Butterfly Conservation Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Start/End Dates: November 2, 2026 - October 15, 2027 (50 Weeks)
Compensation: $640  per week, plus park housing, round-trip travel assistance to the site, and gear support. Medical insurance is available upon request.
Application Due: September 4, 2026

Environment for the Americas in partnership with Golden Gate National Recreation Area seeks to engage young professionals in resource management careers. To participate, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident

• Be between the ages of 18 - 30 (35 if a veteran)

• Undergo a background check if selected

• Have a valid driver’s license to operate a government vehicle

• Have access to a personal vehicle, which is recommended for this position

Position Description: 

The Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) is seeking a motivated intern to support natural resource stewardship projects in San Mateo County, located in the San Francisco Bay Area. The intern will work with National Park Service staff, partners, and volunteers to support conservation of rare and endangered plants and animals in a variety of ecosystems from coastal prairies and wetlands to redwood forests.

Responsibilities:

• Habitat restoration and revegetation - mapping, erosion control, seed collection and sowing, container planting

• Invasive plant control - using hand tools, power tools, and herbicide if qualified

• Volunteer or contractor oversight

• Vegetation mapping and monitoring - plant populations and communities, GIS mapping and analysis

• Wildlife monitoring - California red-legged frog, San Bruno elfin butterfly, mission blue butterfly, mammals, and pollinators

• Data collection and quality control

• Tool maintenance

• Vehicle operations, including towing

Work Products: 

• Stewardship – Seeding and container planting, erosion control, invasive plant control

• Data collection and management - Recording, mapping, and updating of monitoring and work performed in GPS/GIS, databases, and spreadsheets.

• Program support - Tool cleaning and maintenance; coordinating schedules and events; attending relevant meetings and trainings regularly.

• Independent project (optional) – developed with supervisor according to the intern’s skills and interests, e.g. plant or insect ID guide, GIS, citizen science, observational study, research, etc.

Work Environment: 

We work year-round on trails and off-trail with exposure to poison oak, ticks, steep slopes, and inclement weather (heat, cold, rain). This is a full-time position with a Monday – Friday work week. Field work typically takes place in a small crew and may involve lifting loads of up to 40 lb, and carrying tools, backpacks and water several miles each day on or off trail through scrub, grassland, wetland, and forested habitats. There is a 40-minute commute to work using a government vehicle. This position is primarily field based, with approximately 2-3 office days per month. Office work involves computer use at a desk and shop maintenance.

Qualifications:

• An active interest in plants, ecology, and habitat restoration.

• Experience working outdoors in challenging environmental conditions (inclement weather, off-trail, steep slopes, dense vegetation, etc.); ability to carry up to 30 pounds.

• Basic computer literacy, Microsoft Word, and Excel.

• Ability to work well in a team while balancing individual responsibilities.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

• Must be in good physical condition (ability to carry up to 30 pounds).

• A valid driver’s license and good driving record.

Major studies relevant to this position: 

• Environmental science

• Ecology

• Biology

About the site: 

Golden Gate National Recreation Area is a destination for both local and international visitors with its sweeping vistas, biological diversity, and unique cultural resources. It is one of the largest urban parks in the world, stretching across three counties in California’s San Francisco Bay Area: Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo. In total, the legislative boundary of the park comprises more than 80,000 acres of land and ocean waters, with 18,500 acres directly managed by GOGA.

The park is part of the California floristic province which is recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot. It is also home to many different habitat types and a large diversity of plant and animal species. Many rare species are found within Golden Gate National Recreation Area including 37 federally threatened or endangered species including the mission blue butterfly, northern spotted owl, and California red-legged frog. Golden Gate National Recreation Area also preserves 91 miles of shoreline, and includes the nearshore waters within ¼ mile of the coast.

Weather is Mediterranean and ranges from dry summers (with occasional fog) to wet and cold in the winter. The dorm and field office are located within the Park.  There are no stores or other conveniences within the park, but they are located nearby in the town of Sausalito and City of San Francisco.

Housing

Housing is bunkhouse-style at Fort Cronkhite, Marin Headlands, in Marin County. Housing is rustic. Each intern has a private bedroom with shared common areas. Each housing unit can accommodate ~ 8 people. Housing is walking distance to the main office and other facilities. There are no stores or other conveniences within the park, but they are located nearby in the town of Sausalito and City of San Francisco.

This position earns 2000 hours towards PLC.

Public Land Corps Non-Competitive Hiring Authority (PLC)
The Public Land Corps Non-Competitive Hiring Authority is a special hiring authority available to qualifying interns. The intern must be between the ages of 18 and 30 years old, inclusive, or a veteran up to age 35 and complete 640 hours of work on an appropriate conservation project to be eligible for this hiring authority. Upon successful completion of the PLC project(s), the intern is eligible for two years to be hired non-competitively into a federal seasonal, term, or permanent position. The applicant must apply to a PLC-eligible position advertised on USAJobs.gov and selected off a non-competitive certificate of eligibility. For more information, see DOI Personnel Bulletins 11-02 , 12-13, and 17-03.

EEO Statement

Environment for the Americas provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.