Habitat Restoration & Volunteer Engagement - San Francisco

Estimated Start Date: Early November 2025 (11/6/2025)
End Date: After 1 year (11/6/2026)
Stipend: $520/Weekly
Application Due: September 10, 2025

Position Description: 

The San Francisco Bay Area is a globally recognized biodiversity hotspot. Reflecting this diversity, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) is home to hundreds of plant and animal species, some found nowhere else in the world. This internship will support the protection and restoration of biodiversity in the GGNRA through volunteer engagement. The work is mostly field-based and will be focused on ecological restoration of natural areas in San Francisco, particularly those hosting rare plant and animal species. 

The intern will work with National Park Service staff and volunteers in conducting management activities to restore and enhance rare species habitat. Activities may include removal of invasive plants, installation of site protections such as fencing, revegetation using native plants, and the use of technology to track all work. A particular focus of the internship will be planning and facilitating volunteer stewardship workdays including an environmental education component. The intern will also support the monitoring of rare and endangered plants throughout the GGNRA. 

The San Francisco Stewardship team consists of a Lead Biologist, two Biological Science Technicians, a Habitat Restoration & Volunteer Engagement Intern (EFTA), and community volunteers. Work sites include Fort Funston, Lobos Valley, Baker Beach, Presidio Bluffs, Fort Point Bluffs, Crissy Field, Lands End, Ocean Beach, China Beach, and Fort Mason. The team is part of the larger GGNRA Vegetation Branch within the Division of Natural Resource Management & Science.

Work Products: Key deliverables of the internship:

• Vegetation management - Conducting invasive plant control in rugged conditions with hand tools, power tools, and, occasionally, herbicide if qualified, etc.; planting native species and assisting in seed collection.
• Volunteer management – Concurrent with staff mentoring- Helping to plan and lead volunteer workdays. This includes greeting volunteers; directing volunteers on plant identification, field safety, vegetation management techniques, and site history; developing and sharing educational materials; and compiling volunteer data.
• Program support - Tool cleaning and maintenance; coordinating schedules and events; attending relevant meetings and trainings regularly.
• Rare plant monitoring – Assisting park staff with mapping rare plant populations, assessing population size, and managing all associated field data.

Data entry – Entering data associated with rare plant monitoring, invasive species removal, and volunteer participation into park databases.

Qualifications

Required:

• An active interest in plants, habitat restoration, and community engagement.
• Experience working outdoors in challenging environmental conditions; ability to carry up to 30 pounds.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work well in a team while balancing individual responsibilities.
• Experience working with or leading groups and the ability to supervise, train and inspire others.
• Ability to work with adults and children from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to use various types of software (Microsoft Office Suite, GIS experience not required but a plus)

Also Desired:

• Strong commitment to the preservation and protection of native plant and wildlife communities on public lands.
• Education and/or experience in biological sciences, particularly ecological restoration, environmental science, environmental studies, natural resource management, plant biology, ecology, or horticulture.
•  Ability to work independently with little supervision and self-motivated to complete tasks on time.

Vehicle/Driver's License Requirements

A valid driver’s license is required.

Housing

Housing is provided in Marin County while the work location is in San Francisco.

Physical/Natural Environment:

Weather is typical of a Mediterranean-type climate which ranges from warm and dry in the fall, to wet and cool in the winter, windy in the spring, and foggy through most of summer.

Work Environment: We work year-round, along trails and off trail with mitigated exposure to poison oak, biting and stinging insects (such as ticks, spiders, and yellowjacket wasps), steep slopes and otherwise uneven terrain. Field days number from 4-5 per week and can involve carrying tools, backpacks, and water several miles each day, on or off trail, through coastal scrub, coastal dunes, grasslands, freshwater wetlands, tidal marshes, and oak woodlands, and willow riparian habitats.

mentoring: The intern will work closely with park staff, who will provide mentorship on a day-to-day basis, a minimum of 3 days per week, for most weeks during the internship.

Learning Goals:

• Gain natural resource management experience in habitat restoration, volunteer supervision, and rare plant monitoring.
• Learn about Bay Area flora and fauna, particularly threatened & endangered species.
• Increase Leadership skills.
• Participate in professional development opportunities through various Park trainings.
• Learn about, and convey to volunteers, the history, scenery, wildlife, and cultural resources of a spectacular National Park.

EEO Statement

Environment for the Americas provides equal employment opportunities and prohibits discrimination of any kind. This policy applies to all aspects of employment.