Job Description

Job Description and Duties

Student Assistant – California Ocean Protection Council / California Natural Resources Agency

The reporting location for this position is Sacramento, CA. This position will work under the close supervision of the OPC Deputy Director.

The California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) is hiring Student Assistants for its 2026 Summer Internship Program (Program). The purpose of the Program is to provide undergraduate college students with an opportunity to gain hands-on-experience with a small State agency focused on protecting and enhancing the state’s coastal and ocean ecosystems and ensuring easy, affordable access to and along the coast for all Californians.

OPC values diversity and equity at all levels of the agency and is committed to fostering an environment in which employees from all backgrounds, cultures, and personal experiences are welcome and can thrive. As such, OPC encourages applications from individuals from a broad range of identities and experiences. It includes those who have overcome personal hardship or other barriers that may complicate their continued progress in research careers, including financial, academic, and social barriers. 

The Program will provide students the experience to learn and build a foundational background and robust overview of California’s coastal and ocean science, policy, and management work. Interns will participate in projects that directly affect and shape California’s coast, coastal waters, and communities. They will be immersed in a wide variety of coastal and marine science and policy issues, including increasing community engagement and benefits from OPC-funded research and projects, and acquire knowledge from experienced staff and mentors. Additionally, interns will have opportunities to participate in multi-stakeholder events and public meetings. OPC staff and/or mentors may provide support and assistance for effective resume-writing and interviewing tips. All Interns will work on projects and efforts related to advancing OPC's 2026-2030 Strategic Plan: Safeguarding Our Coast and Ocean for all Californians.

The OPC Summer Internship is a 10-week, full-time paid internship that includes experiential learning, multidisciplinary collaboration, mentorship, professional development, and opportunities to work with multiple stakeholders. This internship experience will give students opportunities to be actively engaged in acquiring skills, increasing knowledge, and being exposed to what careers in ocean and coastal research and management can entail. Students may be eligible to receive credit toward college internship requirements based on their university's criteria.

Up to four interns will be hired for a 10-week internship to take place between May and September 2026, depending on their university's academic calendar. The internship can be fully remote, with opportunity to work from the Sacramento office at least once during the summer. The successful candidate(s) will be hired as a Student Assistant and salary will be consistent with the range defined in that classification and determined on academic and work experience by state human resources staff. This is a non-testing classification, therefore anyone meeting the minimum qualifications listed on the classification specification may apply for this position.

Interns are expected to work full time, 40 hours a week (maximum) for 10 weeks. Interns may work as little as 30 hours per week if they have demonstrated school or work conflicts. Flexibility for school and/or work commitments will be taken into consideration when determining a start date and work schedule.  

Please Note:  Due to postal service delays, electronic submission of application is recommended.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

• Applicants must be actively enrolled at a California college or university as a rising junior, senior, or upper-level transfer undergraduate student, in good academic standing (a current GPA of 2.7 and higher is preferred, but not required), and majoring in biological, chemical, physical, environmental or marine science, natural resource management, political science or a closely related policy or scientific discipline.

• Applicants are required to submit transcripts demonstrating current enrollment and upcoming Fall enrollment as an undergraduate student at a California institution, prior to beginning this internship. Applicants who graduate Spring or Summer 2026 are not eligible to apply for this program.

• No prior job experience is required; any combination of experience and education that would likely provide the desired skills is qualifying.

• Students in all majors with environmental working, volunteer, or research experience are also eligible.

• Applicants must have a strong interest in protecting California’s coast and ocean and an interest in state policy and management.

• All applicants are required to provide a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ). Please see the section within the job posting labeled “Statement of Qualifications” for writing prompts and further information.

Desired Skills

• An individual with high potential and the desire to learn more about California’s coast and ocean, climate change, and how government works.

• An individual with strong oral and written communication skills. Proficiency reading and speaking non-English languages are also encouraged.

• Interest in learning about general concepts and principles involved in environmental justice and equity issues, including community outreach and engagement strategies.

• Familiarity and/or general knowledge of vulnerable communities in California, including communities along California’s coast, and experience working with low-income, diverse populations.

• A highly organized and motivated individual who has demonstrated creative problem-solving skills.

• The ability to research and analyze problems and make recommendations based on research and findings.

• The ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team in both a professional physical office and/or virtual environment.

• Technically adept with frequently used software tools including the suite of Microsoft Office 365, and potentially GIS and statistical software.

• Experience and/or willingness to learn how to organize, analyze, and manage large amounts of data, and how to prepare charts, tables, and reports for use by non-experts.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the website and the website.

Statement Of Qualifications

Applicants must include a  Statement of Qualifications for this recruitment. You must provide specific information in your response(s) which demonstrates how your knowledge, skills, and training meet the needs of this position.

The SOQ must have each response numbered, no more than two pages in length, single-spaced and using 12-point Arial font. You must indicate your Name and Job Control Number at the top of the page.

Please provide a Statement of Qualifications that clearly answers the following questions. Applicants who do not submit the required items may not be considered for this position. The Statement of Qualifications should be a maximum of 2 pages, single-space, 12-pt font, and standard margins.

1. What motivates you to apply for this internship? What areas of this internship and OPC interest you most?

2. What are your current career goals and how will participating in this internship program help you meet or develop these goals?

3. What unique qualities, personal or professional skills, and/or experiences will you bring to this internship program?

Artifical intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT, website searches, and third-party reviewers can be helpful in researching responses to the SOQ; however, by submitting your application for this position, you understand and acknowledge the SOQ you submit is your own work, in your own words, and accurately reflects your knowledge, skills, abilities, and experiences. Submitting an SOQ that is not your own may be cause for disqualification from the hiring process.

*** For helpful guidance on writing an effective SOQ or a Supplemental Questionnaire, please visit Work4CA: How to Write a Statement of Qualifications

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• Degree and/or School Transcripts
• Statement of Qualifications - A Statement of Qualification (SOQ) is REQUIRED and must be submitted with your application to be considered for this position. Failure to include the Statement of Qualifications as required shall result in disqualification from the firing process. Please see the section labeled "Statement of Qualifications" for further information.

Job Tags

Full time, Work experience placement, Summer work, Summer internship, Work at office, Remote work

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