Job Title: Conservation and Recreation Program Intern, Summer 2018
Opening Date/Time: Mon. 11/13/17 12:00 AM Pacific Time
Closing Date/Time: Mon. 01/15/18 11:59 PM Pacific Time
Salary: $2,088.00 – $2,963.00 Monthly
Job Type: Internship
Location: Thurston County – Olympia, Washington
Department: Dept. of Natural Resources
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DescriptionBenefitsSupplemental Questions
   

Service, Science, Sustainability

Under the leadership of the Commissioner of Public Lands, our work at the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is done with the public’s interest in mind, which means transparency and public knowledge.  Our decisions are guided by sound science as we manage state trust lands, native ecosystems and natural resources. We support the vision of a sustainable future by protecting and managing the natural resources so future generations will have them.

DNR manages over 5 million acres of state-owned land that includes forest, range, commercial, agricultural and aquatic lands. We generate revenue that supports public schools, state institutions and county services. But managing lands is only half of our story. We also protect other public resources such as fish, wildlife, water, and provide public access to outdoor recreation. Two of our largest and most important state-wide resource protection responsibilities are fire prevention and suppression, and overseeing forest practices.

The DNR has an annual operating budget of approximately $245 million and has over 1300 permanent employees with approximately 500 additional staff hired during the summer fire season.

We have some of the most talented people in the industry.  We honor diversity in the workplace and support one another with respect and trust.  We invite you to learn more about our culture, our careers, and why some of the top forestry and natural science professionals have joined Washington DNR by visiting our DNR website.
 Duties:
Conservation and Recreation Program Intern
Summer 2018
Recruitment # 2017-11-9401 (Intern)
 
Do you want to gain first-hand, real-world experience in the areas of conservation and recreation? Are you majoring in a field that shows interest and relevance for a career in these fields?  If so, you may be perfect for the DNR Conservation/Recreation Internship Program. This opportunity with DNR offers interns valuable networking possibilities and on-the-job experience.

SALARY RANGE:

Sophomore and under: $2,088 per month
Junior: $2,262 per month
Senior: $2,448 per month
Graduate student: up to $2,963 per month
*DNR provides housing in some locations or a $500/month housing stipend if free housing is not available.
TYPE OF POSITION:
Exempt Position: Non-permanent, Full-time
Flexible start date with a 3-month duration.
LOCATION:
Olympia, WA
CLOSES:
15 January 2018
POSITION PROFILE:

This unique position will work with two different programs at DNR: Natural Areas and Recreation. The DNR Natural Areas Program manages more than 160,000 acres of rare plant and animal habitat, outstanding native ecosystems, and scenic landscapes.  DNR’s Recreation Program is responsible for managing a broad range of public uses on more than 2.2 million acres of state trust lands, including 160 facilities and more than 1,100 miles of trail.

The position will involve the use of unmanned aircraft systems (drones) to collect imagery and data on natural areas and recreation sites managed by DNR.  The person in this position will have the opportunity to become licensed/certified (under FAA Section 107) to operate small (less than 55 lbs.) drones.  The individual will work with scientists and data managers in the Natural Areas and Natural Heritage Programs, and with recreation specialists in the Recreation Program, to design and implement a variety of site-specific projects.

For natural areas, projects will include obtaining quality, low elevation aerial imagery of selected natural areas, as well as obtaining imagery, and extracting data from that imagery, on the vegetation of different natural areas.  These imagery and data may be used for a variety of purposes, including outreach and education, to create fine scale vegetation maps of natural areas, to identify infestations on non-native weedy species, and to establish baselines for vegetation patterns (including spatial distribution of dominant species and plant phenology).

For recreation, projects will include obtaining low elevation imagery of recreation areas to support outreach and education efforts regarding recreation on DNR managed lands. Data of interest includes trail usage, existence and location of non-DNR sanctioned trail networks, and an inventory of recreation site facilities. These data will be useful in creating recreation site plans.

 Qualifications:
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Applicant must be a student majoring in Recreation, Natural Resource Management, Communications Studies, Ecology or a related field and will be returning to school in a following quarter/semester.
  • Ability to research, collect, and interpret significant amounts of information and identify common elements
  • High level of attention to detail
  • Ability to work with minimal oversight
  • Physical ability to work alone or as part of a team in undeveloped, remote, forested or back-county landscapes and terrain
  • Experience using Microsoft office products including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word
 
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:
  • A commitment to outdoor recreation and conservation, evidenced through course work and activities. Desirable course work includes any combination of the following:
    • General Biology
    • Outdoor Recreation Management
    • Wildlife and Fisheries Ecology or Biology
    • Tourism or Ecotourism
    • Natural Resource Management
    • GPS/GIS Mapping
SPECIAL POSITION REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS
  • Ability to work on uneven terrain in all weather conditions.
  • The incumbent in this position is required to travel.
  • Must have a valid driver’s license and have two years of driving experience. Employees who drive for state business, whether in a state or privately owned vehicle, are required to possess a valid license and abide by all other driver responsibility requirements.
  • Must be at least 18 years of age at the time of hire.
 Supplemental Information:
WHO MAY APPLY

  • This recruitment is open to anyone who meets the required qualifications for this position.
  • Note: Students graduating in or before June 2018 should call or email for information on permanent employment opportunities. You can also find our current job openings at www.dnr.wa.gov/aboutdnr/employment and www.careers.wa.gov.

APPLICATION PROCESS

  • To be considered you must apply online at www.careers.wa.gov (Click on the APPLY button above)
  • Submit the following:
    • A letter of interest, no more than two pages in length, describing how your experience and qualifications relate to the position profile, required and desired position qualifications,special position requirements and what you would like to gain from this internship.
    • Attach your Resume – do not add it into the text of the application, it must be an attachment.
    • An unofficial copy of your transcript.
    • The names and contact information of three professional references. Professor references will be accepted in lieu of professional – you may attach a document, use the References text field in the online application, or include with resume.
  • The first screening will be based on information contained in your candidate materials.
  • Carefully review your application materials before submitting. If you fail to submit the required documents, you may no longer be considered for the position by the supervisor.

Application Status – once you submit your online application, you can check your status by logging into your account.  Finalists for the position will be contacted by the hiring managers directly.

Note: Finalists and/or interview candidates will be asked to provide a driving record issued from all states in which they have held a license during the past 3 years.

Questions?  Please contact John Gamon at john.gamon@dnr.wa.gov (360-902-1661) or Tim Stapleton at tim.stapleton@dnr.wa.gov (360-902-1047) or e-mail us at DNRrecruiting@dnr.wa.gov.

By submitting the application materials you are indicating that all information is true and correct to the best of your knowledge.  You understand that the state may verify information and that untruthful or misleading information is cause for removal from applicant pool or dismissal if employed. This announcement is published by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Washington State Department of Natural Resources is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind.  We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities in a fair and impartial manner for all persons without regard to age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, creed, color, national origin, religion, genetic information, military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability.  Persons with a disability who need assistance during the screening process or those needing this announcement in an alternative format may contact DNR Recruiting staff (360) 902-1350 or (360) 902-1128.  DNR may be contacted using the Washington State Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) by dialing 711.