Coastal Drone Intern

Job Description

Description

What We Can Achieve Together: 

Join TNC Virginia as a STEP Coastal Drone Intern!

The goal of STEP is to create pathways for people seeking to gain experience with a conservation focused organization. We currently offer paid internships in a range of disciplines across our Virginia Teams. With a focus on recruiting and developing a diverse staff, we strive to create an environment where people of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities feel welcomed to participate in conservation. Wherever you are in your educational journey; community college, technical school, four-year program, or graduate school, STEP may have an opportunity for you to consider!

All STEP interns will participate in an orientation, professional development webinars, and a group field trip. Along the way, interns will have the opportunity to broaden their experiences through interactions with Nature Conservancy staff and partners. At the end of their internship, STEP interns will give a short presentation about their time at TNC to the Virginia staff. This position will close on February 15, 2026 at midnight. Zoom interviews will occur in early March with final hiring decisions made by March 31.

Schedule: 35 hours/week for 10 weeks from May 30 – August 9, 2024

Orientation: All interns are required to attend a two-day orientation in Charlottesville on May 28-29, 2025

Pay: $18.25/hour

Location: Nassawadox, VA

Housing: Shared housing is available at this location with the rental value included as non-cash taxable income

The Position: 

The Volgenau Virginia Coast Reserve (VVCR) Team is looking for an Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) and Remote Sensing Intern to assist with collecting, processing, and analyzing aerial imagery to support conservation, research, and land stewardship on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

Working as part of the VVCR science team, this intern will support UAS-based monitoring of habitat change, shoreline dynamics, vegetation health, wildlife, and restoration outcomes. The intern will assist in developing standardized drone flight plans and workflows for data collection across multiple sites. This position will also support image processing, mapping, and data management for long-term monitoring projects.

The work will be a mix of field-based UAS operations and office-based GIS/data processing, and will provide hands-on experience with UAS operations, spatial analysis, and coastal conservation applications. The intern will also have opportunities to work with other VVCR conservation staff that are focused on land protection and marine restoration, migratory birds, and community engagement, as well as other seasonal staff and interns. All interns will dedicate 5% of their time to professional development activities through STEP.

Main responsibilities include:

• Develop and refine standardized UAS flight methodologies for monitoring restoration sites, marshes, shoreline, and island habitats.
• Pilot UAS flights to collect high-resolution imagery for mapping and change detection.
• Process and analyze UAS imagery using GIS and photogrammetry software.
• Integrate UAS data with existing spatial datasets to support conservation planning and reporting.
• Assist with field validation and ground-truthing of aerial data.
• Support public engagement and outreach through UAS-based storytelling, maps, and visual products.
• Maintain UAS equipment, batteries, and flight logs in accordance with FAA and TNC policies.
• Work requires being outdoors. You may work in various weather conditions and under physically demanding circumstances.
• This position requires some travel and working from small boats.

What You’ll Bring: 

Required Qualifications

• Current college student or recent graduate (within one year)
• Majoring in Geography, GIS, Environmental Science, Engineering, Natural Resources, Remote Sensing, or a related field.
• Demonstrated interest in UAS operations, aerial imagery, or geospatial technology.
• Basic experience with GIS software (ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, QGIS, or similar).
• Experience in collecting, managing, and organizing spatial and image-based data.
• Comfortable working outdoors in remote coastal environments, including heat, wind, insects, and physically demanding conditions.
• Must have a valid driver’s license, safe driving record, and ability to provide personal transportation.
• Ability to meet all Conservation Youth Qualifications requirements and background checks.
• Willingness to travel by vehicle and boat to field sites.

Desired Qualifications

• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification (or willingness to obtain prior to start date).
• Experience flying UAS platforms.
• Familiarity with photogrammetry software.
• Knowledge of the Eastern Shore of Virginia and coastal environments.
• Experience with field data collection, GPS, or environmental monitoring.
• Strong organizational documentation and communication skills.
• Comfortable working on the water, including boats and shallow marsh environments.

STEP is designed for people early in their careers or with limited prior professional experience.

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 the Auto Safety information page 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.

The pay for a candidate selected for this position is $18.25/hour. This only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. Where a successful candidate’s actual pay will fall will be based on a variety of factors, including, for example, the candidate’s location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. Please note countries outside the USA would have a different pay range in the local currency based on the local labor market, and not tied to USA pay or ranges. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment.

Applications will be received until this position is filled.