California State Coastal Conservancy

Coastal Steward Internship

Host:  California State Coastal Conservancy - North Coast Workgroup

The State Coastal Conservancy (SCC) is a state agency, established in 1976, to protect and improve natural lands and waterways, to help people get to and enjoy the outdoors, and to sustain local economies along California’s coast. SCC is a non-regulatory agency that supports projects to protect coastal resources and increase opportunities for the public to enjoy the coast and implements statewide resource plans through its projects, including the SCC Strategic Plan, and many others. SCC works along the entire length of California’s coast and within the watersheds of rivers and streams that extend inland from the coast. SCC also works throughout the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area and the entire Santa Ana River watershed. 

Location: ​Oakland, CA (map)

Format: ​Hybrid​

Internship Dates: June 2 - August 15, 2025​

Stipend: $8,000

Time Commitment: The internship is a full-time (40hr/week), 11-week commitment. Over the 11 weeks, the intern may take up to five days off for personal reasons, vacation, or illness. If participation is less than 100 percent, the stipend will be prorated.

Position Description and Responsibilities: SCC is looking to fill one (1) internship position. The student intern will work with SCC staff and partners on the development and analysis of a current policy question relevant to Coastal Zone Management including projects and practices of the SCC. The student intern will receive an overview of the State’s Coastal Zone Management agencies, and a detailed description of the State Coastal Conservancy. Following the introduction, the student intern will be responsible for choosing and advancing the policy question and analysis under the direction of Conservancy staff. 

Duties will include, but not be limited to: 

• Research of the topic, including review of project databases and staff reports;
• Interviews of staff and project partners to discuss relevant experiences related to the research topic; 
• Written syntheses of research and interview results; 
• Analysis and summary of finding in both executive summary and final report format.

The student intern will be provided extensive latitude to select a topic of personal interest. Travel will be optional, but encouraged to observe project sites. Possible topics include, but are not limited to:

1. Environmental Restoration Project Cost Analysis

The student intern will review environmental restoration projects, interview restoration practitioners, and​ develop a meta analysis of statewide restoration projects to assess the trend of restoration project development in recent history. No knowledge of economic analysis techniques required.​

2. Low Coast Overnight Accommodation Analysis

Low Cost Overnight Accommodation (LCOA) is enshrined as a priority in the Coastal Act. The student intern will review trends in LCOA since passage of the Coastal Act, review current practices, evaluate the overall progress of achieving affordable coastal accommodation and possibly make recommendations for future actions or analyses.

3. Biological Response to Environmental Restoration Projects

The student intern will review goals and objectives of a suite of environmental restoration projects and interview project partners. The student intern will evaluate overall progress on achieving goals and objectives and possibly make recommendations for monitoring performance and improving results. Biological training or expertise is not necessary.

4. Sea Level Rise Adaptation: Readiness Analysis

The student intern will review funding available through the 2024 Climate Bond and evaluate readiness of coastal communities and industries to harness this funding.

Preferred Experience and Capabilities: The student intern should demonstrate a solid work ethic, an ability to think critically and an ability to communicate effectively with project partners. Good skills of inquiry, interview and solid writing capabilities are ideal. The student intern should possess a strong interest in public policy, natural resources, and public trust values afforded by California’s coast.​

Skills Gained: The student intern will gain substantial insight into the activities of a California state agency and its partners. The student intern should achieve a basic survey level understanding of the Coastal Act and other environmental laws, regulations and policies. The student intern will gain exposure to technical issues dependent on the research topic, and working knowledge of State legislative, budget and regulatory processes. Finally, the student can expect development of oral and written analysis and communication skills, introduction to policy-makers statewide, and significant working knowledge of coastal management issues facing California today.

Eligibility/Requirements: Applicants must be able to communicate effectively, work independently, and hold a professional demeanor for staff, partners, volunteers, and the public. Applicants are also subject to ​​general eligibility requirements​​.