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

Watershed Conservation Internship (2 Positions)

Allegheny Regional Office (Ridgway, PA)

Interns will assist with implementing a variety of watershed restoration projects and aquatic surveys, in close coordination with watershed conservation staff. These internships are made possible by the Dr. William C. Conrad Stackpole Hall Foundation Summer Jobs Program. 

Job Duties

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

Requirements

  • Progress toward the completion of a degree or enrolled for the upcoming Fall 2023 semester in a major of biology, watershed science, stream ecology, environmental studies or a related field
  • Be a current Elk County, PA resident
  • Must meet PHEAA financial eligibility requirements
  • Be currently enrolled at least half-time (six credits) in a PHEAA-approved higher education institution in a program of study at least two years in length; High School Seniors are eligible if they will meet this requirement in the upcoming Fall 2023 Semester.

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

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
  • Working evenings and weekend hours

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 2023 for approximately 12 weeks (480 hours)
  • Tentative term dates: May 08, 2023 to August 11, 2023

Pay

$12 per hour

Application Process

Please send a letter, resume to wpcjobs@paconserve.org and list Watershed Intern – Ridgway in the subject line.

Applicants must also complete a PHEAA Work Study application available online through the Stackpole-Hall Foundation Summer Jobs Program website.

Application Deadline

April 28, 2023

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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.