Intern

Paid Student Internship - San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC)

Natural Resources and Lands Management Division, Biological Resources Group

Internship Overview

Are you excited about working outdoors protecting natural resources? Do you love nature, ecology, plants and wildlife? If so, this could be the PAID internship for you!

We are looking for a motivated intern to work with the Biological Resources Group to help protect and restore the natural resources of the San Francisco Peninsula on SFPUC lands. Our work includes surveying for rare and endangered plants and animals, identifying and managing threats to sensitive species, supporting vegetation management projects including prescribed burns, controlling invasive species, planting native species, and restoring habitats for rare and endangered animals.

Based out of Millbrae, your “office” stretches from the remote valleys of the San Andreas Reservoir near San Bruno to the Upper Crystal Springs Reservoir near Woodside. Work in a variety of habitats from Douglas fir and redwood forests to steep scrublands and rare serpentine grasslands. Help to protect state and federally listed animals such as the Mission blue butterfly, San Francisco garter snake, California red-legged frog, and a variety of threatened, endangered, or rare plant species.

Gain experience with environmental specialties such as botany, wildlife biology, vegetation management, hydrology, forestry, integrated pest management, fisheries, environmental laws and regulations, compliance, and planning. Gain a professional network with experienced staff and environmental consultants.

Description of Duties and Learning Objectives

The successful candidates will join SFPUC biologists in a variety of natural resource management projects and will learn how to:

• Survey for rare and listed plants and animals and monitor projects to ensure their protection.
• Monitor vegetation communities and planting survivorship.
• Monitor threatened and endangered wildlife such as California red-legged frogs, Mission blue and San Bruno elfin butterflies
• Remove invasive species using hand tools, power tools, herbicide, and other methods.
• Revegetate disturbed landscapes with native plants.
• Map key habitat features using ArcGIS, ESRI Field Maps, Arc GIS Online; analyze and display mapped features using GIS technology.
• Evaluate progress toward mitigation goals; collect, enter, and manage ecological data.
• Prepare reports and correspondence relating to conservation projects.
• Maintain tools and equipment and other miscellaneous duties.
  
  

Desired Qualifications

• Current or recent enrollment (within 6 months) in an accredited University or community college.
• A passion for physical work in hard field conditions.
• A strong sense of pride and accomplishment in seeing a job well-done.
• A familiarity with or desire to learn about biological and ecological concepts.
• A love of nature, ecology, plants, and animals.
• Interest in ecological restoration and endangered species management.
• Self-motivation, sense of humor, flexibility, and collaboration is a must!
• Ability to work independently and assume a leadership role as needed.
• Great communication skills; treats others with respect; speaks and writes clearly and effectively.
• Detail-oriented and organized.
• Basic computer literacy, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and willingness to learn new technology. Physical Requirements and Work Environments:
• This is a field-based position with occasional office time. Must enjoy working outside in various weather conditions while maintaining a sense of humor.
• Extreme sensitivity to poison oak may be problematic. (Personal protective equipment against poison oak will be provided)
• Ability to lift, carry and position objects weighing up to 40 pounds. Terms
  
  

Available only to students enrolled, or recently enrolled in an accredited program at a university or community college.

An applicant must be returning to their undergraduate program or entering/continuing a graduate program in the Fall 2026. Applicants can still apply if it is their second-to-last or last semester, as they may still be appointed to work within six months of graduation. See link for full details.

Applications due by January 15, 2026.

Desired start date: May/June/July 2026

Length of position: up to three years, with no more than 1040 hours worked per year, or no more 2080 hours worked over the life of this position.

Schedule: Flexible. People in this position typically work 2-3 days or about 20 hours per week.

Compensation

$36.65 to $41.2375, depending on experience

• Gain real-world work experience in natural resources management and threatened and endangered species protection.
• Opportunity to explore the SFPUC Peninsula watershed lands that the public does not get to visit.
• Network with experienced staff and environmental consultants.
  
  

To Apply

• Use the following link and follow instructions carefully: https://careers.sf.gov/role/?id=3743990010756229
• Specify that you are applying to SFPUC (not another division like SF Rec and Parks)
• Specify that you are applying to the Natural Resources and Lands Management Division
  
  

Contact Christina Crooker at ------------ with questions.

~At the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, we celebrate and value the diversity of our workforce and encourage women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and veterans to apply for all employment opportunities within a safe workplace which is free from harassment and discrimination ~