Environmental Internships
Environmental internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience in fieldwork, data analysis, and regulatory compliance, mentorship from working environmental scientists and engineers, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated across Electronics & Hardware and Consulting & Professional Services, with State of New Jersey, CDM Smith, and Reliance among the employers posting roles now.
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FLSA Status: Non-Exempt, Hourly
Reports To: Regional Manager
Job Type: Part-time (10-15 hours per week)
Compensation: $21-$26 per hour, based on relevant experience
About Eocene Environmental Group:
Our team has spent the past two decades providing environmental, utility vegetation management (UVM), software and sustainability services. We are fortunate to be a part of the Wright Service Corp. family, which has helped us establish a strong foundation for continued growth and success.
Through a strategic alignment of values and goals, four Wright Service Corp. entities joined and integrated into one, operating as Eocene Environmental Group. These four entities are:
Forestry & Utility Division
Environmental Division
Technology & Innovation Division
Sustainability Division
INTERNSHIP DETAILS: This internship is expected to begin in late summer or early fall (August–September) and will typically require approximately 10–15 hours per week. The position is primarily remote, with an expectation to work in the office approximately once per week in San Luis Obispo, CA . Work hours are expected to remain generally consistent week to week; however, some flexibility can be accommodated with sufficient advance notice
JOB SUMMARY: The Environmental Project Management Intern will support utility, water, solar, telecom, and other development projects. This role is designed to provide hands-on experience in environmental consulting and project coordination. The intern will assist project teams, gain exposure to client relations and regulatory processes, and develop practical skills that support project success and company growth.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions:
Provide general support to project teams on environmental and development-related projects
Assist with organizing project files, tracking deliverables, and maintaining documentation
Attend project meetings to observe, take notes, and support follow-up actions
Conduct basic research and compile data to support environmental reports and project needs
Assist with preparing presentations, reports, and other project materials
Support coordination efforts between internal teams and external stakeholders
Learn and assist with environmental compliance documentation and regulatory processes
Collaborate with team members to complete assigned tasks and meet project deadlines
Gain exposure to project management tools, processes, and best practices
Participate in training opportunities and actively seek to build knowledge of the industry
Maintain regular and punctual attendance at work and meetings
Support and actively participate in company culture, including safety and employee ownership principles
Comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and company policies
OTHER DUTIES: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Position may require limited travel
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
High school diploma or equivalent
Current junior or senior pursuing a Bachelor’s degree, or recent graduate in Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Environmental Planning, Engineering, Archaeology, or related field
Strong interest in environmental consulting or project management
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:
Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
Effective verbal and written communication skills
Basic understanding of environmental regulations or a willingness to learn
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, with a willingness to further develop and advance technical skills
Familiarity with artificial intelligence (AI) tools and technologies, with a willingness to learn and expand proficiency in their use within a professional setting
Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
Positive attitude, eagerness to learn, and proactive mindset
Ability to read, write, and speak English sufficient to perform job duties
Eocene Environmental Group, Inc. 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.
https://wrightservicecorp.com/privacy-policy
Environmental Internship Market
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Electronics & Hardware
- Consulting & Professional Services
Tips for Your Environmental Internship Search
Apply months before the summer start date
Large employers, federal agencies, major environmental consulting firms, and corporate sustainability teams, open summer cohort applications the preceding fall, with many deadlines in October and November. If you wait until spring, the structured programs are already closed. Start identifying target employers by September and submit before Thanksgiving.
Build a project portfolio before you need it
Environmental intern recruiters want something concrete to assess, not just a list of classes. Document two or three projects with your methods, tools, and results visible, a GIS analysis, a field data report, a water quality study, or a regulatory memo. Host them somewhere shareable so you can drop a link in every application.
Work your campus network and apply directly at the same time
Career fairs surface structured programs tied to your university, and professors or career center staff often know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. At the same time, apply directly to companies running smaller cohorts, many don't recruit on campus at all. Both channels together reach more of the market than either one alone.
Practice your technical screen out loud before applying
Environmental intern interviews often include a technical component, a data analysis or GIS exercise, a case study on remediation or regulatory compliance, or questions on field sampling methods. Practice explaining your reasoning as you work through problems, not just arriving at the right answer. Interviewers weigh how you think as much as what you conclude.
Target structured conservation and environmental programs early
Established pipelines like Student Conservation Association placements, agency pathways internships, and large consulting firm cohorts are built to train people new to environmental work. They recruit early, fill fast, and often prefer candidates who apply in the first wave. Identify the programs that match your focus area and treat their deadlines as your hard deadlines.
Set your work-type filter before you start searching
On-site roles are 64% of the environmental internships listed here. Decide what you can actually commit to, on-site fieldwork, a hybrid schedule, or fully remote data or policy work, before you start reviewing listings. Filtering by work type and location upfront means you spend your time on roles you can take, not ones you'll decline after an interview.
Environmental Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an environmental internship?
Lead with coursework, field projects, and a portfolio rather than work history, hiring teams expect limited professional experience at the intern level. For environmental candidates, the concrete artifact that gives recruiters something to assess is a documented field study, GIS map, or data analysis with your methods visible. Pair direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can an environmental internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What actually drives it for environmental interns is performance on real project work, whether the team has open headcount at the end of the summer, and timing your expression of interest before the return-offer window closes. Position for one by delivering consistently, but don't count on it when planning your job search.
When should I apply for environmental internships?
Earlier than most candidates expect. Large employers, federal agencies, major consulting firms, and Fortune 500 companies with sustainability teams, recruit summer interns the preceding fall, often with deadlines in October and November. Smaller companies, nonprofits, and co-op programs post closer to their start dates, so openings appear year-round and a late search still turns up real options.
Are environmental internships paid?
Most professional environmental internships in the U.S. are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, a large engineering firm or federal agency typically pays more than a small nonprofit. Listings show compensation where the employer discloses it, so you can compare opportunities as you search rather than finding out late in the process.
What should an environmental internship resume include?
Lead with two or three complete, documented projects rather than work history, name the tools used and link to the work where possible: a published field report, a GIS map or spatial analysis, a water quality dataset with methodology, or a regulatory compliance writeup. Add relevant coursework in environmental science, ecology, or policy. Keep everything to one page.
Are there remote environmental internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 36% of the environmental internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast, so apply early once you decide what you can commit to. Use the work-type filter to see only remote or hybrid openings and avoid sorting through roles that don't fit your situation.
What is a Student Conservation Association (SCA) internship?
The Student Conservation Association runs one of the most established structured internship pipelines in environmental work, placing people new to conservation, land management, and resource protection with federal agencies and nonprofits across the country. Programs target students and recent graduates, recruit early in the cycle, and are competitive, identify the placements that match your focus and apply in the first wave of openings.
Can international students get environmental internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
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