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

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
PARK RANGER II	Nogales, AZ
Ecological Restoration and Volunteer Management Internship	San Francisco, CA
Landscape Conservation Ecologist	Cold Spring Harbor, NY
Landscape Conservation Ecologist at The Nature Conservancy (New York)	New York, NY
Land Steward	Tahlequah, OK

See all 24 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
Substance Abuse Counselor I/II	Juneau, AK
Air Conditioning Equipment Mechanic	Fort Shafter, HI
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)	Juneau, AK
Caterer	Schofield Barracks, HI

See all 5 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
Account Manager	Dallas, TX
Research Scientist	Cupertino, CA
Research Scientist	Cupertino, CA
Software Development Manager	Cupertino, CA
Copywriter	Shepherdsville, KY

See all 280 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
Physical Therapist - Physical Therapy	Eureka, CA
ENT Beverage Cart Attendant - #005J	Wood Dale, IL
Pizza Hut Delivery Driver - 5309839	Harwood Heights, IL
Renal Dialysis - Dialysis Nurse - (Dialysis RN)	Eureka, CA
Renal Dialysis - Dialysis Nurse - (Dialysis RN)	Eureka, CA

See all 12 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
Support Specialist Job	Nashua, NH
Visual Specialist Job	Nashua, NH
Salon Customer Experience Spec Job	Nashua, NH
Sephora Product Consultant Job	Nashua, NH

See all 7 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

No current job openings.

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
Marketing Intern	San Francisco, CA
Inside Sales Associate	San Francisco, CA
Sales Executive - Texas	Austin, TX
Client Services Manager	San Francisco, CA
Sales Executive	San Francisco, CA

See all 5 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
Account Clerk 3	Columbus, OH
Maintenance / Utility Engineer - Courtyard Memphis Germantown	Germantown, TN
Housekeeper - Courtyard Memphis Germantown	Germantown, TN
Restoration Sales Representative	Hazelwood, MO
Bartender/cook - Courtyard Memphis Germantown	Germantown, TN

See all 19 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
Executive Assistant and Special Project Associate to CFO	New York, NY
Development Assistant	New York, NY
Staff Attorney, Water Program	Santa Monica, CA
Program Assistant - International	Washington, DC
Receptionist/Program Assistant	Chicago, IL

See all 31 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
Donor Communications Lead	New York, NY

See all 1 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

No current job openings.

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
Water Policy Advisor, California Program	Washington, DC
Administrative Assistant, Legal Department	Palo Alto, CA
Curator 3	Albuquerque, NM
Regional Conservationist-Central	Washington, DC
Assoc Professor / Professor	Ann Arbor, MI

See all 42 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
Public Sector Operations Supply Chain Experienced Associate	McLean, VA
staff security analyst	Mountain View, CA
account executive	San Francisco, CA
account executive inside sales entry level	San Francisco, CA

See all 860 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
Automotive TECHNICIAN	Louisville, KY
Inpatient Services RN 3K Sign On Bonus for New Hires!	Phoenix, AZ
Inpatient Services RN\Acute Dialysis RN	Beckley, WV
Inpatient Services RN	Denver, CO
Inpatient Services RN Per Diem	Anchorage, AK

See all 1,069 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
Water Policy Advisor, California Program	Washington, DC
EHGH07 -Human Resource Associate II-Cheyenne	Cheyenne, WY
Financial Analyst - Washington	Washington, DC
Alaska Representative	Washington, DC
Director, Northwest Program	Washington, DC

See all 10 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
Sea Lion Trainer II-III	New Orleans, LA
Director, Office of Management and Budget	Silver Spring, MD
Research Associate Intern	Boston, MA
GSIPM Adjunct Faculty - International Environmental Policy	Monterey, CA
Environmental Protection Specialist	Terre Haute, IN

See all 16 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
Marketing Internship	San Francisco, CA
Drupal Developer	Washington, DC
Drupal Developer - Senior / Lead	Washington, DC
Supervisory Forestry Technician (Handcrew)	Prairie City, OR
Social Services Assistant	Anaconda, MT

See all 243 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
Intern, Development	Washington, DC
Trails and Greenways Program	Washington, DC
Transportation Policy	Washington, DC
Development/Fund Raising	Washington, DC
Policy/Administrative	Washington, DC

See all 6 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
Labor & Delivery/OB Manager	Wyoming
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
Business Financial Manager	Washington, DC
Director of Development	Highlands, NJ

See all 1 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

No current job openings.

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
Animal Health Technician	Colfax, IN
Forester	Norfolk, VA
Physician Assistant (Micu/sdu)	Salem, VA
Utilities Electrician, Operations Manage...	Richmond, VA
Animal Health Technician	Anchorage, AK

See all 13 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
JIMAR Fish Life Hist Bio-Oahu	Honolulu, HI
PacIOOS Comm & Prog Crd-Oahu	Honolulu, HI
Postdoctoral Fellow: Landscape Fire and Vegetation Dynamics in Hawaii	Hilo, HI
JIMAR PIFSC Rf Fish Rschr-Oahu	Honolulu, HI

See all 4 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
Program Assistant	Annapolis, MD
Program Assistant	Annapolis, MD
Program Assistant	Annapolis, MD
Program Coordinator	Iselin, NJ
BIOLOGICAL ADMINISTRATOR II-SES	Columbia County, FL

See all 483 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

Job Title	Location
Louisiana Bucket Brigade - Volunteer Coordinator	Los Angeles, CA

See all 1 job postings

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
Drupal Developer	Washington, DC
Drupal Developer - Senior / Lead	Washington, DC
Business Analyst #14073	Washington, DC
Program Officer, ABCG – Req #15004	Washington, DC
CRM Project Manager- #14058	Washington, DC

See all 61 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
Resident Manager/Veterans Commons	San Francisco, CA
Nurse Manager - Cardiovascular Operating Room	Tampa, FL
Exec Dir, Clinical Integration	Tampa, FL
Quality Review Specialist Telesales - Green Bay, WI or Roanoke, VA	Roanoke, VA
Nurse Manager - Cardiovascular Operating Room	Tampa, FL

See all 23 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
Cartographic Technician	Moose, WY
Assistant/Associate Professor	Pocatello, ID

See all 1 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
Faculty Position, Director of Clinical Education, PA Studies	Minneapolis, MN
Export Documentation Support Coordinator - US Lines	Norfolk, VA
Materials Manager	New Boston, MI
Associate Quality Assurance Auditor	Charleston, SC
Associate QA Auditor	Reno, NV

See all 824 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
Research Assistant	Raleigh, NC
Forestry Technician (District Fire Management Officer)	Tuskegee, AL
Field Botanist (Research Technician I)	Turlock, CA
Capacity Network Coordinator	Home Based
Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist - PROLAND	Arlington, VA

See all 155 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
Creative Services Associate	San Francisco, CA
Communications Manager	San Francisco, CA

See all 3 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
Research/Legal Intern, The Access Initiative	Washington, DC
Graduate Trainee (Front-End Developer) in Amsterdam	San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Endpoint Field Engineer-3490	Philadelphia, PA
Administrative Assistant	Fremont, CA
Project Coordinator	Washington, DC

See all 183 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
Regulatory Specialist	Chicago, IL
Regulatory Specialist	Chicago, IL
Regulatory Specialist	Chicago, IL

See all 1 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
League of COnservation Voters Internship	Des Moines, IA
Special Assistant to the President and Board Liaison	Washington, DC
Wisconsin Field Organizer	Wisconsin
Data and Targeting Associate	Washington, DC
New Hampshire Field Director	New Hampshire

See all 22 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
ASSEMBLER, HEAVY MECH III - 2nd Shift	Tulsa, OK
WELDER III - 2nd Shift	Tulsa, OK
Research Associate	Boston, MA
Fiscal Specialist - CLAS Research Tech Servicess	Tempe, AZ
Assistant Signal Worker - Maintenance	Richmond, VA

See all 325 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
Summer Job: Activist Campaign Positions for Environment	Portland, OR
Drupal Developer	Washington, DC
Drupal Developer - Senior / Lead	Washington, DC
ASPPA - Database Administrator	Arlington, VA
Special Events Coordinator	New York, NY

See all 84 job postings

WildAid - WildAid is a non-profit organization that raises awareness about endangered species stems demand for the trade in illegal wildlife, and they're hiring.

See the complete WildAid profile

No current job openings.

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation - National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is a non-profit that directs "public conservation dollars to the most pressing environmental needs," and they're hiring.

See the complete National Fish and Wildlife Foundation profile

Job Title	Location
Water Policy Advisor, California Program	Washington, DC
Hurricane Sandy Coastal Resiliency Interns - Local Candidates Only	New York, NY
Media Specialist — Oceans	San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Attorney — Endangered Species Program	San Francisco, CA
Education Manager	Moss Point, MS

See all 9 job postings

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