Local recruitment: Coastal Adaptation Social Science Intern

The Nature Conservancy (TNC)

Bethesda, MD, USA 🇺🇸

Job ID: 56221

Location: Maryland

Full/Part Time: Full-Time

Regular/Temporary: Regular

OFFICE LOCATION

Bethesda, Maryland, USA

WHO WE ARE

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. We’re rooted in our Mission and guided by our Values, which includes a Commitment to Diversity and Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s lots of reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube on Glassdoor.  

Our goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging, and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. We’ll only achieve our Mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. In addition to the requirements in our postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of inclusion! Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote myriad TNC staff members, “you join for our mission, you stay for our people.”

WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE TOGETHER

The Maryland/DC Chapter’s coastal adaptation efforts on Maryland’s Lower eastern Shore seek to enhance the resilience of climate justice communities through more equitable nature-based solutions (NBS). Through collaborative science, community-based co-design and adaptation planning processes, and policy development and advocacy, we strive to improve how NBS are delivered across coastal Maryland to provide meaningful, impactful, and balanced resilience benefits to the people and environments most vulnerable to coastal climate impacts. 

The Coastal Adaptation Social Science Intern will integrate with a multi-disciplinary project team funded by the NOAA Effects of Sea Level Rise (ESLR) Program to help advance our strategies through applied anthropology research. The team is working with the flood-prone and socially vulnerable community of Pocomoke City, Maryland to deliver technical assistance that will better position City leaders to secure funding to implement NBS that improve their resilience to sea level rise. Underserved coastal communities like Pocomoke City, however, are burdened by complex socio-environmental factors that can impact the ability of projects to deliver technical assistance that effectively meets local adaptation needs. When these factos are not well understood, well-intentioned projects risk falling short and in turn perpetuating inequitable adaptation for those most in need. The Coastal Adaptation Social Science Intern will help us collect important insights to improve how we deliver NBS adaptation support more effectively to communities like Pocomoke City. Together, we will be able to improve how TNC enhances climate resilience for those on the frontlines.

WE’RE LOOKING FOR YOU

We are seeking an intern who is self-motivated, curious, and eager to help improve the praxis of equitable conservation through applied anthropology, Specifically, we are looking for a graduate student researcher who is enrolled in University of Maryland’s Mater’s of Applied Anthropology Program to help us advance equitable nature-based climate adaptation solutions for coastal Maryland. As part of the NOAA ESLR Project Team, this student will conduct a capacity evaluation to document the project’s successes and shortfalls, identify and describe the factors that affected the project’s ability to increase Pocomoke City’s capacity to implement NBS, and develop recommendations for improving the delivery of technical assistance to underserved communities.

The intern will draw upon their graduate training to: 1) develop a research proposal, 2) implement research strategies that utilize ethnographic methods and other relevant research approaches, 3) analyze and synthesize data, and 4) develop a report of findings and recommendations that can be shared with the NOAA ESLR Program and coastal adaptation practitioners at TNC and beyond. We are especially interested in recommendations to help improve our equity-focused policy work and on-the-ground engagements and collaborations with communities and local decision-makers.

As a TNC intern, the selected candidate will also have the opportunity to participate in the Maryland/DC Summer Internship Program, where they will learn about what it is like to work for The Nature Conservancy and access professional development opportunities through trainings, professional networks, and mentorship.

This internship will require travel to/from Pocomoke City for fieldwork and participating in occasional in-person meetings at the MDDC Chapter’s Bethesda Office.  Travel expenses to/from Pocomoke City for fieldwork activities will be paid for.

We especially encourage students currently enrolled in the University of Maryland’s Masters of Applied Anthropology Program (MAA) to apply. The intern will be paid a $7,500 stipend for the summer. TNC’s financial commitment is intended to cover research activities during summer 2025, with the goal of the broader research project and deliverables being supported through the MAA year 2 course study.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

Candidates for the Coastal Adaptation Social Science Intern will have the following qualifications:

  • Experience, coursework, or other training in ethnographic research approaches, including qualitative and quantitative methodologies and relevant analytical software
  • Written and oral communication skills
  • Ability to independently travel to Pocomoke City, Maryland for fieldwork

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS 

  • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail 
  • Ability to work independently on assigned tasks
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Excellent writing skills
  • Interest in building expertise in coastal climate adaptation, adaptive capacity, equity, climate justice, rural coastal communities, nature-based solutions, and/or conservation
  • Commitment from faculty advisor(s) to support the student’s development of a quality research proposal and deliverables

WHAT WE BRING

Since 1951, The Nature Conservancy has been doing work you can believe in protecting the lands and waters that all life depends on. Through grassroots action, TNC has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and dedicated efforts of our diverse staff, we impact conservation throughtout the world!

The Nature Conservancy offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan to include employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work well-being benefits. Learn more about our benefits in the Culture Tab on nature.org/careers.

We’re proud to offer a work environment that is supportive of the health, well-being, and flexibility needs of the people we employ!

AUTO SAFETY POLICY

This position requires a valid driver’s license and compliance with TNC’s Auto Safety Program. Employees may not drive Conservancy-owned/leased vehicles, rental cars, or personal vehicles on behalf of the Conservancy if considered “high risk drivers.” To learn more about the Auto Safety Program, visit https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/careers/recruitment/ under the FAQ section.

Employment in this position will be contingent upon completion of a Vehicle Use Agreement, which may include a review of the prospective employee’s motor vehicle record.

SALARY INFORMATION

The intern will be paid a $7,500 stipend for the summer. TNC’s financial commitment is intended to cover research activities during summer 2025, with the goal of the broader research project and deliverables being supported through the MAA year 2 course study.

APPLY NOW

To apply for job ID 56221, submit your materials online by using the Apply Now button at https://careers.nature.org/. Need help applying? Visit our recruitment page or contact applyhelp@tnc.org

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

Do you have military experience? Visit our U.S. Military Skills Translator to match your military experience with our current job openings!

TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to applyhelp@tnc.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.


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