Summer Internship: Land Management Intern

Summer Internship: Land Management Intern

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Position Summary:

As the Land Management Intern, you will learn the importance of ecological restoration and land management within public green spaces in a densely populated urban area, such as Milwaukee, by taking part in the implementation of land management plans. You will help with removal of invasive species as well as site preparation, propagation, and planting of native plants to improve biodiversity. 

Other duties include erosion control; trail maintenance; weeding and watering of previously planted areas; and working alongside, and occasionally leading, volunteer groups of various sizes and ages.

The UEC will hire three (3) Land Management Interns. 

Our Summer Employment and Internship Experience:

• The Land Management Intern is paid a stipend of $1,120 on a bi-weekly basis. 
• This role is allotted 3 days (24 hours) of PTO for planned vacation or sick days.
• You will attend training for the first two weeks of your experience, with opportunities for further learning & development throughout the summer. We host both a Summer Kickoff event and an End of Summer Celebration.
• We nurture an inclusive, supportive, and collaborative workplace culture. 
• You will have the ability to attend all UEC events or programs at a low or no cost. Children of employees attend programming, including summer camps, at reduced rates.

Application Review Date: Monday, February 9th.

• It is strongly recommended that all interested applicants submit their applications by this date. 

Employment term: June 8th, 2026 to August 21st, 2026.

Location and Schedule:. This role works in-person 5 days/week, for 40 hours/week, at one of our three branch locations.

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DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Land Management

• Assist with land stewardship and restoration activities of UEC managed lands at our 3-branches.  Work includes removal of invasive species, trail maintenance, mulching, native seed collection and planting of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants.
• Support the maintenance of hand tools and power equipment.
• Participate in flora and fauna surveys within UEC managed lands. Additional offsite opportunities will be offered during monthly field trips.

Maintain Safety Practices

• Complete first aid, CPR, and AED training certification- provided by Urban Ecology Center. 
• Adhere to all safety protocols for equipment operations and procedures.

Staff and Community Engagement

• Assist in leading  volunteers and service groups to implement the organization’s goals for UEC managed lands.
• Act as an ambassador for ecological restoration within the city with community members, dog walkers, park users, and volunteers.
• Work solo and/or alongside park Land Manager(s), Land Steward, Land Management Interns and summer High School Outdoor Leadership Program participants.

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To be successful in this position, you will demonstrate the following competencies:

We know that hardly anyone ‘checks ALL the boxes’ on job requirements, and that’s okay! If some or many of the items listed below describe you and your experiences, we’re excited to talk with you and encourage you to apply.

• Collaboration: They have a strong ability to collaborate and share responsibilities with peers while providing guidance on or following organizational processes.
• Growth Mindset: They have a demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional/personal development and incorporating feedback; you are optimistic about future opportunities.
• Reliability and Agency: You build trust and exercise good judgement by meeting deadlines, developing on commitments, prioritizing needs, and making considered and effective decisions.
• Efficient: You have strong attention to detail, are self-motivated, and are able to multitask. You are able to prioritize your work based on importance and urgency.
• Collaboration: You have a strong ability to collaborate and share responsibilities with peers.
• Effective Communicator: You can articulate thoughts and express ideas effectively using oral, written, visual, and non-verbal communication skills, as well as listening skills to gain understanding.  
• Adaptability: Ability to both function independently and collaborate well with others; Ability to assess and react to changing priorities and adjust workflow accordingly. You are motivated through change and by new opportunities.
• Ambitious: They continuously learn and develop skills to broaden organizational impact and are actively interested in individual and organizational success.
• Community Engagement: They can coordinate and lead public engagement initiatives to transform communities; you have an interest in working with volunteers and partner organizations.
• You have a knowledge of and willingness to adhere to safety procedures
• Multilingual skills in English and another language is preferred.
• Strong cultural competency and commitment to equity, dignity, and justice.

Required Qualifications: 

• High school diploma or equivalent education.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift up to 50-pounds with or without accommodation; work properly and safely with conventional power tools and equipment

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What does a typical workday look like?

Condition & Location: 

• Our land management staff spend at least 90% of their time outdoors, the work environment will be dependent on weather conditions.

Schedule: 

• Standard business hours with occasional evening and weekend events.

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The Urban Ecology Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to make all personnel decisions without discriminating on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, physical disability, mental disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, national or ethnic origin, and any other protected status.