Habitat Restoration Internship - Crew Chief at National Audubon Society – Chicago, Illinois

Location: Chicago, IL
Full time
Requisition ID: JR1099

About Audubon:

The National Audubon Society is a leading nonprofit conservation organization with 120 years of science-based, community-driven impact, dedicated to protecting birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Birds are powerful indicators of our planet’s health, acting as sentinels that warn us of environmental change and inspire action. Audubon works across the Western Hemisphere, driven by the understanding that what is good for birds is good for the planet. Through a collaborative, bipartisan approach across habitats, borders, and the political spectrum, Audubon drives meaningful and lasting conservation outcomes. With 800 staff and over 1.9 million supporters, Audubon is a dynamic and ever-growing force committed to ensuring a better planet for both birds and people for generations to come. Learn more at www.audubon.org and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @audubonsociety.

Position Summary:

The Restoration Intern - Crew Chief will play a critical role in the management and restoration of Forest Preserves of Cook County (FPCC) and Chicago Park District (CPD) Natural Areas. Under the direction of Audubon's Stewardship Program Associate, the Restoration Intern - Crew Chief will lead Restoration Interns in restoring ecological health and integrity of prairie, savanna, woodland, wetland and hemimarsh habitats by removing invasive species at various preserves and natural areas in Cook County. This is an excellent opportunity to gain experience in crew management and land stewardship responsibilities, as well as develop leadership and organizational skills. The Restoration Intern - Crew Chief will be expected to work effectively with the Restoration Intern - Assistant Crew Chief to balance crew management in the field and administrative duties.

The commitment is a full-time, 40-hours per week, Monday – Friday 6:30am-3:00pm, seasonal paid position that runs from June through December. The Restoration Intern - Crew Chief must also be extremely flexible with scheduling as field work is subject to change daily to hourly due to weather, work adjustments and crew needs. It is required that the Restoration Intern - Crew Chief has reliable transportation to and from work sites.

The Restoration Intern - Crew Chief will report to the Stewardship Program Associate and should commit to the full length of the program. The program is physically rigorous and challenging but offers an interesting and educational experiences to an energetic and motivated individual. The intern position is offered by under Audubon’s Wings Internship program in partnership with the FPCC and CPD.

This program offers:

Paid position with competitive compensation.

Reimbursement of mileage to and from work sites when driving a personal vehicle.

Uniforms, work vests and personal protective equipment (PPE) provided by Audubon.

Certifications, licenses, conference, and field seminar experience.

Length of Internship: 6 months
Location: This role is on-site and based out of Audubon Great Lakes (200 W Madison St. Suite 300 Chicago, IL 60606 c/o Impact House) but located at Big Marsh Park (11559 S Stony Island Ave, Chicago, IL 60617). Sites traveled to include the Forest Preserves District of Cook County (Powderhorn Nature Preserve, Orland Grassland, Michigan City Road Savanna, + multiple other properties) and Chicago Park District (Big Marsh Park, Indian Ridge Marsh Park, Hegewisch Marsh Park, Deadstick Pond, and Marian Byrnes).
Hours: 40 hours per week

Compensation:

$22.00 / hour

Essential Functions

The Restoration Intern - Crew Chief will receive on-the-job training and develop skills in a variety of practices related to the management of natural habitats.

Intern Responsibilities and Learning Objectives:

During the internship, you will work with the Audubon Great Lakes Engagement Team staff. The Restoration Intern – Crew Chief will receive on-the-job training and develop skills in a variety of practices related to the management of natural habitats, including:

Communicating regularly with Audubon, Forest Preserves, Chicago Parks District and other partner staff and crews regarding weekly scheduling, workdays, mapping of projects, requests for assistance or tools on site and any other necessary updates by phone and email.

Work collaboratively with Restoration Intern – Assistant Crew Chief to lead Restoration Interns in the implementation of ecological management and restoration of preserves and natural areas, while working with crews as a teammate.

Stewardship and land management responsibilities in ecological restoration.

Brush and weed management by using a wide variety of tools, including: backpack herbicide sprayers, brushcutters, chainsaws, and hand tools.

Restoration techniques, including plant identification, planting native plugs, seed collection, processing and dispersal, and when applicable, controlled brushpile burns.

Ability to test for and obtain IL Herbicide Applicator License within the first two weeks of hire, and obtain certifications in Chainsaw, Brushcutter, Group Leadership, Managing Invasives, and other ecology-related field courses during the internship.

Professional and appropriate interaction with members of the public and volunteers carrying out work and visiting the preserves and natural areas.

Driving a rental vehicle to and from work sites.

Other job-related duties as assigned.

Internship Benefits:

Interns will gain experience and knowledge in the following:

Develop leadership and team-building skills while receiving professional job-skill training.

Learn effective collaboration by leading and working alongside Audubon crews and staff, partner restoration staff, volunteers and other conservation partners in the region.

Attend educational trainings and events to gain exposure to other conservation organizations and professionals for the purpose of future job placement.

Intern Schedule:

The commitment is a full-time, 40-hours per week, Monday – Friday, with most workdays scheduled 6:30am-3:00pm. The seasonal paid position runs from June through December. Interns must also be extremely flexible with scheduling as field work is subject to change daily to hourly due to weather, work adjustments and crew needs.

Projected Start Date:
June 1st, 2026, and projected end date is December 18th, 2026.
Qualifications and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, natural resources management, or related field preferred but not required. 1-2 years of experience in habitat restoration or leading a team. An equivalent combination of education and experience will also be considered.

Must be 18 years or older.

Must have a valid Driver’s License with clear driving record.

Strong interest in conservation and/or working outdoors.

Experience leading/co-leading a group or individuals in a collaborative setting.

Willingness to work an extremely flexible schedule that can change daily to hourly, as applicable.

Access to a car or other means of transportation to get to and from meet sites, designated work sites and training locations.

Ability to work in inclement weather conditions, withstanding extreme temperatures, heavy mosquito presence and difficult terrain.

Ability to motivate and lead a small team to maintain high level of work and complete assigned work orders, as well as work collaboratively with Restoration Intern - Assistant Crew Chief and teammates.

Previous professional experience in ecological restoration, land management and/or stewardship preferred.

Previous leadership experience or experience leading and managing crews preferred.

Previous experience performing administrative tasks, including phone and email correspondence, data entry, record keeping, and public speaking preferred.

Ability to perform repetitive tasks with attention to detail.

Ability to quickly study for and pass the Illinois Herbicide Applicator Exams within the first two weeks of hire.

Experience with, or ability to quickly learn, safe usage of basic maintenance tools including: hand tools, brushcutters and chainsaws.

Ability to maneuver heavy objects up to 50-75 lbs. for extended periods of time.

Ability to follow instructions and use independent judgment in decisions, as needed.

Commitment to Audubon’s organizational values of care, collaboration, change, integrity, impact, and innovation.

Experience fostering inclusive and collaborative work environments is valued.

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic outlined by federal, state, or local laws. We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible hiring process for all candidates.

Accessibility Statement

The National Audubon Society endeavors to keep our careers site accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Accommodations@audubon.org. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

The National Audubon Society is a leading nonprofit conservation organization with 120 years of science-based, community-driven impact, dedicated to protecting birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Birds are powerful indicators of our planet’s health, acting as sentinels that warn us of environmental change and inspire action. Audubon works across the Western Hemisphere, driven by the understanding that what is good for birds is good for the planet. Through a collaborative, bipartisan approach across habitats, borders, and the political spectrum, Audubon drives meaningful and lasting conservation outcomes. With 800 staff and over 1.9 million supporters, Audubon is a dynamic and ever-growing force committed to ensuring a better planet for both birds and people for generations to come. Learn more at