Learning in Virginia

• How to Apply

  1. Positions typically open for applicants in late January.

  2. To find open positions, visit TNC’s careers website and enter the job ID for the role you’re interested in.

  3. Submit a resume and cover letter by the stated deadline. You must apply for each role individually.

  4. Stay tuned for next steps. Interviews usually start shortly after the position closes and final decisions are made by late March.

  5. Need help applying? Contact taylor.fanelli@tnc.org

• STEP 2026 Internships

  Applications close mid-February.

  State Policy Intern—Work with our policy team to conduct research and writing around state policy/advocacy issues, analysis on grants and budgets, and support the campaign to pass Virginia’s Great Outdoors Act.

  Stream and Wetland Ecological Monitoring Coordinator—Develop a process to collect and analyze ecological data from restoration sites and work with our Volunteer Team to coordinate community data collection efforts.

  Landscape Architecture Intern—Help develop a stream and wetland restoration guide for landowners and manage the design process for interpretive signage at our restoration sites.

  Seagrass Monitoring Coordinator—Coordinate a submerged aquatic vegetation monitoring community science program in the Chesapeake Bay with our Volunteer Team.

  Preserve Steward Intern—Work with our Central Stewardship Team to remove invasive species, manage public lands, and maintain equipment and vehicles.

  Pinelands Intern—Work with our Pinelands Program to manage lands in our Piney Grove Preserve, remove invasive species, and maintain equipment and vehicles.

  Coastal Conservation Intern—Rotate between our Marine Habitat Restoration Team, Migratory Bird Team, Community Engagement and other work with our Eastern Shore Program.

  Environmental Education Intern—Work with the Eastern Shore Team to bring environmental education to local 5^th graders.

  Lands and Lives Intern—Dive into storytelling on how lands and lives intersect. Work with our team on social media posts, website updates, and print pieces.

  Coastal Drone Intern—Expand uncrewed aerial systems used at our VCR preserve, creating databases, new maps and online tools.

  Clinch Valley Program Intern—A 6- month position designed for recent graduates to work with the entire Clinch Valley Team gaining experience in forestry, mapping, volunteer management, and other areas. Please note this is a 6-month position running from June to December.

• Other TNC Opportunities

  TNC is always looking for dedicated volunteers to help manage preserves, take photos and videos for social media, assist with clean up days and more! Visit our volunteer page or email vavolunteers@tnc.org for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

STEP Program

• What is STEP?

  TNC Virginia’s Short Term Experience Program (STEP) creates pathways for people seeking to gain experience in conservation. We provide paid internship opportunities in a range of fields, working with our team across Virginia. STEP is designed for people early in their career or with limited prior professional experience. 

• Who can apply?

  STEP is designed for people early in their career or with limited prior professional experience. Our positions are generally open to current undergraduate students, recent graduates (within one year), or current graduate students. Specific qualifications will vary slightly for each position. 

• What’s the timeline?

   

  Our summer internships are 10-week positions. Interns work full-time (35 hours/week) during that period. Typically, internships start the last week of May with an in-person orientation and end the first week of August with a remote final presentation. All interns are expected to work the same timeframe. 

   

   

  Positions are posted in late January and accept applicants for one month. We aim to make our final hiring decisions no later than March 31. 

  For positions outside of our summer cohort the timing may vary. 

   

• Are interns paid?

  Yes! Our internships are all paid an hourly rate. Please see the latest postings for the current salary.

• Where will I work?

   

  Positions are in-person and based with TNC teams across Virginia. We have offices in Charlottesville (state headquarters), Richmond, Lexington, Abingdon, Nassawadox, and Waverly. Each job description will list the location of that role and locations are non-negotiable unless otherwise stated.

  Our in-semester positions are typically hybrid or remote

   

   

  The Arlington, VA office (TNC’s global headquarters) is not an available location for STEP positions. 

   

• Do you provide housing?

  We know housing can be a big barrier to accepting an internship. STEP assists with that in a couple ways for our full-time summer positions. Job descriptions will have more specific housing information.

  • We offer a needs-based housing stipend. Interns are responsible for finding their own housing (we have recommendations) and can use our stipend to cover the cost of the lease.

   

   

  • In certain locations, TNC will provide housing. This may be shared housing with other interns or seasonal staff. TNC will cover the cost of rent, but it is considered taxable income for the intern. 

   

• What will I be doing?

  • Each role is different, and each cohort offers different roles. Some interns work on building GIS tools and maps, some are doing land management activities like invasive removal and chain-sawing downed trees. Others are doing research and writing or community engagement. Everyone’s work is connected to TNC’s mission and Virginia’s conservation goals.

  • All STEP positions have a few key elements. Every intern will gain hands-on skills in conservation, will have opportunities for professional development and to network with TNC staff locally and globally, and will get to travel to unique Virginia landscapes.

  • The STEP summer cohort of interns gets together regularly for webinars on conservation related topics and for one group field trip. 

  • Check out our intern stories tab to learn more about past STEP projects! 

• What skills do I need to be hired?

  Each role is different. In general, we’re hiring people who have an interest in our work and are looking to explore the field of conservation. Some positions require specific skills or experience (GIS, plant identification, etc.), others are open to anyone looking to gain hands-on conservation skills.

• Can I apply to more than one position?

  Of course. We often have people apply to more than one position. You need to apply to each separately and include a resume and cover letter for each.

• Sounds great! How do I apply?

  • To apply you need to submit a resume and cover letter to our careers website. A cover letter is required.

  • To find a position, visit TNC’s careers website and enter the job ID or title for the role you’re interested in.

  • Submit a resume and cover letter by the stated deadline. You must apply for each role individually. Be mindful of deadlines as we cannot accept applicants once the positions close. 

  • Stay tuned for next steps – interviews usually start shortly after the position closes.

• Do you offer positions other than summer internships?

  • STEP does work with college and university partners to offer some internships throughout the school year. Be sure to check the TNC careers website and your school’s Handshake page for the most up to date postings.

  • Other TNC offices also offer internships throughout the year. Our careers website is the best place to check for current openings. 

• Who can I contact for questions?

  Taylor Fanelli is TNC's STEP Manager. She’s happy to help with questions about the program, the roles, working at TNC or anything else you might need. She can also do resume and cover letter reviews for interested applicants.

  Contact taylor.fanelli@tnc.org