Careers in Conservation

By Willy Franzen

Looking for an entry level job or internship in conservation? Here's an overview of how to approach the search and a list of companies that might have entry level and internship opportunities that will interest you.

See companies with conservation careers or search the latest conservation jobs and internships.

Photo Credit: Flickr user Kevin Timothy

If you’ve ever visited a national park or forest, their natural beauty might have astounded you. These natural resources and others wouldn’t stay around without help from those willing to conserve them. That’s what conservation’s about: preserving natural resources (including animals, plants, and fungi) and habitats so we can continue enjoying them.

One career path is to work with an organization dealing with conservation issues, particularly in the nonprofit sector. Depending on your interests, you can choose one that deals with one specific issue or multiple. Larger organizations usually have a bigger net to throw, so if you’re not sure about one specific path within conservation, a large organization gives you more options. Politically inclined? Lots of conservation organizations also get involved in the political and advocacy side.

You can also work with a government agency such as the National Parks Service, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, or the Environmental Protection Agency.

If you like animals, working at a zoo or aquarium or managing endangered species are a couple of paths you can take. You might also do research and evaluate living things in an area, from plants to animals, from the sky above to the ground below.

Companies with Entry Level Jobs and Internships in Conservation

Future of Fish - Future of Fish is a Seattle, WA based non-profit that “envision a global seafood supply chain that produces legal, traceable, trustworthy fish."

See the complete Future of Fish profile

Job Title	Location
HR Reporting Analyst	Seattle, WA
Salon Manager & Multitasker Extraordinaire	San Francisco, CA
Construction Inspector / Road and Bridge	Casper, WY
Senior Roadway and Bridge Inspector	Reno, NV
Senior Road and Bridge Inspector	Crescent City, CA

See all 258 job postings

The Mountaineers - The Mountaineers is a Seattle based non-profit that has “been teaching skills, sharing adventures, creating volunteers, and conserving land” for more than a century.

See the complete The Mountaineers profile

Job Title	Location
VF Outdoor: Intern, Innovation Operations Manager	Alameda, CA
Dir of Marketing & PR-MPI	Chester, WV
The North Face: Selling Supervisor (Woodbury- Central Valley, NY)	Central Valley, NY
The North Face: Stock Supervisor (Woodbury, NY)	Central Valley, NY
Promotions Database Analyst - PID	Chester, WV

See all 242 job postings

Natural Areas Conservancy - Natural Areas Conservancy is an NYC non-profit that “works with the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation to protect, restore, and manage expansive natural areas."

See the complete Natural Areas Conservancy profile

Job Title	Location
Anna Beal Summer Intern	Iowa
Adirondack Conservation Intern	New York
Philanthropy Coordinator Intern	Wisconsin
Catalina Island Invasive Plant Intern	Catalina Island, AK
BLM Carrizo Plain Natural Resource Internship	California

See all 45 job postings

Rainforest Trust - Rainforest Trust is a Warrenton, VA based non-profit that works “to purchase and protect threatened tropical forests.”

See the complete Rainforest Trust profile

Job Title	Location
Community Strategist - DC	Washington, DC

See all 1 job postings

Amazon Watch - Amazon Watch is a San Francisco based non-profit that "campaigns for human rights, corporate accountability and the preservation of the Amazon’s ecological systems.”

See the complete Amazon Watch profile

Job Title	Location
Systems Engineer	Boston, MA
Xamarin / .NET Developer (Mid-Senior)	Atlanta, GA
Buyer, Watches	Seattle, WA
AWS Administrator	Fort Lauderdale, FL
Senior Manager In-Direct Marketing	Englewood, CO

See all 171 job postings

Friends of the Forest Preserves - Friends of the Forest Preserves is a Chicago, IL based non-profit that "exists because the Cook County forest preserves need help."

See the complete Friends of the Forest Preserves profile

Job Title	Location
Intensive Care Nurse - ICU Nurse - (ICU RN)	Port Charlotte, FL
Cardiovascular Operating Room Nurse - (Cardio - OR - CVOR RN)	Olympia, WA
Physical Therapist - Home Health - (PT - HH)	Olympia, WA
Pizza Hut Shift Manager	Norridge, IL
Pizza Hut Server	Norridge, IL

See all 31 job postings

Pheasants Forever - Pheasants Forever is a St. Paul, MN based non-profit “dedicated to the conservation of pheasants, quail and other wildlife."

See the complete Pheasants Forever profile

Job Title	Location
Automotive Service Technician	Oacoma, SD

See all 0 job postings

Chincoteague Bay Field Station - Chincoteague Bay Field Station is a Wallops Island, VA based non-profit that helps people learn through experience while fostering environmental stewardship.

See the complete Chincoteague Bay Field Station profile

Job Title	Location
Full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor of Genetics	Millersville, PA

See all 1 job postings

WaterSmart Software - WaterSmart Software is based in San Francisco, CA, and they aim “to help water utilities make it easier for their customers to save water and save money.”

See the complete WaterSmart Software profile

Job Title	Location
Visual Design Intern	San Francisco, CA

See all 1 job postings

Ducks Unlimited - Ducks Unlimited is a Memphis, TN based non-profit has become “the world’s leader in wetlands and waterfowl conservation.”

See the complete Ducks Unlimited profile

Job Title	Location
Iowa Policy Coordinator	Des Moines, IA
Career Opportunity / Account Representative	Los Angeles, CA
Regional Engineer - Wetland Restoration	Rancho Cordova, CA

See all 2 job postings

Natural Resources Defense Council - NRDC is an NYC based non-profit that wants to "safeguard the Earth: its people, its plants and animals and the natural systems on which all life depends."

See the complete Natural Resources Defense Council profile

Job Title	Location
Energy Communications Intern	Washington, DC
GIS Intern	Washington, DC
Water Program Intern	Washington, DC
Spring 2015 Law/Graduate School Intern	Chicago, IL
NRDC/MSU Native American Studies Program Intern	Bozeman, MT

See all 63 job postings

Panthera - Panthera is a New York, NY based non-profit that “is the world’s leading conservation organization devoted exclusively to the protection of wild cats.”

See the complete Panthera profile

Job Title	Location
Copywriter / Content Writer	New York, NY
Project Coordinator	New York, NY
Office Administrative Coordinator	New York, NY
Development Officer	New York, NY
Social Media and Digital Marketing Manager	New York, NY

See all 6 job postings

Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership - Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership is a Washington, DC based non-profit that aims to “guarantee all Americans quality places to hunt and fish.”

See the complete Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership profile

Job Title	Location
Media Relations Director	Washington, DC

See all 1 job postings

Conservation Law Foundation - Conservation Law Foundation is a Boston, MA based non-profit that believes “that healthy communities and a clean environment are a right for all New Englanders.”

See the complete Conservation Law Foundation profile

Job Title	Location
Philanthropy Coordinator Intern	Wisconsin
Agricultural and Natural Resource Aviation Lecturer/Teaching Specialist	Crookston, MN
Regional Executive Director - Rocky Mountain Regional Center (RMRC)	Denver, CO
Forestry Intern	Brunswick, GA
Digital Communications Intern	Boston, MA

See all 50 job postings

Global Footprint Network - Global Footprint Network is an Oakland, CA based non-profit that is focused on “measuring human impact on the Earth so we can make more informed choices.”

See the complete Global Footprint Network profile

Job Title	Location
Account Executive	San Francisco, CA
Mkt Growth & Dev Consultant 3	Concord, CA
Account Executive Inside Sales - Entry Level	San Francisco, CA
Capital Projects & Infrastructure Manager	Chicago, IL
Staff Software Engineer	San Francisco, CA

See all 1,019 job postings

Center for Clean Air Policy - The Center for Clean Air Policy is a Washington, DC based non-profit that is “a recognized world leader in climate and air quality policy."

See the complete Center for Clean Air Policy profile

Job Title	Location
Auto Tech-Entry Level	New Albany, IN
Social Worker Bi lingual Westside Chicago	Chicago, IL
Licensed Social Worker MSW Odessa TX 5K Sign On Bonus Available	Odessa, TX
MSW 30 Hours South Durham NC	Durham, NC
MSW	Harlan, KY

See all 1,675 job postings

Defenders of Wildlife - Defenders of Wildlife is a Washington, DC based non-profit that aims to “protect and restore imperiled species throughout North America."

See the complete Defenders of Wildlife profile

Job Title	Location
Gift Planning Associate	Washington, DC
Gift Planning Manager	Washington, DC
Constantine Sidamon-Eristoff Conservation Policy Intern	Troy, NY
Human Resource Coordinator-Cheyenne	Cheyenne, WY
Conservation Data Specialist	Washington, DC

See all 9 job postings

Marine Conservation Institute - Marine Conservation Institute is a Seattle, WA non-profit that uses the latest science to identify and advocate for important marine ecosystems around the world.

See the complete Marine Conservation Institute profile

Job Title	Location
Research Associate Intern	Boston, MA
Financial Aid - Shark Research and Conservation Program, Cape Eleuthera Institute	United States
Assistant Professor	Corvallis, OR
Software Engineer	Stanford, CA
KESRP Field Technician-Kauai	Honolulu, HI

See all 13 job postings

The Trust for Public Land - The Trust for Public Land is a San Francisco, CA based org that was “founded in 1972 with goals of protecting land in and around cities and pioneering."

See the complete The Trust for Public Land profile

Job Title	Location
Senior Healthcare Manager/ Planner	Minneapolis, MN
HCP GIS Data Steward and Analyst/Programmer - ITS4	Olympia, WA
HCP GIS Data Steward and Programming Analyst - ITS4	Olympia, WA
Forest Practices Lead GIS Analyst-ITS 4	Olympia, WA
NATURAL RESOURCE SPECIALIST, GS-0401-9	Fort Thompson, SD

See all 249 job postings

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy - Rails-to-Trails is a Washington, DC based non-profit that is aiming “to create a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines."

See the complete Rails-to-Trails Conservancy profile

Job Title	Location
Internship, Transportation Policy	Washington, DC
Internship, Trails and Greenways Program – West Coast	Washington, DC
Project Manager - Philadelphia Region (Full	Philadelphia, PA
TrailLink Photography	Philadelphia, PA
Internship, Trails and Greenways Program	Oakland, CA

See all 5 job postings

Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary - Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary is a Red Lodge, MT based non-profit that houses "native animals that cannot be returned to the wild due to injury or habituation to humans.”

See the complete Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary profile

Job Title	Location
Education Director	Red Lodge, MT
Nurse Director PICU/Pediatrics	Idaho

See all 2 job postings

American Littoral Society - The American Littoral Society is a Highlands, NJ based non-profit that “promotes the study and conservation of marine life and habitat, protects the coast from harm."

See the complete American Littoral Society profile

Job Title	Location
Condition Based Maintenance Engineer	Washington, DC
Reliability Engineer	Washington, DC

See all 2 job postings

Seattle Tilth - Seattle Tilth aims “to inspire and educate people to safeguard our natural resources while building an equitable and sustainable local food system.”

See the complete Seattle Tilth profile

Job Title	Location
Youth Garden Educator at Interagency Academy	Seattle, WA
Garden Hotline Educator	Seattle, WA

See all 2 job postings

The Wildlife Center of Virginia - The Wildlife Center of Virginia is a Waynesboro, VA based org that “was formed to provide quality health care, often on an emergency basis, to native wildlife.”

See the complete The Wildlife Center of Virginia profile

Job Title	Location
Utilities Electrician, Operations Manage...	Richmond, VA
Park Ranger (Interpretation), GS-0025-05	Berlin, MD
Project Associate	Virginia
Pediatric Intensive Care - PICU Nurse - (PICU RN)	Norfolk, VA
Physician Assistant - Peninsula Regional Medical Group	Salisbury, MD

See all 20 job postings

Earth Island Institute - Earth Island Institute is a Berkeley, CA based org that is a “hub for grassroots campaigns dedicated to conserving, preserving, and restoring ecosystems."

See the complete Earth Island Institute profile

Job Title	Location
Post Masters RA - GIS Research Associate	College Park, MD
NASA Postdoctoral Fellowships	United States
JIMAR PIFS Sr Ocn Engnr-Oahu	Honolulu, HI
NASA Postdoctoral Fellowships	United States
NASA Postdoctoral Fellowships	United States

See all 6 job postings

American Conservation Experience - American Conservation Experience offers “opportunities for both American and International volunteers to take part in challenging outdoor projects."

See the complete American Conservation Experience profile

Job Title	Location
Hand Therapist-Local	Tempe, AZ
Toy Care Specialist (Customer Service)	Miami Lakes, FL
Crowdfunding Campaign and Award Program Intern	Boulder, CO
Environmental Services Associate II - Environmental Services	Phoenix, AZ
Environmental Services Associate II	Phoenix, AZ

See all 560 job postings

Louisiana Bucket Brigade - Louisiana Bucket Brigade is a NOLA based non-profit “environmental health and justice organization."

See the complete Louisiana Bucket Brigade profile

No current job openings.

World Wildlife Fund - World Wildlife Fund is a Washington, DC non-profit that “has been protecting the future of nature” for the last 50 years.

See the complete World Wildlife Fund profile

Job Title	Location
Front-End Developer (HTML/CSS/JavaScript Guru)	Washington, DC
Center Director, Trinity River Audubon Center	Dallas, TX
Assistant Cooperative Extension Specialist - Forest Health - Environmental Science, Policy, and Management	Berkeley, CA
Graduate Training Program	Knoxville, TN
Software Engineer	Stanford, CA

See all 50 job postings

Heal the Bay - Heal the Bay is devoted to protecting and reviving Santa Monica Bay, “the centerpiece of Los Angeles’ beach culture."

See the complete Heal the Bay profile

Job Title	Location
Director of Pharmacy	Webster, TX
Clinical Director - nursing degree required	Los Gatos, CA
Clinic Manager – nursing degree required	Los Gatos, CA
Resource Development & Events Associate	San Francisco, CA
Supvervisor, Insurance Collections (Managed Care)	Tampa, FL

See all 36 job postings

Teton Science Schools - Teton Science Schools is based in Jackson, WY based and has “been educating, training, and inspiring students about the natural world” since 1967.

See the complete Teton Science Schools profile

Job Title	Location
Biological Science Technician (Fire Effects Monitor)	West Glacier, MT
Park Ranger (Interpretation), GS-0025-05/07	Colter Bay, WY
Environmental Coordinator	Moran, WY
Concessions Management Specialist	Moose, WY
Irrigator	Moran, WY

See all 8 job postings

International Rivers - International Rivers is a non-profit “at the heart of the global struggle to protect rivers and the rights of communities that depend on them.”

See the complete International Rivers profile

Job Title	Location
SAFTAS II Team	Arlington, VA
President, Cosumnes River College	Sacramento, CA
Emergency Medicine Physician - Permanent: Emergency Medicine - Full Support, State of the art ER close to DC	Virginia
Physician - Gastroenologist - Gastroenterology	Reno, NV
Strategic Partnerships Intern--Franklin Project	Washington, DC

See all 927 job postings

Biodiversity Project - Biodiversity Project is a Chicago, IL based non-profit that works "to protect North America’s most precious land and water resources.”

See the complete Biodiversity Project profile

Job Title	Location
Art Director	New York, NY
Programmer/Analyst (Campus Title: GIS Specialist)	Albany, NY
Adirondack Conservation Intern	New York
Adjunct Research Assistant/Research Associate/Instructor	Eugene, OR
Catalina Island Invasive Plant Intern	Catalina Island, AK

See all 115 job postings

NatureBridge - NatureBridge is a non-profit that has introduced “1 million young people to the wonder and science of nature in the world’s best classrooms—our national parks.”

See the complete NatureBridge profile

Job Title	Location
field science educator	United States

See all 1 job postings

Earth Day Network - Earth Day Network is a DC based non-profit that coordinates Earth Day activities globally while also working on environmental issues, and they're hiring.

See the complete Earth Day Network profile

Job Title	Location
HES&S Intern	United States
Integrated Transport Research Intern	Washington, DC
Civil Society Specialist, Global Forest Watch	Washington, DC
YouthBuild USA The Director of Individual Giving	Somerville, MA
Entry Level - HES Professional	United States

See all 278 job postings

Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation - If you love the sporting life and its intersection with politics, you should consider a job with the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation in Washington, DC.

See the complete Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation profile

No current job openings.

National Marine Sanctuary Foundation - The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation works with NOAA to protect and support the U.S. national marine sanctuaries, and they're hiring.

See the complete National Marine Sanctuary Foundation profile

Job Title	Location
NMSF/PMNM Info Tech Splst-Oahu	Honolulu, HI
Native Hwn Prog Coord-Oahu	Honolulu, HI
NMSF/PMNM Education Splst-Oahu	Honolulu, HI
Chief Development Officer of the USS Monitor Foundation	Newport News, VA
Chief Development Officer of the USS Monitor Foundation	Virginia

See all 5 job postings

League of Conservation Voters - The League of Conservation Voters is a Washington, DC based non-profit organization that “works to turn environmental values into national priorities.”

See the complete League of Conservation Voters profile

Job Title	Location
Director of Development, New York	New York, NY
Development Director, Alabama	Alabama
Field Organizer, Wisconsin	Wisconsin
National Campaigns Director	Washington, DC
Research Director	Washington, DC

See all 50 job postings

Madison Square Park Conservancy - Madison Square Park Conservancy is a non-profit organization that maintains and manages Madison Square Park, and they're hiring.

See the complete Madison Square Park Conservancy profile

No current job openings.

Environmental Law Institute - The Environmental Law Institute is a Washington, DC based non-profit organization that helps shape "the fields of environmental law, policy, and management."

See the complete Environmental Law Institute profile

Job Title	Location
Software Development in Big Data, Analytics, and Cloud Technology Internship	Danville, VA
DRUG CHEMIST II	Dallas, TX
DRUG CHEMIST II	Dallas, TX
Environmental Specialist II	Hamlet, NC
2015 John Zink Hamworthy Combustion ENGINEERING INTERN	Tulsa, OK

See all 392 job postings

The Nature Conservancy - The Nature Conservancy is "the leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters" and they're hiring

See the complete The Nature Conservancy profile

Job Title	Location
Front-End Developer (HTML/CSS/JavaScript Guru)	Washington, DC
Adirondack Conservation Intern	New York
Philanthropy Coordinator Intern	Wisconsin
Door Peninsula Conservation Intern	Wisconsin
BLM Carrizo Plain Natural Resource Internship	California

See all 166 job postings

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