Natural Resources Specialist Internships
Natural resources specialist internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience in field surveys, data collection, and resource management, mentorship from working natural resources specialists, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated across Education, with Burns & McDonnell, Benesch, and Penn State University among the employers posting roles now.
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Showing 5 of 8+ Natural Resources Specialist Internships
Simply Put, A Great Place to Work
Benesch is a growing, multi-disciplined planning, engineering, and professional services firm. We enhance infrastructure and communities across the country – creating spaces and providing connections in ways that make a difference.
We pride ourselves on being nimble enough to remain responsive to client needs yet large enough to offer exceptional bench strength. As a member of our team, you'll have an opportunity to draw from those resources when you need them and, likewise, contribute your expertise when you have something to share.
At Benesch, we are looking for candidates with varied backgrounds and worldviews. We are committed to offering an inclusive work environment where everyone feels valued and respected. Statistics show that women and underrepresented groups are less likely to apply for a position if they don't meet 100% of the qualifications. If this statement resonates with you, don't be so hard on yourself—apply for the job!
Natural Resources Intern
Benesch is seeking a motivated Natural Resources Intern to join our team. This role will provide hands-on experience supporting environmental and natural resource efforts for transportation, infrastructure, and other public and private projects.
As an intern, you will have the opportunity to work alongside experienced environmental professionals and contribute to real-world projects involving natural resource assessments, environmental documentation, permitting, field investigations, and regulatory compliance. You will support project teams throughout various stages of project development while gaining exposure to how environmental considerations are incorporated into infrastructure planning and design.
Location
This position offers flexibility to work remotely, with a preference for candidates located near one of our Benesch offices. Proximity to an office provides additional opportunities for in-person collaboration, mentorship, fieldwork, and exposure to multidisciplinary project teams throughout your internship.
Benesch's Natural Resources professionals partner with engineers, planners, clients, and regulatory agencies to identify environmental considerations and develop practical solutions that balance infrastructure needs with responsible stewardship of natural resources.
The Impact You Will Have
- Assist with natural resource field investigations, data collection, and documentation.
- Support wetland, stream, habitat, vegetation, and other environmental assessments.
- Assist with desktop research, environmental data review, mapping, and preparation for field activities.
- Support the preparation of technical reports, environmental documentation, permit applications, and other project deliverables.
- Help organize, analyze, and document field and environmental data.
- Assist project teams with environmental permitting and regulatory compliance activities.
- Participate in fieldwork and site visits as project needs and location allow.
- Collaborate with environmental scientists, engineers, planners, and other professionals on multidisciplinary projects.
- Gain exposure to natural resource considerations throughout the planning, design, permitting, and construction phases of infrastructure projects.
What You Will Need
- Pursuing a bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Natural Resources, Biology, Ecology, Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a related field.
- Interest in natural resources, environmental consulting, infrastructure, or environmental permitting.
- Strong research, analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
- Ability to work effectively both independently and in a collaborative team environment.
- Willingness to participate in fieldwork and travel locally as project needs require.
- Experience with GIS, environmental fieldwork, data collection, or related coursework is preferred but not required.
Why Benesch?
It's simple. We invest in our people, not just our projects.
Your next opportunity should do more than offer a new title. It should build on the experience you've gained, challenge you to keep growing, and give you the opportunity to make a meaningful impact.
At Benesch, we believe great work starts with great people. That's why we're committed to creating an environment where you can contribute your ideas, develop your skills, and build a career you're proud of.
Here's what you can look forward to:
- Real career growth: Professional development, leadership training, mentorship, and opportunities to take on new challenges and greater responsibility.
- A strong financial future: Up to 9% retirement contribution for benefit-eligible employees.
- Flexibility that works: Work schedules that support your professional and personal life.
- Time to recharge: Generous paid time off and parental leave for benefit-eligible employees.
- Work that makes an impact: Opportunities to collaborate, contribute ideas, solve meaningful challenges, and see the difference your work makes.
- Room to grow your way: Whether you want to deepen your expertise, explore new opportunities, or grow into leadership, we want to help you take the next step.
Your Next Chapter Starts Here
Whether you're just starting your career or bringing years of experience, Benesch offers an opportunity to build on what you've accomplished while continuing to grow.
Bring your experience, your ideas, and your ambition. Discover what you can accomplish at Benesch.
Explore our full benefits here: Click here
Equal Opportunity & Accessibility
At Benesch, we believe great work starts with great people and that means creating a workplace where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
Benesch is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and prohibits employment discrimination for employees and applicants in all protected groups, including veterans and individuals with disabilities, or other status protected by federal, state, and local laws.
Benesch is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with a physical disability or other impairment.
If you are limited in your ability or are unable to access Benesch's Careers website due to a physical disability or other impairment, you may request a reasonable accommodation by emailing TalentAcquisition@benesch.com. This option is only available to those in need of an accommodation due to a disability or other impairment. Please do not use this as an alternative method for general inquiries or status on applications, as you will not receive a response. Reasonable requests will be responded to as soon as possible on a case-by-case basis.
If you are based in California, we encourage you to read this important information for California residents linked here.
Know your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal
We will be accepting applications on an ongoing basis until a candidate is found.
External Recruiters and Staffing Agencies
Benesch shall have no obligation to compensate any external recruiter or search firm for candidate submissions made without a valid, current, and fully executed agreement. Submission of candidate information does not establish entitlement to a fee.
All recruiting activity must be coordinated and authorized through the Benesch Talent Acquisition team. Please direct all communications to TalentAcquisition@Benesch.com
Simply Put, A Great Place to Work
Benesch is a growing, multi-disciplined planning, engineering, and professional services firm. We enhance infrastructure and communities across the country – creating spaces and providing connections in ways that make a difference.
We pride ourselves on being nimble enough to remain responsive to client needs yet large enough to offer exceptional bench strength. As a member of our team, you'll have an opportunity to draw from those resources when you need them and, likewise, contribute your expertise when you have something to share.
At Benesch, we are looking for candidates with varied backgrounds and worldviews. We are committed to offering an inclusive work environment where everyone feels valued and respected. Statistics show that women and underrepresented groups are less likely to apply for a position if they don't meet 100% of the qualifications. If this statement resonates with you, don't be so hard on yourself—apply for the job!
Natural Resources Intern
Benesch is seeking a motivated Natural Resources Intern to join our team. This role will provide hands-on experience supporting environmental and natural resource efforts for transportation, infrastructure, and other public and private projects.
As an intern, you will have the opportunity to work alongside experienced environmental professionals and contribute to real-world projects involving natural resource assessments, environmental documentation, permitting, field investigations, and regulatory compliance. You will support project teams throughout various stages of project development while gaining exposure to how environmental considerations are incorporated into infrastructure planning and design.
Location
This position offers flexibility to work remotely, with a preference for candidates located near one of our Benesch offices. Proximity to an office provides additional opportunities for in-person collaboration, mentorship, fieldwork, and exposure to multidisciplinary project teams throughout your internship.
Benesch's Natural Resources professionals partner with engineers, planners, clients, and regulatory agencies to identify environmental considerations and develop practical solutions that balance infrastructure needs with responsible stewardship of natural resources.
The Impact You Will Have
- Assist with natural resource field investigations, data collection, and documentation.
- Support wetland, stream, habitat, vegetation, and other environmental assessments.
- Assist with desktop research, environmental data review, mapping, and preparation for field activities.
- Support the preparation of technical reports, environmental documentation, permit applications, and other project deliverables.
- Help organize, analyze, and document field and environmental data.
- Assist project teams with environmental permitting and regulatory compliance activities.
- Participate in fieldwork and site visits as project needs and location allow.
- Collaborate with environmental scientists, engineers, planners, and other professionals on multidisciplinary projects.
- Gain exposure to natural resource considerations throughout the planning, design, permitting, and construction phases of infrastructure projects.
What You Will Need
- Pursuing a bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Natural Resources, Biology, Ecology, Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a related field.
- Interest in natural resources, environmental consulting, infrastructure, or environmental permitting.
- Strong research, analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
- Ability to work effectively both independently and in a collaborative team environment.
- Willingness to participate in fieldwork and travel locally as project needs require.
- Experience with GIS, environmental fieldwork, data collection, or related coursework is preferred but not required.
Why Benesch?
It's simple. We invest in our people, not just our projects.
Your next opportunity should do more than offer a new title. It should build on the experience you've gained, challenge you to keep growing, and give you the opportunity to make a meaningful impact.
At Benesch, we believe great work starts with great people. That's why we're committed to creating an environment where you can contribute your ideas, develop your skills, and build a career you're proud of.
Here's what you can look forward to:
- Real career growth: Professional development, leadership training, mentorship, and opportunities to take on new challenges and greater responsibility.
- A strong financial future: Up to 9% retirement contribution for benefit-eligible employees.
- Flexibility that works: Work schedules that support your professional and personal life.
- Time to recharge: Generous paid time off and parental leave for benefit-eligible employees.
- Work that makes an impact: Opportunities to collaborate, contribute ideas, solve meaningful challenges, and see the difference your work makes.
- Room to grow your way: Whether you want to deepen your expertise, explore new opportunities, or grow into leadership, we want to help you take the next step.
Your Next Chapter Starts Here
Whether you're just starting your career or bringing years of experience, Benesch offers an opportunity to build on what you've accomplished while continuing to grow.
Bring your experience, your ideas, and your ambition. Discover what you can accomplish at Benesch.
Explore our full benefits here: Click here
Equal Opportunity & Accessibility
At Benesch, we believe great work starts with great people and that means creating a workplace where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
Benesch is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and prohibits employment discrimination for employees and applicants in all protected groups, including veterans and individuals with disabilities, or other status protected by federal, state, and local laws.
Benesch is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with a physical disability or other impairment.
If you are limited in your ability or are unable to access Benesch's Careers website due to a physical disability or other impairment, you may request a reasonable accommodation by emailing TalentAcquisition@benesch.com. This option is only available to those in need of an accommodation due to a disability or other impairment. Please do not use this as an alternative method for general inquiries or status on applications, as you will not receive a response. Reasonable requests will be responded to as soon as possible on a case-by-case basis.
If you are based in California, we encourage you to read this important information for California residents linked here.
Know your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal
We will be accepting applications on an ongoing basis until a candidate is found.
External Recruiters and Staffing Agencies
Benesch shall have no obligation to compensate any external recruiter or search firm for candidate submissions made without a valid, current, and fully executed agreement. Submission of candidate information does not establish entitlement to a fee.
All recruiting activity must be coordinated and authorized through the Benesch Talent Acquisition team. Please direct all communications to TalentAcquisition@Benesch.com
Natural Resources Specialist Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
Tips for Your Natural Resources Specialist Internship Search
Apply months before the start date
Large federal agencies and environmental consulting firms open summer internship applications the preceding fall, often in September or October. Smaller employers and co-op programs post closer to their start dates. Checking listings early in the fall semester puts you ahead of most applicants for the structured programs that fill first.
Build a project portfolio before you apply
Natural resources specialist intern hiring teams expect limited work history, so your projects carry the most weight. Document two or three completed field surveys, GIS analyses, water quality assessments, or species inventories, naming the tools and methods you used. A shareable report or map gives recruiters something specific to evaluate beyond your coursework list.
Work your campus network alongside direct applications
Campus career fairs surface structured programs tied to your university, and professors or career center staff often know which agencies and firms recruit from your school before roles appear publicly. Apply directly to smaller employers running their own cohorts at the same time, since combining both channels widens the pool of roles you can realistically reach.
Practice the natural resources specialist intern screen out loud
Many natural resources specialist intern interviews involve a technical or scenario-based screen, where you walk through how you'd approach a field assessment, interpret environmental data, or apply regulatory knowledge to a real situation. Practice answering out loud, explaining your reasoning step by step, since interviewers weigh your thinking process as much as the final answer.
Target structured conservation and land management programs early
Rotational and cohort internship programs at federal land management agencies, state natural resource departments, and large conservation organizations are built specifically to train people new to the field. The Student Conservation Association and similar pipelines recruit early and fill fast, so identify the programs that fit your focus area and apply in the first wave of openings.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 0% of the natural resources specialist internships listed here. Decide what you can realistically commit to before you start sorting, then filter by location and work type on Migrate Mate so you're only reviewing roles you can actually take.
Natural Resources Specialist Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a natural resources specialist internship?
Lead with coursework and completed projects rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. A documented field project, GIS analysis, or environmental assessment report gives recruiters something concrete to evaluate. Apply directly to employer postings and attend campus career fairs, where natural resources recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a natural resources specialist internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What drives it for natural resources specialist interns is consistent performance on real field or analytical work, available headcount on the team, and understanding the return-offer timeline early enough to act on it. Treat the internship as an audition without counting on the outcome.
When should I apply for natural resources specialist internships?
Earlier than most expect. Large federal agencies, conservation organizations, and environmental consulting firms recruit for summer internships the preceding fall, sometimes as early as September or October. Smaller companies and co-op programs post much closer to their start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings regularly means you won't miss roles from either type of employer.
Are natural resources specialist internships paid?
Most professional natural resources specialist internships in the U.S. are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, and some federal or nonprofit positions offer stipends rather than hourly wages. Where an employer discloses pay, it appears directly in the listing, so you can compare options as you search.
What should a natural resources specialist internship resume include?
Lead with two or three complete, documented projects rather than work history. For natural resources specialist candidates, that means field survey reports, GIS mapping outputs, environmental impact analyses, or species data sets, with the tools and software you used clearly named. Add relevant coursework in ecology, environmental science, or policy. Keep everything to one page.
Are there remote natural resources specialist internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 100% of the natural resources specialist internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts tend to fill quickly, so apply early and use the work-type filter to surface them without sorting through listings you can't take.
What is a Student Conservation Association (SCA) internship for natural resources specialists?
The Student Conservation Association runs a well-known structured internship program placing people new to natural resources and conservation work at federal agencies, national parks, and land management organizations. SCA internships target students and recent graduates, recruit early in the academic year, and are competitive, so identifying openings in the first wave gives you the strongest chance of placement.
Can international students get natural resources specialist 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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