Internships

 The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy offers short and long-term summer internship opportunities for college and graduate students interested in careers related to the Conservancy’s many departments. Interns complete hands-on projects relevant to their area of specialization while working closely with supervisors, colleagues and volunteers in their host department.

We also offer fall and spring semester internships for students currently enrolled in degree-granting programs. These internships are unpaid and require a commitment of 12 hours per week for 10 weeks. The Conservancy strongly encourages applications from students who are members of groups underrepresented in careers related to its mission.

Current Internship Opportunities

Katherine Mabis McKenna Foundation Landscape Internship (2 Positions)

Fallingwater (Mill Run, PA)

Fallingwater, a property entrusted to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and designated as a National Historic Landmark and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, is seeking two (2) Landscape Interns for summer 2024. 

Job Duties

The landscape internship will consist of outdoor work for the Fallingwater grounds and the completion of a project that combines design work and hands-on work. The interns will work independently and alongside the Fallingwater horticulturist to complete their projects and implement improvements to the landscape. Tasks will include weeding, planting, monitoring and removal of invasive plant species, and pruning. The interns work under the direct supervision of the horticulturist and the senior director of operations. Interns will additionally be advised by an outside landscape architecture professional. Several educational field trips are part of the internship. The intern will increase their skills and knowledge in plant identification, plant care and design of the landscape.

Absolute Requirements

Enrollment in a master’s program or undergraduate program in Landscape Architecture, Horticulture, Landscape Contracting or related fields of study. Experience with Adobe Photoshop and CAD or other drafting software.

Physical Requirements

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

  • Ability to lift 50 pounds. 
  • Requires stooping, kneeling, crawling, bending, turning, and reaching. (full range of body motion for extended periods of time.) 
  • Physical stamina and the ability to stand for long periods – 6-7 hours per day. 
  • Physical stamina for manual labor working outdoors in a variety of weather conditions. 
  • To be able to complete all physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation. 

Preferred Qualifications

Enrollment in a master’s program or undergraduate program in landscape architecture, horticulture, plant science, or related fields of study is required. Experience with Adobe Photoshop and CAD or other drafting software or hand drafting experience is preferred, but not required. Applicants must have the ability to perform hands-on outdoor landscaping and gardening tasks in a variety of weather conditions. Some experience working outdoors or plant care experience is a plus.  

Location

This position's primary location(s): Fallingwater (Mill Run, PA)

Fallingwater is located in rural Mill Run, Pennsylvania (zip code 15464), and is approximately ninety minutes by car from the Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT). Having a motor vehicle is strongly recommended as there are no stores or amenities within walking distance.

Position Duration

Ten weeks, beginning in late May and ending in early August. Interns will be expected to work during normal business hours (typically 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), 40 hours per week.

Pay

This internship pays an hourly wage of $16 per hour and includes free on-site housing. Interns are responsible to provide their own food, linens, laundry supplies and incidentals.

Application Process

To apply, email a cover letter, resume, and two letters of recommendation (employer or professor) as PDF files to wpcjobs@paconserve.org and list Landscape Intern in the subject line.

Application Deadline

March 15, 2024

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Robert and Harriet Kirkpatrick Education Internship

Fallingwater (Mill Run, PA)

Fallingwater, the architectural masterwork designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, seeks applications to fill our Fallingwater Education Department internship. This intern will reside on-site while immersing themselves in the many organizational and curricular tasks required to provide successful educational programming at Fallingwater. This is a unique opportunity to work in the education department at a world-renowned museum and architectural site.

Fallingwater’s education department engages visitors from all over the world, of all ages, backgrounds and abilities, in experiential, inquiry-based learning about Fallingwater. Site specific, immersive, observation-based learning is the foundation for Fallingwater’s education programs, which range from guided experiences for drop-in visitors to workshops for local students to week-long, studio-based residencies.

Job Duties

The education intern will work directly with education department staff to interpret Fallingwater through guided tours and other educational programs. The intern may also assist education supervisors with on-site residency programs for high school, college and adult learners; grade 3-12 educational workshops, as well as general department administrative tasks. In addition, the intern will complete an independent project. All interns will be responsible for presenting their accomplishments to senior staff at the completion of the program. This individual will report directly to the senior director of education.

Absolute Requirements

The applicant must be a current undergraduate, graduate student or recent graduate in education, museum education, visual art education, museum studies or any related field devoted to education. The successful candidates will possess experience in teaching, museum education, informal education and architecture education. Experience teaching from objects in a museum setting is preferred.

Physical Requirements

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Location

This position's primary location(s): Fallingwater (Mill Run, PA)

Fallingwater is located in rural Mill Run, Pennsylvania (zip code 15464), and is approximately ninety minutes by car from the Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT). Having a motor vehicle is strongly recommended as there are no stores or amenities within walking distance.

Position Duration

This position will be 10 consecutive weeks in duration beginning in June 2024. Interns will be expected to work during normal business hours (typically 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), 40 hours per week. Educational programs are run seven days per week including Memorial Day and Independence Day. You will be obligated to work some weekends, evenings and holidays although you will not be required to work in excess of forty hours per week.

Pay

This internship pays an hourly wage of $16 per hour and includes free on-site housing. Interns are responsible to provide their own food, linens, laundry supplies and incidentals.

Application Process

To apply, email cover letter, resume, a two-page writing sample and two letters of reference to wpcjobs@paconserve.org and list FW Education Intern in the subject line.

Application Deadline

March 15, 2024

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Judy Cheteyan Fallingwater Collections Internship (2 Positions)

Fallingwater (Mill Run, PA)

Fallingwater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, seeks applications for its Judy Cheteyan Fallingwater Collections Internship. This year we seek two (2) full-time resident interns to work exclusively with the archives collection as part of an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Museums for America grant project focused on the Fallingwater archival collection.   

Job Duties

Working under the supervision of the senior director of preservation and collections and the collections manager and archivist, the collections intern will assist in preparing the archives for grant-funded environmental upgrades. The intern will also select one or more subcollections from within the archives as a focused summer project. Their selection will be based on diversity of content, and will be of a size and scope that can be successfully completed. Duties will include housing, organizing, and preparing a finding aid according to national standards for DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard) and EAD (Encoded Archival Description).  

Projects Planned:  

  • Organization of digital files returning from outside digitization as well as creation object records in our collection management database, PastPerfect. 
  • Continued cataloguing of Kaufmann Family archival collection, including rehousing of archival materials. 
  • Preparing for relocation of materials during environmental upgrades within collections storage building. 

Physical Requirements

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

  • Utilizing keyboarding and fine motor skills   
  • Bending, twisting, lifting and carrying up to 40 pounds 
  • Climbing up and down stairways 
  • Sitting/standing/walking for periods in excess of 2 hours 
  • To be able to complete all physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation 

Qualifications

  • Recent graduate or current graduate student in Library and/or Information Science with a strong interest and relevant experience in archives.
  • Preference given to those with an interest and/or experience with photo archives.

Location

This position's primary location(s): Fallingwater (Mill Run, PA)

Fallingwater is located in rural Mill Run, Pennsylvania (zip code 15464), and is approximately ninety minutes by car from the Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT). Having a motor vehicle is strongly recommended as there are no stores or amenities within walking distance.

Position Duration

Ten weeks, beginning June 3, 2024, and ending August 9, 2024. Interns will be expected to work during normal business hours (typically Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), 40 hours per week. June 19 and July 4 are unpaid holidays.

Additional Details

  • Coed, shared housing is provided at no charge
  • Interns are required to provide their own food, linens, laundry supplies and toiletries
  • Having a motor vehicle is strongly recommended as there are no stores or amenities within walking distance
  • Ride sharing services, such as Uber and Lyft, are currently not available in the area surrounding Fallingwater

Pay

This internship pays an hourly wage of $16 per hour and includes free on-site housing.

Application Process

To apply, email a cover letter, resume, two letters of recommendation (employer or professor), and a 500-word essay on how this internship program fits your academic and/or career goals to wpcjobs@paconserve.org and list FW Collections Intern in the subject line.

Application Deadline

March 31, 2024

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Fawcett Digital Multimedia Internship

Fallingwater (Mill Run, PA)

Fallingwater, the architectural masterwork designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, is seeking a Digital Multimedia Intern for summer 2024. This is a unique opportunity to work at and help promote and share the importance of Fallingwater, a renowned architectural site on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This internship will enhance your skills and build experience in the fields of social media, digital communications, photography, videography and public relations. The intern will work in collaboration with the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy’s Communications Department on various social media projects to help promote Fallingwater and attract new and engage current fans and followers.

Job Duties

  • Social Media Content: Support Fallingwater’s social media platforms by writing content, taking photos, shooting video and/or repurposing existing content to be used on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. Assist with social media strategy, content tracking and analytics.
  • Website Content: Support Fallingwater’s website presence through various projects that may include, taking new photos or recording video, reviewing archival photos, and recording audio. May also include help with uploading, editing and optimizing website content in WordPress.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Student with progress toward a bachelor’s or master’s degree in digital communications, multimedia communications, media arts, journalism, social media, public relations mass communications or a related field.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills and be able to work independently.
  • Proficiency in one or more of the areas of social media, website content management systems, videography and video editing, photography, and photo editing is required.
  • Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite applications and the use of a DSLR camera are required.
  • The intern will also perform other multimedia duties as assigned, such as photographing special events or preservation work at Fallingwater.

Location

This position's primary location(s): Fallingwater (Mill Run, PA)

Fallingwater is located in rural Mill Run, Pennsylvania (zip code 15464), and is approximately ninety minutes by car from the Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT). Having a motor vehicle is strongly recommended as there are no stores or amenities within walking distance.

Position Duration

Ten weeks from June 3 to August 9, 2024. The intern will be expected to work during normal business hours (typically 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.), 40 hours per week. Occasional work outside of regular hours could be required for urgent or special projects. June 19 and July 4 are unpaid holidays.

Additional Details

  • Coed, shared housing is provided at no charge
  • Interns are required to provide their own food, linens, laundry supplies and toiletries
  • Having a motor vehicle is strongly recommended as there are no stores or amenities within walking distance
  • Ride sharing services, such as Uber and Lyft, are currently not available in the area surrounding Fallingwater

Pay

This internship pays an hourly wage of $16 per hour and includes free on-site housing.

Application Process

To apply, email cover letter, resume, two letters of reference, two social media examples and one writing example, or a link to an online portfolio, to wpcjobs@paconserve.org and list Multimedia Intern in the subject line.

Application Deadline

April 1, 2024

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Watershed Conservation Internship

Allegheny Regional Office (Ridgway, PA)

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) has been dedicated to protecting and restoring the region’s exceptional natural places since 1932. As a member-based nonprofit organization, we work in cities and towns across Western Pennsylvania and rely on the help of thousands of members, partners and volunteers. We are making a difference in our region’s water, land and life. We do this work for the benefit of wildlife and people who call Western Pennsylvania home, and for future generations.

Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) seeks three summer interns for the Watershed Conservation Program. Two (2) watershed conservation intern positions will be based in the WPC’s Watershed Conservation Office in Indiana, Pa. and one (1) intern position will be based in WPC’s Allegheny Regional Office in Ridgway, Pa. The interns will work under the supervision of assigned watershed conservation staff.

Job Duties

Interns will assist with implementing a variety of watershed restoration projects and aquatic surveys, in close coordination with Watershed Conservation staff. Duties may include assisting in the areas of:

  • Water quality monitoring & assessment
  • Watershed restoration and stream habitat enhancement
  • Agricultural best management practices
  • Project design, planning, and implementation
  • Biological survey work focusing on macroinvertebrates, various fish species, hellbender salamanders, and/or freshwater mussels

Absolute Requirements

  • Proficiency with all Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word and Excel
  • Able to travel to various worksites and willing to work some evenings, weekends, and overnight trips as needed
  • The ability to conduct field research in remote locations as part of a team is essential for this position
  • Job requires the ability to traverse rugged terrain while carrying at least 50 pounds of equipment in a variety of weather conditions and assist with strenuous physical duties, including heavy lifting and using hand/power tools to complete construction activities

Physical Requirements

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  • Utilizing keyboarding and fine motor skills
  • Utilizing gross motor skills to operate tools and equipment
  • Driving a motor vehicle
  • Pushing, pulling, lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds
  • Bending, twisting, stooping, crouching, kneeling and crawling
  • Reaching overhead, at, and below eye level
  • Swimming and wading in flowing water
  • Climbing up and down stairways and ladders
  • Sitting/standing/walking for periods in excess of 2 hours traversing rugged terrain
  • Speaking and hearing in-person, telephone, and other remote speech (2-way radio)
  • Seeing with near, far, and peripheral visual acuity
  • Evenings and weekend hours
  • To be able to complete all physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation

Qualifications

To be able to complete all physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Location

This position's primary location(s): Allegheny Regional Office (Ridgway, PA)

Position Duration

  • This is a part-time temporary position.
  • Spring/Summer of 2024 for approximately 13 weeks (500 hours)
  • Tentative term dates: May 06, 2024 to August 9, 2024

Pay

$16 per hour

Application Process

To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to khorrell@paconserve.org and list Watershed Intern-Ridgway in the subject line.

Application Deadline

April 15, 2024

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Watershed Conservation Internship (2 Positions)

Watershed Conservation Office (Indiana, PA)

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) has been dedicated to protecting and restoring the region’s exceptional natural places since 1932. As a member-based nonprofit organization, we work in cities and towns across Western Pennsylvania and rely on the help of thousands of members, partners and volunteers. We are making a difference in our region’s water, land and life. We do this work for the benefit of wildlife and people who call Western Pennsylvania home, and for future generations.

Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) seeks three summer interns for the Watershed Conservation Program. Two (2) watershed conservation intern positions will be based in the WPC’s Watershed Conservation Office in Indiana, Pa. and one (1) intern position will be based in WPC’s Allegheny Regional Office in Ridgway, Pa. The interns will work under the supervision of assigned watershed conservation staff.

Job Duties

Interns will assist with implementing a variety of watershed restoration projects and aquatic surveys, in close coordination with Watershed Conservation staff. Duties may include assisting in the areas of:

  • Water quality monitoring & assessment
  • Watershed restoration and stream habitat enhancement
  • Agricultural best management practices
  • Project design, planning, and implementation
  • Biological survey work focusing on macroinvertebrates, various fish species, hellbender salamanders, and/or freshwater mussels

Absolute Requirements

  • Proficiency with all Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word and Excel
  • Able to travel to various worksites and willing to work some evenings, weekends, and overnight trips as needed
  • The ability to conduct field research in remote locations as part of a team is essential for this position
  • Job requires the ability to traverse rugged terrain while carrying at least 50 pounds of equipment in a variety of weather conditions and assist with strenuous physical duties, including heavy lifting and using hand/power tools to complete construction activities

Physical Requirements

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  • Utilizing keyboarding and fine motor skills
  • Utilizing gross motor skills to operate tools and equipment
  • Driving a motor vehicle
  • Pushing, pulling, lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds
  • Bending, twisting, stooping, crouching, kneeling and crawling
  • Reaching overhead, at, and below eye level
  • Swimming and wading in flowing water
  • Climbing up and down stairways and ladders
  • Sitting/standing/walking for periods in excess of 2 hours traversing rugged terrain
  • Speaking and hearing in-person, telephone, and other remote speech (2-way radio)
  • Seeing with near, far, and peripheral visual acuity
  • Evenings and weekend hours
  • To be able to complete all physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation

Qualifications

To be able to complete all physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Location

This position's primary location(s): Watershed Conservation Office (Indiana, PA)

Position Duration

  • This is a part-time temporary position.
  • Spring/Summer of 2024 for approximately 13 weeks (500 hours)
  • Tentative term dates: May 06, 2024 to August 9, 2024

Pay

$16 per hour

Application Process

To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to khorrell@paconserve.org and list Watershed Intern-Indiana in the subject line.

Application Deadline

April 15, 2024

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The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity-Affirmative Action Employer – Minority / Female / Disability / Veteran / Gender Identity / Sexual Orientation / Age.

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is fully committed to diversity and inclusion. We seek contributors from all backgrounds to join our team. Read our equal opportunity employer statement.