The Chesapeake Bay Foundation seeks a Hampton Roads Science Intern Spring 2022 to be based at the Brock Environmental Center located in Virginia Beach, VA.
THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION
Established over 50 years ago, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is the nation’s leading conservation organization dedicated solely to restoring and protecting the Chesapeake Bay, our nation’s largest estuary. With 300,000 members, an annual operating budget of $26 million, and a $55 million endowment, CBF’s 190 full time staff work in offices in Annapolis and Easton, MD; Richmond and Virginia Beach, VA; Harrisburg, PA; Washington, DC; and in 15 field education program locations across the Bay watershed.
CBF’s headquarters – the Philip Merrill Environmental Center – in Annapolis is the world’s first USGBC LEED platinum building. In 2014, CBF opened the Brock Environmental Center in Virginia Beach; the Brock Center is the tenth certified Living Building and one of the most energy efficient, environmentally smart buildings in the world.
DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION
Environmental Protection and Restoration
CBF’s Environmental Protection and Restoration department defends and restores the Chesapeake Bay by protecting the Bay’s natural resources from pollution and other harmful activities by fighting for strong and effective laws and regulations; restoring the Bay’s essential habitats and filtering mechanisms; and involving citizens in CBF’s environmental efforts by recruiting, training, and incorporating them as effective partners and leaders.
CONTEXT OF THE POSITION
The Science Intern will assist the Senior Regional Ecosystem Scientist, the Hampton Roads Director, and other CBF staff with projects as needed.
Essential functions include:
- Assist the Senior Regional Ecosystem Scientist with review of current regulatory programs.
- Assist CBF staff in evaluating fisheries research and policies in the Chesapeake Bay region.
- Help research various Bay-related scientific issues, new techniques, or materials, and produce summary
reports for review by the Senior Regional Ecosystem Scientist for eventual use by other CBF staff.
- Assist the CBF staff with habitat restoration and monitoring activities.
- Attend CBF staff meetings and trainings, as available.
- Monitor legislative meetings and issues as needed.
PREFERRED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
Successful candidate must be working toward a graduate or undergraduate degree and possess a specific background in environmental management, environmental science, environmental policy, or a related field. Self-initiative, the ability to work independently, as well as with a team and excellent written and oral communication skills are required. Experience collecting and interpreting data and using GIS mapping software and managing databases is a plus. We seek a committed, creative thinker interested in learning about the Chesapeake Bay as well as furthering the Foundation’s mission to “Save the Bay.”
This is an unpaid internship. Exact start and end dates are negotiable, as well as hours worked per week. The position will be based in CBF’s Brock Environmental Center, located in Virginia Beach; however, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we anticipate some work related to this position will take place from home, so applicants must have access to a laptop and internet connection
WE ARE COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND JUSTICE
Just as biodiversity is the key to a thriving ecosystem, human diversity is the key to saving the Bay. Success depends on people from widely diverse backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, identities, and races taking collective action. Clean water, clean air, and a safe environment are rights we all share.
To increase diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation will:
- Recruit and retain a staff, board, and membership that reflect the diversity of people living within the Chesapeake Bay region;
- Strengthen and broaden the diversity of our partnerships;
- Celebrate and value the diversity of staff; and
- Fight to ensure that everyone has equal access to clean water, clean air, and a safe environment.
CBF requires that all staff be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The successful candidate will need to submit verification of vaccination or have a valid religious or medical reason not to be vaccinated.
CBF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
