Natural Areas Stewardship Intern

All applicants should apply using the University of Michigan Careers website, eRecruit. Read below for instructions on how to apply"

Please note your Job Opening ID is 258663

1. Go to https://careers.umich.edu/ 

2. Under Job Search, enter the Job Opening ID or the Job Title in the Keyword box. 

3. Click on the Job Posting. Click on Apply Now at the top of the job posting. .

4. You are now in the standard application. Answer all questions and proceed through the application process as prompted. 

5. Click Submit when you are through.

How to Apply
Applications are welcomed and encouraged from all qualified individuals regardless of background and identity. A one-page cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume in a single pdf file. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experiences that directly relate to it. 

Who We Are
Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum (MBGNA) is a transformative force for social and ecological resilience through the waters and lands we steward. 

We turn this commitment into action by:
Positioning humans as active participants within the natural world and compelling the university community and our publics to negotiate the full complexity that entails
Advancing partnerships, programs, user experience, and all that we steward to catalyze equity and justice in a radically changing world
Emerging as University of Michigan’s premier partner for research, teaching, and public impact in sustainability, climate-forward practices, and biocultural diversity
Promoting healthier communities, cultures, and ecosystems through active care and cultivation of the gardens, fields, natural habitats, and dynamic systems that sustain our world.

MBGNA seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as a reflection of our commitments to serve the diverse people of Michigan and sustain the excellence of the University of Michigan.

For more information about MBGNA and the summer internship program, please visit: https://mbgna.umich.edu/summer-internships 

For questions about the internship application, please contact:
MBGNAinternships@umich.edu 

Job Summary
The MBGNA summer internship takes place Monday, May 5 to Friday, August 15, 2025.  In order to fully participate in team collaboration and project work, selected candidates are expected to complete all dates of the internship. The Natural Areas Stewardship Intern will work with our team using ecological restoration techniques to care for the unique ecosystems found on over 800 acres of natural areas on our four properties. The internship program runs May through August and includes some evening and weekend hours. 

Learning Objectives

• The MBGNA summer internship provides university-level students with opportunities to:
• Participate in experiential learning in a nature-based organization
• Directly contribute to strategic operations of a mission-driven organization
• Help unify and catalyze equity and justice across lands, waters, and dynamic systems

• Applicants must have one year of experience enrolled in a college or university by the internship start date. Recent college graduates who earned a degree in December 2024 or are planning to earn a degree by May 2025 are eligible to apply. 
• Hands on experience with related tools and equipment 
• Plant ID skills - native and exotic invasive
• GIS data collection and management
• These positions may require a valid driver’s license and a motor vehicle record check in order to operate MBGNA vehicles.
• This position may require frequent travel between MBGNA site locations. 
• Willingness to do physical work outdoors in all weather conditions.

Responsibilities

This internship position is part of the Natural Areas team at MBGNA.  This internship is focused on  natural areas stewardship of our four properties. As part of the Natural Areas team, this position will regularly interact with visitors, volunteers, and other MBGNA departments during the course of a workday.  

• This internship position will support the goals of the Natural Areas team through the following: 
• Operating tools and equipment, using herbicides, and other ecological restoration tools and techniques to control exotic invasive plants.
• Scouting for and collecting native plant seeds for direct sowing and plug production. 
• Surveying important conservation targets, such as threatened and endangered plants and animals, and threats, such as new occurrences of exotic invasive species.
• Co-leading volunteer eco-work days on Saturdays or Sundays 1 - 2 times per month