Entry Level Natural Resource Jobs in Texas (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $20.80 - $23.99 Hourly
Location : 700 Lavaca Street, Austin, TX
Job Type: Temporary
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 26-10431
Department: TNR (Trans & Natrl Resrc)
Opening Date: 07/20/2026
Closing Date: 8/9/2026 11:59 PM Central
Job Summary
Join us at Travis County to launch your career in Engineering, Natural Resources/Environmental Quality, or Parks with a paid internship supporting key County programs!
As an Intern, you'll gain hands-on experience, work with experienced professionals, and receive mentorship from industry experts. This entry-level role offers the chance to build real-world skills, develop as a transformational leader, and make a meaningful impact-all in a supportive, learning-focused environment. Performs intern-level/trainee work in a professional field performing supervised duties in support of County programs. Will include in-office work
Distinguishing Characteristics
This class is distinguished from non-intern positions based on performance of professional level duties guided by well established procedures, methods and techniques to be used with options that are well defined, including clear, detailed, specific instructions given by the assigned supervisor. Duties assigned are primarily training or entry level, routine and restricted in complexity and scope with little or no discretion in how they are carried out and the work product is subject to continual review. Requires consultation with the supervisor on matters not specifically covered in the guidelines.
Duties and Responsibilities

• Trains in the theoretical and technical aspects of the assigned professional field and learns and applies work procedures related to the assignment.
• Trains in and assists in the performance of duty assignments within clearly defined parameters, restricted in complexity, scope and level, and under close supervision.
• Communicates with employees at all levels and the public to receive and relay factual information and to facilitate public relations.
• Trains in and prepares various reports and other documents in accordance with specified requirements, guidelines and supervisory instructions.
• Under close supervision, apply work procedures and theoretical and technical aspects relevant to the professional field to the completion of assigned portions of a project.
• Attends meetings, conferences, or other educational classes and participates in training offered by the County and applies information to work assignments.
• Trains in and performs research, data verification, interpretation and analysis, formulates preliminary recommendations, and develops reports related to departmental or professional field assignment. Work may involve statistical analysis.
• Trains in and assists with interviews, investigations and other field work to collect and/or verify information and documents findings related to departmental or professional field assignment.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements
Education and Experience:
Completion of six (6) credit hours of college and current enrollment in a college program in a professional field specific to the departmental and/or work assignment. Enrollment must be in an accredited learning institute. Continued enrollment in a college program is a condition of employment as a County intern.
Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:
Some positions require possession of a Valid Texas Driver's License.
Knowledge of:

• Federal, State, Local and County applicable laws, rules, regulations and guidelines relating to assigned function.
• Planning and research methodology relating to assigned functions.
• Standard theory, principles, practices and techniques relating to assigned function.
• Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases and a variety of software packages.
• Business letter writing, grammar and punctuation, and report preparation.

Skill in:

• Statistical and research methods relating to assigned functions.
• Explaining complicated technical problems in simple non-technical language.
• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Verbal and written communication.

Ability to:

• Manage time well, perform and prioritize multiple tasks, organize diverse activities, develop and implement research and projects related to assigned functions.
• Meet deadlines and produce projects in a timely manner while working on several projects at once.
• Work as a team member within a diverse organization.
• Research, compile, analyze, interpret and prepare a variety of memorandums or reports.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with County employees and officials, representatives of outside agencies, and the general public.

Work Environment & Other Information
Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 20-50 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to driving all-terrain vehicle, standing, walking/hiking (some rough terrain), carrying, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, client/customer contact, squatting to perform the essential functions. May work in extreme temperature/weather change/conditions, and smoke. May be subject to contact with dangerous machinery, fumes, communicable/infectious disease, and hazardous chemicals.
Work Hours: 8 am - 5 pm, Monday-Friday. May work some
holidays, some nights, some weekends
Location: 700 Lavaca St
Department: TNR (Trans & Natrl Resrc)
Criminal, Driving,
Education, and Employment Background Checks Required.
For updates or questions on this position, contact:
This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.
Benefits
Employment at Travis County comes with a full array of benefits. We offer comprehensive health insurance, a no-cost, on-site Health and Wellness clinic, longevity pay, paid vacations, sick time and personal holidays, not to mention an industry competitive salary structure and a friendly, stable work environment.
FY2026 Travis County Benefit Guide
In this valuable you will find benefit summaries, eligibility requirements, costs, contact numbers and addresses as well as other general information on the benefits available to Travis County Employees and Retirees.
Credit Union
Employees may join the Travis County Credit Union which offers low-interest loans, savings plans through payroll deduction, safe deposit boxes and other benefits.
Deferred Compensation
Employees may enroll in a tax- free sheltered investment plan through payroll deduction.
Direct Deposit
Employees may sign up for direct bank deposit.
Employee Assistance Program
Travis County provides a confidential counseling and referral service free of charge to county employees and their family.
Employee Organizations
Membership in the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union is available through payroll deduction.
Employee Health & Wellness Clinic
Employees may access the clinic for a variety of wellness program and health care services with no co-pay, no deductible and no co-insurance costs.
Holidays
An average of eleven paid holidays are designated by the Travis County Commissioners Court at the beginning of each fiscal year.
Insurance
Employees may select from four plans: an Exclusive Physician Organization (EPO), Choice Plus Preferred Physician Organization (PPO), Consumer Choice or a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA). All four options include a Pharmacy Plan. Travis County's current policy is to pay 100% of the employee's health insurance premium for the Consumer Choice and HDHP. Employees will pay a premium for both the EPO and PPO. Other insurance benefits include $50,000 Basic Life and AD&D paid by the County.
The following benefits are employee paid:

• Dental
• Vision
• Supplemental Life, AD&D
• Dependent Life
• Short Term Disability
• Long Term Disability
• Long Term Care

New employees are covered on the first day of the month following 28 calendar days of employment.
Longevity
Longevity pay is paid for each year completed after three years of continuous service. Peace Officers in a law enforcement activity, whose job requires state peace officer certification, receive pay after one year of certification.
On the regular payday on or after the employee's fourth and subsequent adjusted service dates, he or she receives a single payment for the previous year.
Parking
A limited number of assigned parking spaces are available to employees in the Courthouse Complex.
Personal Holidays
Regular, full-time employees are eligible for up to three paid personal holidays each calendar year. Part-time employees shall be granted personal holidays on a prorated basis. New employees earn personal holidays for the calendar year in which he/she begins employment, based on the month in which employment begins:
January - March
3 personal holidays
April - June
2 personal holidays
July - September
1 personal holiday
October - December
None
New employees are eligible to take personal holidays after 90 days of employment.
Retirement
Travis County is a member of the Texas County & District Retirement System with mandatory participation by certain classes of employees. Seven percent (7%) of the gross salary is deducted each pay period. An employee is fully vested after eight years of service. Benefits are prorated for part-time employees.
Sick Leave
Regular employees earn sick leave at a rate of eight hours per month with unlimited accrual during employment. Part-time employees earn sick leave on a pro-rated basis.
Parental Leave
Each Full-time Paid Parental Leave Eligible (PPL) Employee is entitled to a total of 320 hours of Paid Parental Leave in a 12 month period. Paid Parental Leave for Part-time PPL Eligible Employees is prorated based on the number of hours that they are regularly scheduled to work.
Tuition Refund
Certain classes of full-time employees may receive reimbursement for fees associated with pre-approved, job related course work completed satisfactorily.
Vacation
Based on years of county service, regular, full-time employees earn vacation time at the following rates:
0 to 5 years
4.0 hours per pay period
6 to 10 years
4.5 hours per pay period
11 to 15 years
5.0 hours per pay period
16 to 20 years
5.5 hours per pay period
21 plus years
6.0 hours per pay period
Part-time employees earn vacation leave on a pro-rated basis.
Workers' Compensation
The county provides all employees workers' compensation coverage with benefits in accordance with state statute, if the employee sustains an injury out of, or in the course of work.