Climate change adaptation GLOBE intern

Job ID: 40430

About the Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is the leading conservation organization working to make a positive impact around the world in more than 30 countries, all 50 United States, and your backyard. Founded in 1951, the mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends.

The GLOBE internship program is dedicated to “Growing Leaders on Behalf of the Environment. This is the sixth year offering of this internship opportunity program and the organization is thrilled at its success. Be a part of an exciting internship program where you are making a difference in the world! The internship locations range from Arlington, Virginia to Hawaii. Learn new skills, meet new people, and have fun helping nature!

Essential functions

The Climate Change Adaptation Intern will work on 1) a large grant-funded project to develop a spatial toolkit for prioritizing investments in conservation and natural resources to facilitate adaptation to climate change, and 2) gather information that will help develop strategies for reducing risks from flooding (also part of adapting to climate change) by protecting and restoring “blue infrastructure” —natural systems along coasts, the Hudson River estuary, and river systems and their floodplains throughout the state. The intern will take the lead on some combination of the elements listed below, depending upon his/her interests and skillsets:

• Compile and synthesize user/audience input. To produce a relevant and useful final adaptation toolkit for natural resource managers, a needs assessment will be conducted through interviews with representatives of the intended user groups, including land managers within federal and state agencies, companies that need to site infrastructure, regional and municipal planners, local land trusts and other conservation organizations. The intern will organize and synthesize this input, point towards themes, and prepare project materials to solicit feedback from interviewed user groups. S/he may also explore social science techniques to better “mine” and use the information received from these interviews. The intern may also help with public engagement on a related project, to understand how municipalities assess risk and make decisions about managing their floodplains, and what information or assistance they might need.
• Conduct extensive review of existing adaptation frameworks and strategies, decision-support tools, and spatial toolkits, including on-line toolkits. This work will serve as one of the chapters for the final report, and inform the design of the conceptual framework that will be used for the remainder of the project. This information will also help in evaluating potential delivery mechanisms to encourage use of the toolkit by the organization's desired audiences.
• Help develop spatial predictions of current distribution of ecosystem services. This intern would be responsible for a literature review for carbon sequestration rates for various land cover types, and/or compiling information about current water demand and turning it into a spatial product.
• Develop a spatial dataset to portray current flood risk across the state, based on either repetitive loss data from the National Flood Insurance Program or the frequency of federally declared flood emergencies by county.
• Conduct literature review and consult with experts to determine how well road-stream crossing designs for species movement also accommodate flood waters, sediment and debris.
• Assess policy options to improve the public engagement process in NY through changes in legislation and/or administrative procedures.

The intern will have an opportunity to go out into the field, if desired, to get exposure to a wider variety of projects. Possibilities include research on how transportation infrastructure and land cover restrict wildlife movements between protected forest areas; road-stream crossing assessments in the Susquehanna watershed and elsewhere; and farther afield, helping with a large wetland restoration project on Eastern Lake Ontario.

Basic qualifications

• Working knowledge of common software applications (e.g.; Word, Excel, Web browsers) and ability to use provided computer technology to enhance the quality of work.
• At least two years of undergraduate education completed by the position start date (or within 1 month of the position start date for colleges that extend into June).
• Some coursework or other experience in natural sciences.

Required knowledge and skills

• College degree preferred but not required; rising seniors and juniors also considered.
• Working knowledge of common software applications (e.g.; Word, Excel, Web browsers) and ability to use provided computer technology to enhance the quality of work.
• Experience communicating clearly via written, spoken and graphical means in English.
• Managing time and diverse activities under deadlines while delivering quality results.
• Compiling and organizing data with attention to detail; experience working with complex datasets, including spatial data.
• Ability to work independently on assigned tasks.
• Working knowledge of ArcGIS strongly desired but not required.
• Some background in natural sciences; need not be current major.
• Some familiarity with public policy or social science desired but not required.

Working conditions/physical effort

The Intern may work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances.

Additional job information

• This is a full-time, paid internship opportunity that has employment dates of June 2, 2013 - August 9, 2013.

Auto safety policy

This position requires a valid driver's license and compliance with the Conservancy's Auto Safety Program. Employees may not drive Conservancy-owned/leased vehicles, rental cars, or personal vehicles on behalf of the Conservancy if considered "high risk drivers." Please see further details in the Auto Safety Program document available at www.nature.org/careers.

Employment in this position will be contingent upon completion of a Vehicle Use Agreement, which may include a review of the prospective employee's motor vehicle record.