PPCA Botany Intern

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (Pittsburgh, PA)

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy has been dedicated to protecting and restoring the region’s exceptional natural places since 1932. As a member-based nonprofit organization, we work in cities and towns across Western Pennsylvania and rely on the help of thousands of members, partners and volunteers. We are making a difference in our region’s water, land and life. We do this work for the benefit of wildlife and people who call Western Pennsylvania home, and for future generations.

We are seeking an individual to provide support for the Pennsylvania Plant Conservation Alliance’s conservation work surrounding several rare species. This is a 12-week part-time temporary summer internship that will require some level of independent work. This person will be supervised by a WPC Senior Botanist but will work closely with the DCNR PPCA Coordinator on a daily basis. This position will be based in Harrisburg but will travel to various locations mostly in central and south-central Pennsylvania as needed.

Duties and Responsibilities

Work will include monitoring rare plant populations, stewardship activities such as invasive species removal, and data management. The individual will have the opportunity to analyze plant demographic data.

Physical Demands / Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. A qualification is to be able to complete all physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds unassisted.
• Physical stamina for manual labor working outdoors in uneven terrain in a variety of adverse weather conditions to collect data on rare plant populations
• Ability to wade in flowing water.
• Ability to transition between office work and field work.
• Ability to sit, bend, and stand for 7+ hours a day.
• Requires stooping, kneeling, crawling, turning, and reaching overhead, at, and below eye level. There may be full range of body motion for extended periods of time.

Location: The position is based at the WPC headquarters in Harrisburg, PA.

Position Duration: This is a part-time temporary position. This is expected to be a 12-week, 24 hour a week position beginning in mid to late May through August 14, 2026.

Pay: $20.00/hour

Application Deadline: The deadline to apply is March 31, 2026.

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity-Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status. We are fully committed to diversity and inclusion. We seek contributors from all backgrounds to join our team.