Seagrass Monitoring Coordinator

What We Can Achieve Together:

Join TNC Virginia as a STEP Intern! The goal of STEP is to create pathways for people seeking to gain experience with a conservation‑focused organization. We currently offer paid internships in a range of disciplines across our Virginia Teams. With a focus on recruiting and developing a diverse staff, we strive to create an environment where people of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities feel welcomed to participate in conservation.

Wherever you are in your educational path—community college, technical school, four‑year programs, or graduate school—STEP may have an opportunity for you to consider.

All STEP interns will attend an orientation, professional development webinars, and one group field trip. Along the way, interns will broaden their experiences through interactions with TNC staff and partners. At the end of their internship, STEP interns will give a short presentation about their time at TNC to the Virginia staff.

This position will close on February 18, 2026 m interviews will occur in early March with final hiring decisions made by March 31.

35 hours/week for 10 weeks from May 29 – August 7, 2026

All interns are required to attend a two‑day orientation in Charlottesville on May 27‑28, 2026.

$18.25/hour

Richmond, VA

A housing stipend is available as needed for this location.

TNC’s Chesapeake Bay Program is looking for an intern to help build a community science data collection program for submerged aquatic vegetation in the Bay. The intern will work under the direction of our Wetlands Program Manager and the SAV Watchers Program, and will also coordinate closely with volunteers, donors, Sea Grant Fellows, and TNC partners at the state level (such as VIMS, VCU, Maryland DNR).

Responsibilities include establishing a monitoring schedule, leading public engagement events, and managing the collected data. The work requires some travel, time on the water, and hands‑on experience with plant identification, data management and analysis, and community engagement. The intern will dedicate 5% of their time to professional development activities through STEP.

• Assist with establishing a schedule for training events and SAV community science data collection
• Work with TNC’s Volunteer and Philanthropy teams to coordinate public engagement events
• Manage the identification and documentation of SAV, including inputting all relevant data
• Work requires being outdoors, on the water, operating various vessels including kayaks, stand‑up paddleboards, and canoes. You may work in various weather conditions and under physically demanding circumstances.
• This position requires some travel.

• A current college student or recent graduate (within one year)
• Majoring in Environmental Science, Biology, Ecology, Natural Resources, or similar field
• Experience with plant identification
• Experience with community outreach/engagement
• Experience operating canoes, kayaks, and/or stand‑up paddleboards
• Must have a valid driver’s license, safe driving record, and provide own transportation and automobile insurance

• Experience with SAV identification and/or monitoring
• Education or other training with Virginia’s habitats and species
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience organizing large data sets
• Experience with Microsoft Office Products
• Willing to obtain CPR certification upon hire

TNC offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, and other life and work well‑being benefits.

The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science‑based organization, we create innovative, on‑the‑ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to…