Join our team!

Employment Type: Summer Internship

Compensation: $15/hr, plus mileage

Hours: 20hrs a week, primarily Monday-Friday with some evenings and weekends
Length: 12 Weeks (Jun-Aug)

The Organization

Catawba Lands Conservancy (CLC) and Carolina Thread Trail (CTT) is a nonprofit organization that permanently conserves and manages land and advances trail in the Southern Piedmont of North Carolina. The organization is dedicated to conserving land and connecting lives to nature. CLC protects large parcels of natural land that contribute to clean water, provide habitat for wildlife, support local farms and provide public access to nature, conserving almost 18,000 acres to date. CTT is a growing regional network of trails, greenways, and blueways that connect 2.5 million people in 15 counties across North and South Carolina. CLC and CTT also actively engage the public in their mission through community partnerships, volunteer workdays, outdoor programs and special events.

Core Values:

• We embrace and pursue possibility.
• We are learners and teachers.
• We respect and value others.
• We are dedicated to mission.

The Conservation Technician Intern supports the Natural Resources Management and Stewardship team.

Position Summary

Stewardship is a cornerstone of CLC’s mission, ensuring the long-term health and sustainability of conserved lands and public trails. Our stewardship efforts include:

• Monitoring conservation properties for compliance.
• Managing invasive species and restoring native plant communities to enhance biodiversity and habitat quality.
• Conducting prescribed burns and other ecological restoration efforts to maintain and improve habitat conditions.
• Enhancing water resources through streambank stabilization and impoundment management.
• Providing public access to nature through trail maintenance.

Collaboration is at the heart of our stewardship work. We partner closely with local organizations, volunteers, and other stakeholders to achieve our goals.

Intern Responsibilities

This position reports to the Natural Resources Manager. The Conservation Technician Intern will assist in managing CLC’s 4,500-acre nature preserve system to promote ecological health, climate resiliency, and public benefit. Key responsibilities include:

• Assisting with land management activities, including invasive species, timber management, native plant restoration, prescribed fire preparation, soil stabilization, erosion control, and wildlife habitat enhancement.
• Using hand and power tools for trail maintenance, such as removing overgrown vegetation, repairing eroded sections, and rerouting trails as needed.
• Conducting annual site monitoring visit on CLC preserve and private properties under conservation easements.
• Supporting communications by creating social media materials and posts to highlight conservation efforts and stewardship work.
• Utilizing GIS tools to support conservation mapping, data collection, and land management planning.
• Researching applicable grant opportunities and assisting grant applications.
• Supporting volunteer workdays and organizational events.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

1. Valid driver’s license.
2. Pursuing or recently completed an Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree.
3. Ability to work outdoors in challenging conditions, including rough terrain, heat, or rain.
4. Capability to lift and carry up to 30 lbs.
5. Comfortable using hand and power tools.
6. Proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook).
7. Experience with GIS software (ArcGIS, ArcPro, FieldMap) is a plus.

How to Apply

Applicants should submit 1) cover letter, 2) resume, 3) an unofficial academic transcript, and 4) a list of two references in a single PDF, by email to careers@catawbalands.org by April 11, 2025. Please include “Conservation Technician” in the subject line.

For questions, contact Will Ruark at will@catawbalands.org or 704-342-3330 ext. 2213.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

Catawba Lands Conservancy and Carolina Thread Trail provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.