Environmental Intern - Wildlife

Westwood Professional Services; Minnetonka (MN); On-site; USD 25,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Westwood Professional Services, Inc. seeks an Environmental Wildlife Intern to support pre- and post-construction wildlife studies for renewable energy projects. You will apply agency survey protocols and assist senior biologists with data collection and reporting.

The role involves fieldwork across remote sites, early mornings, evenings, and occasional overnight hours, with opportunities to gain hands-on experience in wildlife ecology and environmental permitting.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program in Wildlife Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, or a related field.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally with clients, agency representatives, and project team members.
• Willingness to learn in a flexible, cross-disciplinary work environment.
• Willingness to perform physically demanding fieldwork in varied outdoor conditions, including early morning, evening, and inclement weather surveys.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

• Conduct field wildlife surveys, including avian point counts, raptor nest surveys, and incidental wildlife observations.
• Assist with bat acoustic monitoring, including equipment deployment, maintenance, and data downloads.
• Record and organize field survey data using GPS units, mobile data collection applications, and standardized datasheets.
• Support the preparation of survey reports, habitat assessments, and biological opinions submitted to state and federal agencies.
• Help identify wildlife species, sign, and habitat features in the field under the guidance of Senior Biologists.
• Travel to project sites, often in remote locations and during early morning, evening, or overnight hours, to support field data collection.

Skills

Communication skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Microsoft Office

GPS/GIS tools

Kaleidoscope

SonoBat

ArcGIS Field Maps

Trimble

Education

Wildlife Biology / Ecology / Environmental Science degree (or enrolled in)

Tools

GPS/GIS field tools

ArcGIS Field Maps

Trimble

Kaleidoscope

SonoBat

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Environmental Intern

Westwood Professional Services, Inc.

The Environmental Wildlife Intern will join a team of biologists supporting pre-construction and post-construction wildlife studies for utility-scale wind, solar, and battery energy storage projects. Projects range from raptor nest and avian use surveys to bat acoustic monitoring and threatened and endangered species assessments for renewable energy developers, IPPs, and utility clients. This position offers a direct opportunity to apply wildlife biology and ecology coursework to real-world renewable energy development.

As an Environmental Wildlife Intern, the selected candidate will learn to apply agency-approved survey protocols, including USFWS eagle and raptor guidance and state wildlife agency methodologies, and will assist Senior Biologists in the collection, organization, and reporting of field data supporting environmental review and permitting.

Requirements

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct field wildlife surveys, including avian point counts, raptor nest surveys, and incidental wildlife observations.
• Assist with bat acoustic monitoring, including equipment deployment, maintenance, and data downloads.
• Record and organize field survey data using GPS units, mobile data collection applications, and standardized datasheets.
• Support the preparation of survey reports, habitat assessments, and biological opinions submitted to state and federal agencies.
• Help identify wildlife species, sign, and habitat features in the field under the guidance of Senior Biologists.
• Travel to project sites, often in remote locations and during early morning, evening, or overnight hours, to support field data collection.

Required Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program in Wildlife Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, or a related field.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally with clients, agency representatives, and project team members.
• Willingness to learn in a flexible, cross-disciplinary work environment.
• Willingness to perform physically demanding fieldwork in varied outdoor conditions, including early morning, evening, and inclement weather surveys.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Preferred Qualifications:

The following qualifications are preferred but not required for consideration:

• Relevant industry experience through coursework, field research, or prior internships in wildlife biology, ornithology, or ecological field surveys.
• Experience with GPS/GIS field tools (ArcGIS Field Maps, Trimble), wildlife acoustic monitoring software (Kaleidoscope, SonoBat), or species identification proficiency.

About Westwood Professional Services, Inc. (Westwood)

At Westwood, our purpose is to create a better world for people through our work. We transform the energy grid, design resilient infrastructure, and develop communities that will flourish today and for future generations. With over 50 years of experience and a legacy of innovation, we stand at the forefront of our industry, dedicated to understanding the unique needs of the markets we serve.

Our approach revolves around people. We are committed to building a culture that attracts, retains, and develops high performers. Our team values relationships, innovation, dedication, initiative, and growth. We believe fostering a collaborative "One Team" mentality yields superior outcomes in everything we do.

We customize our technical capabilities and geographic reach to meet our clients where they are and help them realize their vision.

We are partners in our clients' success, driving to provide solutions that make a lasting difference. Safety, sustainability, and operational excellence are not just facets of our work; they are intrinsic to our identity, guiding every decision we make.

We are deeply invested in the communities we serve. Through our projects and giving-back initiatives, we enrich the lives of those we serve, engage others within our industry, and create a lasting impact on communities around the world. To us, success transcends the completion of projects; it is reflected in the lives we have positively impacted by our work.

Join us in creating a better world.

In 2025, Westwood was recognized as #77 on the ENR Top 500 Design Firms. Additionally, Westwood was ranked #5 for ENR's Top Design Firm for Solar, #6 for Battery Storage, and #3 for Wind (2025). The firm consistently ranks on the industry's top 25 lists and receives recognition for its involvement in award-winning projects nationwide.

Westwood provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. We believe that diverse backgrounds strengthen our business. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Salary Description

$18-$23