SWCA is seeking an Environmental Planning Intern for Summer 2025 to support environmental planning projects for the Las Vegas or Reno, Nevada offices. SWCA’s environmental planning internship position will provide the opportunity to develop a better understanding of environmental consulting and the environmental planning profession by assisting with diverse projects.

You will receive a preview of different aspects of environmental consulting such as client relationships, proposal development, analysis, GIS, report writing, and compliance with federal (e.g., NEPA), state, and local requirements.

This Environmental Planning Intern position requires a demonstrated interest in environmental planning, a good attitude, willingness to learn, flexibility, and good communication skills.  This position provides a great opportunity for an Environmental Planning Intern to enter and launch a career in environmental sciences, supported by leadership focused on the professional development of team members.

This internship will occur during the summer of 2025 (June 3rd – August 15th). Candidates who can start earlier than June 2025 will be considered and those who can remain past August are strongly encouraged to apply. In addition to project work, the internship program includes regularly scheduled presentations and developmental programming by SWCA leaders as part of the larger internship cohort.

This is a full-time internship paying $18.00/hr.  The position is open to remote candidates (e.g., distributed employee) though someone based in the Nevada area is highly preferred. 

Established in 1981, SWCA has a long-standing presence in the United States, and is known for sound science and creative solutions. Our company's purpose is to preserve natural and cultural resources for tomorrow while enabling projects that benefit people today. You are invited to be a part of our success story

What you will accomplish

• Assist in the preparation of environmental documents for a variety of state and federal agencies.
• Provide assistance on diverse types of environmental planning projects, especially related to NEPA, including renewable energy, transmission, land-use planning, and mining-related projects.
• Learn to help write various sections of environmental documents.  
• Review and discuss other sections prepared by technical specialists.
• Assist in the preparation of public meeting materials, public comment review, and maintenance of administrative records
• Gain experience working with a diverse team of planning and natural resource professionals.

Experience and qualifications for success

Required qualifications:

• Currently enrolled in a college or university, pursuing a bachelor's degree in an environmental-related field with coursework in environmental policy or science, ecology, urban planning, sustainability, geography, or a similar course of study such as political science. Recent graduates who completed their degree program no earlier than May 2024 will also be eligible.
• Applicants who are pursuing a Master's degree will also be considered. Ph.D. candidates are not eligible through this program.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite software.
• Must have good communication, interpersonal skills, and attention to detail.
• Must have the ability and willingness to learn technical writing skills.

Preferred qualifications:

• Technical writing experience.
• Experience with natural resources field or professional work (e.g., environmental, natural, water, biological, planning, etc.) through classwork, honors thesis or Capstone projects, professional/intern experience, or volunteer work.
• Work location in the Nevada Time Zone highly preferred 

Why Work at SWCA:

SWCA Environmental Consultants is a growing employee-owned firm, providing a full-spectrum of environmental services.  Our Vision (the North Star) is to make SWCA the best workplace and industry leader in sustainability, bringing sound science and creative solutions to global environmental challenges while maintaining a dedication to employee-ownership. We live our core values: we collaborate as #OneSWCA; we are #AlwaysLearning, we #NeverSettle, and we #GiveBack.

We are 100% employee-owned, and we build our success together. With offices across the United States, SWCA is one of the largest environmental compliance firms and ranks among Engineering News-Record’s Top 200 Environmental Firms. We offer a supportive, team-oriented work environment and competitive wages and benefits, including an 100% employee stock ownership plan (retirement).

At SWCA, we support our team members in developing their careers to make them leaders in their industry. Our Career Landscape initiative is a process and guide designed to help develop chart rewarding career paths for employees at SWCA. We encourage professional conference attendance, internal and external professional development and training programs, education reimbursement, a Science and Leadership Program, and bonuses for publications meeting certain criteria. All regular status employees are eligible to participate in SWCA medical, dental, vision, employee assistance, wellness, life and disability plans, and are eligible to participate in the SWCA 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust.