Conservation Intern(s)

~ Highstead is a nonprofit organization that works to conserve the forested landscape of New England through science, sound stewardship, collaboration, and innovative conservation. ~

Highstead plays a lead role in advancing the New England-wide Wildlands and Woodlands (W&W) Initiative, which seeks to conserve at least 70% of the regional landscape as forests. Locally, Highstead uses its 100-plus natural area to educate and inspire people about the natural world through educational programs, research, sound management, and an interpretive trail system. Highstead works with local partners to help protect the natural and rural character of Fairfield County and works with more than 100 W&W partners to double the pace of conservation across New England.

Position Overview

The Conservation Interns act as research assistants in Highstead’s Conservation Program for a twelve-week period from September 23, 2019 to December 13, 2019. 

Highstead's Conservation Program is engaged in building the capacity of partners to achieve large landscape conservation strategies in New England, eastern New York, and beyond. Highstead works with more than eighty organizations in the Northeast to advance the pace and practice of large landscape conservation and fosters collaboration across political and geographical boundaries and among different fields and sectors. Highstead collaborates with Harvard University’s Harvard Forest and other regional partners to advance the Wildlands & Woodlands Initiative (W&WI). 

Interns will work with Highstead’s Senior Conservationists to implement research, outreach, and policy projects that advance priority conservation initiatives, including the Conservation Finance Network, New England Forest Policy Group, the Regional Conservation Partnership (RCP) Network, and the Hudson to Housatonic Regional Conservation Partnership. Interns will prepare and present a 15-minute presentation of their work at the end of their internship.

Responsibilities

2019 Conservation Program Initiatives:

• Interns will advance conservation in the region by bringing their energy and enthusiasm, writing, research, and mapping skills to our regional conservation, conservation finance, science, communications, and policy initiatives.
• We have several priorities this fall across these subject areas and interns will be matched to specific projects according to their interests, strengths and skills, and our highest needs. 

Interns typically work on one or more specific projects by: 

• Providing technical and administrative support to working groups of conservation professionals and volunteers;
• Assisting in the development of a communications strategy and products that may include writing and editing content for websites, blog posts, social media platforms, policy briefs, and e-newsletters;
• Supporting the organization, development, and administration of workshops and events for conservation practitioners;
• Cataloging public and private conservation funding trends by identifying new sources of information on philanthropic private and public grants and updating existing records; and/or
• Creating maps and analyzing data using geographic information systems. 

Qualifications 

• We seek recent graduates of bachelor’s or Master’s-level programs with a demonstrated interest and enthusiasm for the development and implementation of real-world strategies in the following areas: landscape ecology, conservation finance, regional conservation partnerships, large landscape conservation, and forest policy.
• Candidates must have strong writing, research, and organizational skills.
• They must be comfortable working in a group setting and taking individual initiative, as they will have considerable responsibility for advancing one or more projects, often with little supervision.
• Experience with geographic information systems (GIS) is a plus for some projects.
• Candidates must have access to a car for travel within, and in some cases outside of, Connecticut. 

Compensation 

Intern compensation includes the following: 

• Stipend of $6,500 for the 12-week session.
• Free furnished housing.

To Apply 

Please send the following materials to Jody Cologgi by July 15, 2019. Reference “Conservation Intern Application” as the email subject. Candidates will be notified by Aug. 9, 2018. 

• Cover letter describing your relevant conservation background and interests (including coursework, employment, or experience), your expectations for a successful experience, and your educational and career objectives. (300 words maximum)
• Resume
• Contact information for three references
• Short writing sample 

Note: Please submit one PDF document containing all application materials.