Careers & Internships

Join our team and help protect the Los Padres National Forest! ForestWatch is one of the leading land, river, and wildlife conservation organizations in California’s central coast region. We’re actively recruiting qualified candidates for the following positions:

Read below for job descriptions and application instructions. Due to the volume of applications we receive, only those who are selected for an interview will be contacted.

Please do not call if you have not been contacted after submitting an application.

ForestWatch welcomes diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive and equitable work environment for all employees that encourages and celebrates differences. ForestWatch’s staff and Board strive to incorporate inclusive practices in the performance of all duties and responsibilities, on a consistent and ongoing basis, and continually work to increase awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations.

Wildlife Program Coordinator

We’re hiring a full-time Wildlife Program Coordinator to support a range of initiatives to protect wildlife and habitats in Los Padres National Forest and throughout California’s central coast region.

The Wildlife Program Coordinator will be responsible for implementing our Room to Roam program. Room to Roam focuses on protecting wildlife movement corridors and fostering coexistence between humans and native wildlife in the Los Padres National Forest region including Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo counties. This position will support related education and outreach initiatives, field work and monitoring, management of citizen science programs, and volunteer coordination related to Room to Roam along with additional responsibilities related to other ForestWatch projects. This role is hybrid, based in our Santa Barbara office.

HOW TO APPLY: See the full job announcement for a complete description of the position, responsibilities, qualifications, compensation, and application procedures. The Hiring Committee will begin reviewing applications in early November 2024, and candidates will continue to be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. No phone calls, please.

Development Associate

The Development Associate will play a critical role in supporting the development team’s efforts to achieve fundraising goals. The position will focus on planning and implementing fundraising, stewardship, and educational events including large and small donor gatherings, webinars, trivia nights, house parties, film screenings, and other mission-driven events and will also assist in donor engagement and management. Additionally, the Development Associate will work in coordination with other ForestWatch staff to engage our supporters and the general public.

The position requires a strategic and creative combination of fundraising, data management, event planning, volunteer coordination, marketing, donation solicitation, and technical knowledge of donor management systems (Salesforce). In addition, the Development Associate will produce and deploy traditional and social media to market and promote events amongst our members, supporters, and the general public, and will oversee an event planning committee, intern, and volunteers as appropriate.

HOW TO APPLY: See the full job announcement for a complete description of the position, responsibilities, qualifications, compensation, and application procedures. Applications will be accepted until January 20, 2025, with the expectation to have the position filled by March 1, 2025. No phone calls, please.

Conservation Intern – Winter 2025

We’re seeking a highly-motivated Conservation Intern currently enrolled at UCSB.

DESCRIPTION: Conduct research to support our cutting-edge efforts to protect the Los Padres National Forest. Assist with field work, inventories, and data collection. Research information and help us prepare comment letters and administrative appeals to various land management agencies. Request information from, and communicate with, federal, state, and local agencies. Possibility of GIS mapping.

QUALIFICATIONS: Creative, motivated, dedicated, and good-humored college or graduate students. Requires strong research and writing skills. Background in environmental studies, biology, or related coursework and/or experience preferred. GIS mapping skills a plus.

HOW TO APPLY: Send a cover letter, resume, a writing sample (5-10 pages), and list of relevant coursework via email to apply@LPFW.org with “Conservation Internship” in the subject line.

There is no deadline. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position will remain open until filled. This internship includes a $1,500 stipend.

GIS Intern – Winter 2025

We’re seeking a highly-motivated GIS Intern currently enrolled at UCSB.

DESCRIPTION: Prepare maps and data to support our efforts to protect the Los Padres National Forest. Create maps using ArcGIS and Google Earth Pro. Assist with field work, inventories, and data collection. Request information from, and communicate with, federal, state, and local agencies.

QUALIFICATIONS: Creative, motivated, dedicated, and good-humored college or graduate students. Requires previous coursework in ArcGIS, and knowledge of or ability to learn Google Earth Pro. Background in environmental studies, biology, or related coursework and/or experience preferred.

HOW TO APPLY: Send a cover letter, resume, a writing sample (5-10 pages), and list of relevant coursework via email to apply@LPFW.org with “GIS Internship” in the subject line.

There is no deadline. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position will remain open until filled. This internship includes a $1,500 stipend.

Legal Intern – Summer 2026

We’re seeking a highly-motivated Legal Intern to work out of our Santa Barbara office remotely or in person.

DESCRIPTION: Assist with preparation of comment letters, legal reports, and administrative appeals under such laws as the Endangered Species Act, the National Forest Management Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and the Clean Water Act to eliminate threats to public lands.

DUTIES: Conduct legal research to support our cutting-edge efforts to protect public lands. Assist with preparation of comment letters and administrative appeals to various land management agencies.

QUALIFICATIONS: Creative, motivated, dedicated, and good-humored 1L or 2L law students. Requires strong legal research and writing skills. Background in environmental studies, biology, or related coursework and/or experience preferred.

HOW TO APPLY: Send a cover letter, resume, a legal writing sample, and list of relevant coursework via email to info@LPFW.org with “Legal Internship” in the subject line.

There is no deadline. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position will remain open until filled. This internship includes a $2,000 stipend and we are happy to assist with financial aid through your law school.

The goal of our Internship Program is to provide the next generation of environmental advocates with the training and tools to protect public lands, clean air and water, wildlife, and natural resources. Our interns gain valuable experience with research, advocacy, fieldwork, and environmental law and policy while obtaining first-hand knowledge of working with a small but effective nonprofit organization. Since our internship program began in 2006, we have been fortunate to work with more than 60 undergraduate, graduate, and law students from the following institutions:

Antioch University Santa Barbara
Brandeis University
California State University, Channel Islands (CSUCI)
California State University, Northridge (CSUN)
Cal Lutheran University
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Cuesta College
Lewis & Clark Law School and Earthrise Law Center
The Ohio State University – Moritz College of Law
Pepperdine University School of Law
Santa Barbara City College
Santa Barbara College of Law
Stanford Environmental Law Clinic
The Thacher School
UCLA School of Law
UCSB’s Bren School of Environmental Science & Management
University of California, Irvine (UCI) Environmental Law Clinic
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB)
University of Montana
University of Oregon School of Law
University of Washington School of Law
Westmont College