Duties Description Duration: May – September (Summer 2026)
Location: Jones Beach State Park (Nassau County)
Hours: 8am-4pm (flexible hours and days)
Undergraduate pay rate: $19.04/hour
Graduate pay rate: $21.57/hour
This internship is open to currently enrolled SUNY students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in environmental policy, conservation, engineering, sustainability or similar discipline.
Sustainability Stewards will support efforts to minimize the amount of waste that parks send to the landfill by encouraging recycling, composting, reduction, and re-use.
Job duties:
• Conduct & train staff on waste audits, carry out waste infrastructure surveying, conduct staff and visitor education, and assist with other sustainability programs.
• Report to a regional supervisor for field work and receive guidance from the OPRHP Sustainable Operations team based in Albany, work closely with State Parks in the region, and engage with external partners.
•Coordinate and lead waste audits across the region with facility staff and volunteers.
• Conduct waste infrastructure surveying in the field.
• Travel as needed, primarily within the region, to carry out sustainability projects.
• Provide training to park staff and vendors on recycling and composting best practices and other waste diversion topics.
• Work with environmental educators to educate park visitors about recycling and composting by conducting visitor surveys, leading programs, staffing event tables, etc.
• Assist with other sustainability initiatives in the park or region as needed.
• Write a final report with a summary of the pilot, lessons learned, and recommendations for adopting strategies at facilities.
Minimum Qualifications Qualifications
There are no minimum qualifications for this title per Civil Service.
See additional comments for operational needs.