area — 84,000 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 that advance racial and social justice for our communities and strengthen 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. 

The Golden Gate Raptor Observatory (GGRO) is one of our suite of community science programs and is operated by the Parks Conservancy and the National Park Service. Staff and more than 100 volunteers work together to study the birds of prey migrating through the Marin Headlands each fall. GGRO has two core program areas—raptor banding and Hawkwatch—contributing more than 10,000 volunteer service hours to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (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.

Salary : $800