The mission of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is to conserve the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we develop innovative, on-the-ground solutions to the world’s toughest environmental challenges so that people and nature can thrive. Our work is guided by our values, which include a commitment to diversity and respect for people, communities, and cultures. From a rewarding mission to career development and flexible schedules, there are many reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want to know more? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube   to hear stories from staff or visit  Glassdoor.

One of TNC’s primary goals is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that employees around the globe have a sense of belonging and feel that their unique contributions are valued. We know we’ll only achieve our mission by hiring and engaging a diverse staff that reflects the communities in which we work. Recognizing that people bring talent and skills that have been developed outside the scope of a job, we take a holistic approach to recruitment that considers life experience in addition to the professional requirements listed in our postings. Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and you’ll stay for the people.”

The intern will assist The Nature Conservancy’s Science team with on-going projects. These projects include collecting, managing, and analyzing research and monitoring data; organizing and summarizing historical documents; and additional projects based on individual interest.

Projects that can be done virtually or from a Nature Conservancy office (San Antonio/Houston):

• Research data management and analysis—We have several long-term research and monitoring projects with many years of data. The intern will help enter data collected in the field into electronic forms, will analyze photos from field visits, and help analyze the data for reports.
• Organizing and summarizing historical documents—The Nature Conservancy has worked in Texas for decades and has many documents that are important to understanding the histories of our sites. The intern will help organize documents that have been scanned into an online database. The intern will also create summaries of the documents for various sites.
• Intern-led projects—We work with interns to develop their own projects based on their interests and career goals. Previous interns have developed StoryMaps about preserves and designed wildlife studies. Many interns have also chosen to work with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in other ways to gain valuable jobs skills. No previous GIS experience is required; we will provide opportunities to learn any skills needed for the project.

Field-based projects (optional):
The intern will have the opportunity to travel to preserves throughout Texas to help with on-going data collection, particularly focused on plants and soil. Potential sites for fieldwork include Barton Creek Habitat Preserve, Cibolo Bluffs Preserve, Clymer Meadow Preserve, Love Creek Preserve, and Sandyland Sanctuary. Others may be added depending on priorities for the year. Food and housing will be provided for overnight field visits; transportation may be provided, depending on where the intern is based. Fieldwork requires the ability to walk across uneven terrain in hot and humid conditions and will expose the intern to poisonous and stinging plants and animals. We provide instruction on how to avoid the problematic species.

• During fieldwork, the intern will learn the following skills: vegetation monitoring techniques for a variety of habitat types, plant identification, and using handheld GPS units for navigation. These skills are required for most entry-level science and land management positions.