Field Intern

The Field Intern will assist St. Clair County Parks staff with plant and wildlife habitat restoration and protection; mapping, data collection and interpretation; and public education. Natural areas assessments, monitoring, prioritization, and management planning will be incorporated. This internship offers the opportunity to grow professionally, forge relevant connections and relationships, learn new skills, share knowledge and skills, contribute to solutions for local and regional environmental issues, reinforce and expand upon the intern’s program of study, and cultivate a stewardship ethic and practice.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
St. Clair County Parks manages eight parks, two trails, and several conservation easements totaling over 1100 acres, much of which are in a natural state. In some cases, pre-settlement natural communities are still in evidence and in others restoration projects are underway or planned. Natural areas management on public lands requires balancing ecology and community needs and the Field Intern will experience and explore this important dynamic.

The Field Intern will engage in hands-on conservation work. Skills to be used and developed include:

• Plant identification
• Invasive species identification, prioritization and control
• Native plant propagation
• Wildlife habitat restoration
• Mapping and data collection and synthesis
• Monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and adaptive management
• Nature interpretation, volunteer management, and public engagement/education

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:
The Field Intern will report to and work directly with the Park Naturalist-Invasive Species Specialist and the St. Clair County Parks Director.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
N/A

EXPERIENCE, SKILLS, EDUCATION:
The Field Intern candidate may be majoring in parks and recreation, biology, botany, horticulture, natural resources or a related field, although candidates from other majors or programs of study will be considered. A related special project selected and developed in concert with the intern, their academic program and advisors, and St. Clair County Parks staff is a component of this internship.

• This position is full time (37.5 hours per week), and temporary (less than six months or up to 1000 hours worked maximum)
• The Field Intern must be an enrolled student or recent graduate (within the past 12 months) of a school, college or university
• Part time hours and/or a shorter duration may be considered and will be determined mutually along with the internship candidate and park staff
• Typical work hours are Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Must be willing to work occasional evenings and weekends
• Anticipated start date will be on or before May 15th, 2026
• The Field Intern will be expected to work outdoors in various types of weather and conditions and work areas may include pesticides and power equipment used by other staff.

ESSENTIAL ABILITIES FOR ALL ST. CLAIR COUNTY JOB CLASSIFICATIONS:

• Ability to demonstrate predictable, reliable, and timely attendance.
• Ability to read, write & communicate in English; follow written and verbal instruction and understand basic mathematics and figure checking.
• Ability to interpret and apply procedures, rules, technical information, instructions, manuals to complete tasks accurately and on schedule.
• Ability to learn from directions, observations, and mistakes; and apply procedures using good judgement.
• Ability to use discretion and maintain sensitive and confidential information.
• Ability to work independently or part of a team; ability to interact appropriately with others such as County officials, employees, vendors and the general public.
• Ability to work under supervision, receiving instructions/feedback, coaching/counseling and/or action/discipline.
• Adaptability to change in the work environment, managing competing demands and ability to deal with frequent changes, delays or unexpected events.
• Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services including customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction
• Proficient skills using Microsoft Office programs including, but not limited to: Word, Excel, Access, and Outlook as required. Proficiency may be tested.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Prior to starting employment, the candidate must complete a satisfactory background check. The background check is understood to encompass all forms of pre-employment screening, including but not limited to: drug screen, physical, criminal background, driving record, sex offender registry, education, training and licensing verification, employment history, credit check, and professional and personal references.

• Possess a valid State of Michigan Operator’s License and maintain eligibility to drive as per the County’s vehicle policy throughout employment in this position.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job with or without accommodations. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:

• Speak to others to convey information effectively.
• Read, interpret and understand procedures, rules, technical information, instructions and manuals.
• Hear and understand information presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Specific vision requirement includes close vision, distance vision, color and depth perception.
• Use hands to operate a computer, handle materials and operate equipment.
• Push or pull carts, reach with hands and arms forward, above and below shoulder level.
• Lift, move or carry objects, equipment and supplies weighing up to 40 pounds.
• Sit, bend, stoop, crouch, crawl and kneel in an ergonomically correct manner.
• Stand and walk, climb stairs.
• Working hours may include a varied schedule which could include occasional nights and weekends.
• This position requires regular outdoor work in all types of weather and environmental conditions.
• The noise level in the work environment is moderate with many interruptions.

Disclaimer: The statements contained in this job description are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job requirements or duties performed. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.
AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: It is the policy of St. Clair County not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, disability that does not prevent performing essential job functions or because he or she is a protected veteran.