APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

• CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.

JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

The Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training (CACAT) at Penn State Extension is in need of part-time summer interns based out of Centre County to assist CACAT staff and local partners in the delivery of its projects and programs in the Central region. Summer interns will temporarily work 40 hours/week over the summer. The mission of the Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training is to help farmers, ag landowners, and conservation professionals implement best practices, ensure the health of land and water in our communities, and leverage funding and partnerships. 

The Center was formed in 2023 along with partners at the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission (SCC) and the Pennsylvania State Office of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Funding for the Center is provided through the state Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP). The Center will collaborate with university partners at the Penn State Agriculture and Environment Center (AEC) through the Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Science (SAFES) for tasks related to this this internship opportunity. The interns will work on projects and programs related to the implementation of agricultural best management practices (BMPs) and development of resources for agricultural conservation assistance training.   

Primary duties include both field-based and desk-based work. Duties may include developing informational and outreach materials, including BMP Fact Sheets and articles for our newsletter Ag Conservation Currents; using GIS tools to perform aerial imagery surveys; participating in watershed planning and water quality monitoring; assisting Penn State Extension and other technical partners to help deliver agricultural conservation trainings; visiting farmers, landowners, and municipalities to discuss opportunities for implementing conservation practices; conducting field work on restoration and BMP implementation,