Green Vision Internship

Greenbelt Alliance is seeking individuals with an interest in regional open space planning for an exciting internship though our Policy Research Department.

About Greenbelt Alliance
Greenbelt Alliance is the Bay Area's land conservation and urban planning nonprofit. Our mission is to make the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area a better place to live by protecting the region's greenbelt and improving its cities and towns. Since 1958, Greenbelt Alliance has helped to permanently protect over 1 million acres of the Bay Area’s natural areas and working farms. Our Research Department is located in downtown San Francisco.

Responsibilities
The San Francisco Bay Area is a great place to live, with spectacular landscapes surrounding attractive cities and towns. In the next few years, major decisions will be made about which of these landscapes get protected, and which do not. The Green Vision Intern will help create a vision for open space around the region in the Bay Area -- everything from wildlife preserves to working farmlands, and eventually to urban parks. Activities will include compiling and keeping a record of Bay Area open space maps, organizing county-by-county meetings with groups working to protect natural resources, and analyzing the information and maps that have been gathered. Currently we are creating a map showing what lands are protected by city and county policies so we can focus our efforts on those that are most threatened. The Green Vision Intern will work with the Policy Research Director and the Green Vision Task Force to create a vision for open space in the Bay Area. The Green Vision Intern will gather open space maps by contacting regional agencies, keep a record of open space maps and information available, make revisions to a draft open space map compiled from sub maps around the Bay Area, organize county-by-county meetings, and provide general assistance to Green Vision Task Force mapping efforts.

Commitment
This position requires a 2 to 3 day a week commitment for a period of 3 to 6 months. Work must be completed between 9 am and 5 pm. Work takes place in the Greenbelt Alliance main office in downtown San Francisco. This location is BART and MUNI accessible and public transportation is strongly encouraged. This position is unpaid.

Qualifications
Ideal candidates will have a strong interest and/or experience in regional open space planning. GIS skills are particularly valuable for this project but not absolutely required. Familiarity with open space protection laws or zoning terminology, acquired through a background in urban planning or development, would also be useful. Attention to detail and the ability to establish organized systems to keep track of these details are important. Experience in GIS mapping is a plus. Ideal candidates will be friendly and professional with strong organizational skills, excellent written and oral communication skills, and have an ability to work independently and meet deadlines. Graduate and undergraduate students are encouraged to apply.

Benefits
This position is an excellent opportunity to participate in exciting projects that will create a vision of open space in the Bay Area. Greenbelt Alliance interns are a part of an organization that is doing deeply rewarding work to improve the quality of life for the entire region. Interns will get a feel for the functioning of an established, effective nonprofit organization. The intern will meet open space professionals from around the Bay Area and will learn about environmental issues as well while developing a network of contacts in the non-profit field.


To Apply

To apply for this opportunity, please send a resume and cover letter. Cover letter should include the following information:
• Your interest in this volunteer opportunity
• The experiences that have prepared you for this opportunity
• Your availability (times and days, length of commitment)
• Where you heard about this volunteer opportunity
Please send application and inquiries to:
• volunteer@greenbelt.org
or to
• Greenbelt Alliance
Attn: Volunteer Coordinator
631 Howard Street, Suite 510
San Francisco, CA 94105