Stephen F. Austin State University

Travis County is seeking an intern to guide the development of a natural resource monitoring program for the Travis County School Lands in Throckmorton County. Travis County’s vision is for our school lands to become a field lab where the public can learn about sustainable land management including regenerative agriculture, wildlife ecology, environmental remediation, and renewable energy. This is the first internship of its kind. The primary goal is to help develop basic structures and systems for collecting, storing and reporting data. This will include completing a baseline annual report, as well as additional field work that may reflect a research need and/or the intern’s area of research interest. Data collected will help land managers identify trends in vegetation communities over time and will be used to guide land management treatments including grazing, herbicide, and prescribed burning.

Anticipated term: May 1, 2025 – September 1, 2025

On-site housing and utilities are provided.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This class is distinguished from non-intern positions based on performance of professional level duties that are guided by industry methods and techniques to be used with options that are well defined, including clear, detailed, specific instructions given by the assigned supervisor. Requires consultation with supervisor on matters not specifically covered in the guidelines.

Duties and Responsibilities

The primary objective for the 2025 intern is to define the protocol and procedures for completing the Annual Monitoring Report; and to complete a draft of the Annual Monitoring Report for 2025. Additional needs and opportunities include:

• Review existing vegetation monitoring records. Define the protocols for vegetation monitoring and reporting. Develop a standard operating procedure and file structure for future interns to record, update and report on vegetation conditions.
• Hands-on regenerative agriculture studies. Work with ranch managers to study the strategies and tools that are utilized to implement a regenerative agriculture system.
• Research historic land management practices; this may include indigenous practices as well as practices that have been applied since Travis County assumed ownership in 1856.
• Define the protocols for inspecting oil and gas infrastructure. Develop a standard operating procedure for inspection, documentation and reporting on oil and gas infrastructure.
• Review existing wildlife monitoring practices and protocols. Identify gaps and provide recommendations to achieve a comprehensive wildlife monitoring program.
• Review existing soil monitoring regimes. Develop a standard operating procedure to track soil health and stored carbon over time.
• Develop a plan to propagate threatened endemic species including big bluestem.
• Trains in the theoretical and technical aspects of the assigned professional field and learns and applies work procedures related to the assignment.
• Trains in and assists in the performance of duty assignments within clearly defined parameters, restricted in complexity, scope and level, and under close supervision.
• Communicates with employees at all levels and the public to receive and relay factual information and to facilitate public relations.
• Trains in and prepares various reports and other documents in accordance with specified requirements, guidelines and supervisory instructions.
• Under close supervision, applies work procedures and theoretical and technical aspects relevant to the professional field to the completion of assigned portions of a project.
• Attends meetings, conferences, or other educational classes and participates in training offered by the County and applies information to work assignment.
• Trains in and performs research, data verification, interpretation and analysis, formulates preliminary recommendations, and develops reports related to departmental or professional field assignment. Work may involve statistical analysis.
• Trains in and assists with interviews, investigations and other field work to collect and/or verify information and documents findings related to departmental or professional field assignment.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements Education and Experience:

Completion of an undergraduate Degree in Natural Resource Management, Range Management, Agronomy, Forestry or a related field and current enrollment in a college program leading to an Advanced Degree in a professional field specific to the departmental and/or work assignment.

Enrollment must be in an accredited learning institute. Continued enrollment in a college program is a condition of employment as a County intern.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:

Valid Texas Driver's License.

Preferred Qualification & Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to develop SOP’s and report writing.
• Bachelor’s Degree in natural resource related field.
• Working toward an Advanced Degree in a natural resource related field .
• ARC View Geographic Information Systems (GIS) certifications and/or experience .
• Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) qualification and/or experience .
• UTV/ATV certification or safety training.
• Ability to operate four-wheel drive ATV/UTV vehicles in a remote, back-country environment.
• Transportation to and from the ranch must be provided by the intern or school.

Knowledge of:

• Federal, State, Local and County applicable laws, rules, regulations and guidelines relating to assigned function.
• Planning and research methodology relating to assigned function.
• Standard theory, principles, practices and techniques relating to assigned function.
• Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases and a variety of software packages.
• Business letter writing, grammar and punctuation, and report preparation.

Skill in:

• Statistical and research methods relating to assigned function.
• Explaining complicated technical problems in simple non-technical language.
• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Verbal and written communication.

Ability to:

• Manage time well, perform and prioritize multiple tasks, organize diverse activities, develop and implement research and projects related to assigned function.
• Meet deadlines and produce projects in a timely manner while working on several projects at once.
• Work as a team member within a diverse organization.
• Research, compile, analyze, interpret and prepare a variety of memorandums or reports.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with County employees and officials, representatives of outside agencies, and the general public.
• Work Environment & Other Information
• Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 20-50 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to driving all-terrain vehicle, standing, walking/hiking (some rough terrain), carrying, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, client/customer contact, squatting to perform the essential functions. May work in extreme temperature/weather change/conditions, in isolated conditions, and smoke. May be subject to contact with dangerous machinery, fumes, communicable/infectious disease, and hazardous chemicals.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

Work Hours: Monday - Friday 8 am - 5 pm.

Works some nights, Works some weekends.

Department: Transportation and Natural Resources

Location: Throckmorton County

Criminal, Driving, and Education Background Checks Required.

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.