Land Stewardship Intern

OneEnergy Renewables is seeking a part-time Land Stewardship Intern to support the West Region Development team in solar energy projects. The intern will collaborate with agricultural producers and contractors to plan dual-use solar projects, research agrivoltaics, and monitor vegetation at the Overland Solar project. Candidates should have relevant educational background, plant identification skills, and strong communication abilities. Travel is required up to 10% of the time.
OneEnergy’s mission is to make clean energy the #1 source of electricity for consumers and utilities. We develop solar energy projects across the United States in community solar, distributed generation, and large utility scale project segments. Our diverse project pipeline, multi-disciplined team, and commitment to community engagement and land stewardship set us apart.

Position Objective

OneEnergy is seeking a Land Stewardship Intern to work part time with our West Region Development team on solar energy portfolios across the West. The Land Stewardship Intern will report to the Director of Development and work with agricultural producers, vegetation management contractors, and the Delivery and Operations teams to support the planning of future dual-use solar projects, such as grazing and crop production within solar arrays. The Intern will also have the opportunity to support management of high-quality native prairie vegetation within OneEnergy’s Overland Solar project in Weld County.

Responsibilities
• Working with development managers and associates to establish and maintain strong partnerships with agricultural producers for solar projects across the West region.
• Assisting development team members in drafting agrivoltaic vegetation management plans for project permitting submittals.
• Collaborating with the Land Stewardship Manager to ensure the team implements company best practices for agrivoltaic projects.
• Researching agrivoltaics, dual use solar, native vegetation, and pollinator habitat best practices and industry trends specific to Western climates and ecosystems to further develop internal processes.
• Facilitating clear communication of vegetation requirements and expectations between the OneEnergy and external partners.
• Monitoring vegetation establishment at the Overland Solar project in Weld County and record observations using ArcGIS Field Maps, including:
• Identifying invasive or noxious weed species and monitor abundance.
• Evaluating plant communities within solar arrays using presence-absence surveys and estimate percent cover of key species.
• Assessing quality of pollinator habitat by recording which species are in bloom.
• Reviewing Vegetation Management Reports submitted by contractors.
• Providing management recommendations based on field observations and reports.
• Photographing vegetation to document establishment progress.

Requirements
• Degree (or equivalent experience) in Agriculture, Restoration Ecology, Conservation, Ecology, Botany, or a related field.
• Plant identification experience and familiarity with common native prairie plants and noxious or invasive weed species in the Mountain West and Pacific Northwest.
• Ability to travel and access sites of varying terrain across Colorado, Oregon, and Washington. Position requires travel up to 10% of working time. Must carry an active driver’s license with acceptable driving record.
• Excellent, professional written and verbal communication, as well as interpersonal skills.
• Self-motivated with proven ability to take ownership, initiative, and accountability.
• Strong organizational skills resulting in the ability to track vegetation observations across multiple projects.
• A demonstrated ability with MS Office, MS Windows and project tracking software is required.
• Strong attention to detail with a high level of integrity and organizational capacity to manage multiple projects.
• A proven ability to provide efficient, timely, and reliable service to internal and external stakeholders.

We recognize an equitable energy transition requires the participation of diverse communities, groups, and institutions. OneEnergy is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against otherwise qualified applicants on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or handicap, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.