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

Judy Cheteyan Fallingwater Collections Internship

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 one full-time resident intern 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 organizing, preparing, and inventorying our large collection of audiovisual material for future digitization. The intern will also update our collection management system with relevant and up-to-date information related to our objects and art collection. If time permits, the intern will also select a sub collection 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 during the allotted time.

Projects Planned:  

  • Developing an updated inventory of the large collection of audiovisual material and organizing the material for future digitization and rehousing.
  • Updating, organizing, and adding to our collection management database, PastPerfect.

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 experience using collection management systems such as PastPerfect.

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 2, 2025 and ending August 8, 2025. 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 $16.50 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, 2025

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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 2025.

This is a unique opportunity to work at, 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.

Job Duties

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.

  • 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.

Absolute Requirements

We are looking for a qualified 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.

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
  • Sedentary work
  • Pushing, pulling, lifting and carrying up to 30 pounds if needed
  • Sitting for periods in excess of (3) hours
  • Occasional standing and walking
  • Speaking and hearing in-person, telephone, and other remote speech
  • Seeing with near, far, and peripheral visual acuity

Qualifications

Qualified candidates must have 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. It is required that the Intern be able to complete all physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation.

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

June 2 to August 8, 2025. The intern will be expected to work during normal business hours (typically 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.), 30-40 hours per week. Occasional work outside of regular hours could be required for urgent or special projects.

Additional Details

Our named internship positions are fully funded by private donations. Interns are required to provide their own food, linens, laundry supplies and toiletries.

Pay

This internship pays an hourly wage of $16.50 per hour and includes free, shared onsite housing on the Fallingwater campus

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 Internship in the subject line.

Application Deadline

April 1, 2025

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Watershed Conservation Internship (Indiana)

Watershed Conservation Office (Indiana, PA)

Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) is seeking up to three summer interns for the Watershed Conservation Program. Up to two (2) watershed conservation intern positions will be based in the Indiana, Pa. office and one (1) intern position will be based in WPC’s Ridgway, Pa. office. 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

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

Qualifications

  • 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

Location

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

Position Duration

  • Spring/summer of 2025; approximately 13 weeks (500 hours); Tentative term dates: May 05, 2025 to August 08, 2025.

Pay

$16.50 per hour

Application Process

To apply send resume and cover letter to khorrell@paconserve.org and list Watershed Intern – Indiana in the subject line.  Application deadline is open until the positions are filled or by April 14, 2025.

Application Deadline

April 14, 2025

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Watershed Conservation Internship (Ridgway)

Allegheny Regional Office (Ridgway, PA)

Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) is seeking up to three summer interns for the Watershed Conservation Program. Up to two (2) watershed conservation intern positions will be based in the Indiana, Pa. office and one (1) intern position will be based in WPC’s Ridgway, Pa. office. 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

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

Qualifications

  • 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

Location

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

Position Duration

  • Spring/summer of 2025; approximately 13 weeks (500 hours); Tentative term dates: May 05, 2025 to August 08, 2025.

Pay

$16.50 per hour

Application Process

To apply send resume and cover letter to khorrell@paconserve.org and list Watershed Intern – Ridgway in the subject line.  Application deadline is open until the positions are filled or by April 14, 2025.

Application Deadline

April 14, 2025

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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.