Intern - Native Prairie (Summer)

South Dakota State Government; Pierre (SD); On-site; USD 22,000 - 31,000; Part time

Job summary

South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks seeks a Native Prairie Intern for the summer session (May–August). The intern will support habitat staff in prairie management, seed collection, monitoring, and prescribed fire.

Training opportunities include S130/190, field days, and herbicide testing; wildlife surveys may occur. Applicants must be enrolled as a part-time or full-time student and have completed at least one year of study.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of plant identification is preferred.
• Experience driving trucks and off-road vehicles is preferred.
• Must be a current part-time or full-time student for upcoming or preceding semester.

Responsibilities

• Assist habitat staff with native prairie management tasks.
• Harvest native seeds and identify collection sites.
• Participate in photo monitoring, prescribed fire, invasive plant management, and grazing monitoring.
• Attend trainings and complete required certifications such as S130/190 and herbicide testing.
• Assist with wildlife surveys and bird banding if opportunities arise.

Skills

Plant identification

Truck driving

Off-road vehicle experience

Education

Enrolled as part-time or full-time student

Completed one year of program

Job description

Session: Summer (May - August)

Position Title: Native Prairie Intern

Hiring Manager: Owen McElroy

Agency: Department of Game, Fish and Parks

Location: Watertown, SD

Minimum Salary: $19.09/hr

*APPLICANT MUST BE A CURRENT PART-TIME OR FULL-TIME STUDENT (MINIMUM OF 6 CREDIT HOURS) IN UPCOMING SEMESTER OR IN THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING SEMESTER.

Position Description

Intern will assist habitat staff with the management of native prairie. This will include native seed harvesting, locating potential harvesting collection sites, photo point monitoring, prescribe fire, invasive plant management, grazing monitoring and other jobs assigned. Intern will have the opportunity to learn the basic principles of habitat management and attend some external and internal trainings. Intern will be required to take S130/190, prescribe fire field day, pack test, and complete the herbicide application testing. Intern may have the opportunity to assist with wildlife surveys and bird banding.

Qualifications

Applicants with knowledge on plant identification and experience driving trucks and off-road vehicles are preferred but not required.

Applicant must be enrolled as a part-time/full-time student at a college, university, or technical institute at the time they apply. By the start of the internship, the student should have completed one year (nine months) of their chosen program.

All students are encouraged to apply, but preference may be given to applicants with a standing of junior/senior, South Dakota residents, and students of South Dakota institutions.

*Positions can be filled prior to the closing date.*

South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources

Telephone: [phone]

'An Equal Opportunity Employer'