Stewardship Intern

Join Our Team

Learn about conservation, real estate, land stewardship, and non-profit operations through a hands-on experience interning with a statewide land trust. New Mexico Land Conservancy is seeking a qualified and motivated individual to assist with stewardship and monitoring of over 100 conservation easements encompassing over 672,000 across New Mexico and Southeastern Arizona.

This position reports to the Stewardship Manager but will involve interaction with the entire staff. The position will be based in Santa Fe in a historic adobe ranch house surrounded by 260 acres of protected land, with extensive travel around the state. This is a 40-hour/week internship position (some flexibility may be acceptable), lasting from May–August (start date flexible), with possible extension into fall. The position will be compensated at a rate of $15/hour.

Organization Background

The New Mexico Land Conservancy (NMLC) is a non-profit land trust organization, based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, dedicated to preserving New Mexico’s land heritage by helping people conserve the places they love.  NMLC is one of the leaders in land conservation in the Southwest and, since 2002, has protected over 672,000 acres.  NMLC’s long-term goal is to protect, directly or in partnership with others, one million acres of high conservation-value lands throughout the southwestern region, with a specific emphasis on significant wildlife habitat, productive agricultural lands, water, and other natural resources, cultural and historic sites, scenic open space and recreational lands at community, watershed, and landscape scales.

NMLC is dedicated to the highest quality work and operates as a learning organization with a work culture based on consensus, collaboration, and teamwork.

The Position Scope

NMLC is seeking an organized, team-oriented, independent, and self-motivated individual with experience working in the field. Preferred experience communicating with landowners across a wide range of backgrounds.

The primary functions and responsibilities of the Stewardship Intern are:  

Land Conservation and Stewardship (80%)

• Conduct conservation easement monitoring on easements through field visits, interaction with landowners, and the use of satellite monitoring tools.
• Organize file systems and generate monitoring reports documenting current conditions.
• Support efforts to update stewardship monitoring, record keeping, and safety procedures.
• Support the maintenance of NMLC facilities, vehicles, and equipment.

Outreach/Communications (20%)

• Support with the creation of communications materials using digital photography, and maps.
• Attend public events and meetings on behalf of NMLC as needed.

Requirements of the Position

• Bachelor’s degree (or in progress) in a related field (natural resource management, land use, planning, geography, biological/environmental sciences, etc.) with interest in working in the non-profit land trust or conservation sector.
• Must be willing and physically able to work in the field including hiking over rough terrain in inclement weather (heat, rain, wind, snow) for extended periods.
• Experience operating a four-wheel drive vehicle off-road, with extra consideration given to those who can change a tire.
• Driver’s license with a clean driving record and self-awareness for road trip safety and basic vehicle maintenance. Must be willing to travel around the state to remote locations with some overnight site visits as needed.
• Enjoys camping and staying overnight in remote areas.
• Training/certification in first aid preferred.
• Familiarity with New Mexican and/or Southwestern landscapes and communities is preferred, particularly an ability to work with rural agricultural landowners.
• Excellent computer skills including experience with Microsoft Office and an ability to learn new software platforms.
• Experience with GPS required, ArcGIS experience preferred.
• Must possess good written and oral communication skills.
• Must have personal transportation to/from work. Transportation will be provided for work-related travel.
• Must be self-motivated, organized, and punctual.
• Must be committed to the organization’s conservation mission and be able to maintain strong, positive, collegial working relationships with staff and outside consultants and professional service providers.