Careers

Sutro Stewards

Mount Sutro is one of San Francisco's wildest and most beautiful green spaces. The Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve, owned by UCSF, is a remarkable refuge in the heart of San Francisco, with over four miles of trails for hiking, biking, and enjoying this extraordinary place. Since 2006, Sutro Stewards has worked with thousands of volunteers to develop and maintain the multi-use trails while conserving habitat for locally native plants and wildlife and expanding access to this hidden gem. Sutro Stewards’ mission is to build community, connect people with nature, and protect and enhance the natural habitat of the mountain. Sutro Stewards is a fiscally sponsored project of the San Francisco Parks Alliance, a 501(c)3 California nonprofit public benefit corporation. Please check out our current openings below!

Internships

Urban Ecology Internship

INTERNSHIP

Sutro Stewards Urban Ecology Internship Program instills an urban ecological ethic in participants, through hands-on education towards the fulfillment of Sutro Stewards mission. Intern positions have their own programmatic focus which can include native plant propagation and nursery maintenance; conservation, habitat restoration and monitoring; as well as support for our Health in Nature Program. As a volunteer focused, community building organization, Interns perform in-person and social media outreach, lead volunteers, support the execution of environmental education and nature immersion experiences, and work with people from diverse backgrounds and from children to elders. Internships are temporary and timeframes vary depending on the program they are supporting.

Sutro Stewards Urban Ecology Internship seeks to fill two positions for a 9 month internship. The Conservation Intern will assist in our monitoring of rare plants and survivorship on Mount Sutro. The Nursery Intern will assist in the propagation and seed collection of native plants as well as nursery facilities maintenance. This is an unpaid internship with $1600 monthly stipends provided to cover living expenses.

Internships

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Habitat Conservation Intern

Assist in conservation through hands on urban restoration
Assist in biannual and weekly vegetation monitoring projects
Assist in leading nursery and habitat restoration volunteer activities every Wednesday and Thursday mornings
Keep detailed records of plant monitoring and data entry into online databases

Nursery Intern

Assist in the propagation and care of healthy nursery plants (e.g. seed sowing, transplanting, watering, pruning, etc.)
Perform facilities maintenance duties of the nursery (e.g. cleaning, weeding, sanitizing, etc.)
Assist in leading nursery and habitat restoration volunteer activities every Wednesday and Thursday mornings
Keep detailed records of nursery activities and plant inventory, data entry into online databases

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES

No previous experience in land conservation or nursery work is needed!

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

This position is performed primarily outdoors and involves regular rigorous physical activity, including, digging, lifting up to 50 lbs, hiking up steep terrain, bending, squatting for long periods of time and carrying tools and equipment to restoration sites. Exposure to poison oak, weather extremes, and other conditions can be expected.

Primary work location is the Sutro Native Plant Nursery, 476 Johnstone Dr. San Francisco, CA 94131.

COMPENSATION AND TERMS

20 hours per week, temporary position for approximately 10 months, September 2023 to June 30, 2024.
Work schedule is Tuesday through Saturday. Wednesday and Thursday morning availability required.
This is an unpaid internship with a $1600 monthly stipend provided to cover living expenses.

APPLY

Application for 2023 are now closed. Thank you for your interest!

Full Job Description

Nursery & Conservation Internships for College Students

NURSERY INTERNSHIP

The Nursery Intern will work with Sutro Stewards staff assisting with Native Plant Nursery operations. The intern will participate in plant propagation, seed collection, seed processing, pre-germination treatments, transplanting, as well as general maintenance. The intern will also assist with leading volunteer activities, inventory, and record keeping. This is a great opportunity to learn about local plant species as well as gain experience working in a nursery. Wednesday and/or Thursday morning availability is required.

CONSERVATION & HABITAT RESTORATION INTERNSHIP

The Conservation & Habitat Restoration Intern will work on conservation and habitat restoration projects including weeding and planting, seasonal planning, and site monitoring projects throughout Mount Sutro, with guidance from the Conservation Program Manager. The Conservation & Habitat Restoration Intern will also provide leadership to volunteers carrying out stewardship projects on event days. The ideal candidate will have an interest in local conservation and habitat restoration, and some experience with plant identification. Wednesday and/or Thursday morning is required.

COMPENSATION

This is an unpaid position. Interns gain hands-on knowledge and experience, receive training to support volunteer activities, and fulfills college internship requirements. Interns are assigned a capstone project that relates to their educational or personal goals.

APPLY

Please submit a resume and a brief letter of interest outlining your qualifications to info@sutrostewards.org with the internship title in the subject line. Internships are typically filled quarterly, but applications are accepted year-round, with a high demand in the Fall and Spring.