Habitat Restoration Support for the USFWS Coastal Program

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service • Carlsbad, CA

11d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Semester of Service Program offers students an unpaid, project-based volunteer opportunity to support federal missions and gain hands-on experience and career-ready skills. The student will assist the Southern California Coastal Program with implementing Coastal Program projects. They will initially shadow and receive training from a supervisor on entry-level tasks, with the goal of eventually conducting those tasks relatively independently. Much of the work involves fieldwork, and the student must be available to work in person at project sites for at least several hours a day during normal workdays. Deliverables include fieldwork contributing to restored and maintained coastal habitat acres, as well as data and reports associated with habitat restoration projects.

The position is based at the Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office in Carlsbad, California, with a hybrid schedule (in-office and telework eligible). One position is available for a 90-day Spring 2027 term, between mid-January and mid-June. Volunteers must commit to 8–20 hours per week for at least 90 days. This is an unpaid volunteer experience; no compensation, stipend, or hiring preference is provided. Volunteers are not federal employees. The experience includes meaningful project work, regular supervision and federal mentorship, skill development, career exploration, and federal tort claims and workers’ compensation coverage for service-related injuries.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national, studying in the United States or abroad.
• Must be enrolled at least half-time in an accredited college, university, or other accredited educational institution throughout the 90-day opportunity; qualifying institutions must be located in the United States.
• Must be an upperclassman (junior or beyond) and have completed at least two years of full-time undergraduate coursework, as determined by the institution.
• Must be in good academic standing as defined by the educational institution.
• Students graduating before May 1, 2027, are not eligible.
• Must commit to volunteering 8–20 hours per week for a minimum of 90 days.
• Must complete required onboarding documentation for the Department of the Interior and the academic institution.
• Must agree to volunteer without compensation, stipends, or hiring preference and acknowledge that volunteers are not federal employees.
• Must not be a current federal employee.
• Must provide a transcript with the application package for enrollment verification.
• Must be available to work in person at project sites for at least several hours a day during normal workdays.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Southern California Coastal Program with implementing Coastal Program projects.
• Shadow and receive training from the supervisor on entry-level tasks, with the aim of eventually performing them relatively independently.
• Conduct fieldwork at project sites during normal workdays, contributing to coastal habitat restoration and maintenance.
• Produce data and reports associated with habitat restoration projects.

Benefits

• Hands-on experience and career-ready skills through meaningful project work with clear deliverables.
• Regular supervision and federal mentorship.
• Hands-on application of academic knowledge in real-world federal operations.
• Exposure to federal missions, workplace culture, and potential career pathways.
• Coverage under the Federal Tort Claims Act and workers’ compensation for service-related injuries.
• Structured onboarding and ongoing supervision.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level