Early-Career Development Program

Interested in learning more about conserving the incredible natural and cultural resources found on our nation’s federal land?

Want a paid, experiential opportunity in fish and wildlife ecology, vegetation and habitat monitoring/management, historical restoration, archaeology, natural or cultural resources planning, GIS, environmental compliance, or related areas?

Want to earn college credits (and dollars!) while living in unique areas throughout the United States?

Early-career Development Program Overview

The Early-career Development Program (ECDP) at Colorado State University’s Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands (CEMML) is designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and career success. Our goal is to empower the next generation to lead and innovate in the stewardship of federal lands.

Our mission is to ignite passion and provide hands-on training for students and recent graduates in natural resources management, cultural resources management, environmental planning, and GIS. Through real-world experiences and mentorship, the ECDP equips emerging professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in their careers and make a meaningful impact.

Program Benefits

  • Exposure to diverse and rewarding career paths.
  • Mentorship from field experts.
  • Competitive pay and health insurance.
  • Additional benefits like sick leave, holiday pay, and employee study privileges (Available with some positions).

Program Tracks

  • Internship – Paid internships that offer experiential learning and mentoring from CEMML experts and federal partners, while earning college credit.
  • Early-career – Short-term, up to one-year paid job opportunities for recent graduates with three years or less professional experience. This track allows participants to explore various facets of resource and lands management.
  • Professional – A fast track to a career in niche positions within three years. Participants work closely with mentors and advance to the next promotional level upon completing their professional track plan and meeting established requirements.
  • Internship Placement – The ECDP can assist applicants in finding the perfect opportunity to fulfill their internship requirements. Applicants work with ECDP staff to tailor their experience.

Program History

  • 70 internships and early-career opportunities provided since 2021.
  • 25% of ECDP positions have led to full-time employment with CEMML, Federal service, or environmental consulting firms.

Current ECDP Opportunities

    Upcoming ECDP Opportunities

    2025 Summer Field Season

    CEMML’s ECDP will soon be hiring for the 2025 summer field season! The program is excited to offer a variety of early-career opportunities in natural resources, cultural resources, environmental planning, and GIS. These positions will provide valuable field experience while contributing to the stewardship and management of federal lands across the county.
     

    Check back soon for more details on how to apply and take the next step in your career

    Guam

    Exciting news for Guam’s future environmental leaders!

    ECDP is thrilled to announce upcoming job openings tailored specifically for University of Guam students, recent graduates, and early-career professionals in the following focus areas:

    Invasive Species Management

    • Invasive plant managment
    • Little Fire Ant (LFA) management
    • Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) management

    Biosecurity for Sensitive Ecosystems

    • Inspections of military equipment moving between islands and ally countries

    Vegetation Management

    • Maintenance of tropical plants around critical infrastructure
    • Restoration/remediation of degraded sites

    Cultural Resources Management

    • Curation support
    • Field archaeology
    • Site assessments for compliance

    Specific job opportunities will be posted to the ECDP opportunities list when they become available!

    FAQs

    What are the goals of the program?

    • Expose students and recent graduates to the field of military and public lands management.
    • Provide experiential learning opportunities to prepare participants for successful careers in this field.

    Who qualifies for the ECDP?

    • Individuals who are pursuing or have already received a bachelor’s degree in natural or cultural resources management, GIS, environmental policy, environmental or physical science, or a related discipline.
    • Individuals at the beginning or early stages of their career with less than three years of work experience in a related field.

    Which opportunities qualify as internships?

    • Any of the ECDP positions can qualify as internships. We will complete all necessary paperwork to fulfill your degree program requirements, so you receive internship credit!

    What can participants expect?

    • Show up, have fun, learn, share knowledge, and complete an exit survey. See below for ECDP success stories!

    How long do these positions last?

    • Positions range anywhere from 3 to 12 months.

    Is housing provided?

    • Housing is not currently provided for this program. However, we suggest looking at potential options before applying to ensure you can find housing within a reasonable commuting distance.
    • Sites such as, but not limited to, Furnishedfinder.com, Apartments.com, Apartmentfinder.com may aid in your search. Use a “short-term housing” filter.

    What are the benefits?

    • ECDP stands above other internships/early-career opportunities in offering competitive pay, employee study privilege, health insurance, sick leave, holiday pay, and more!  Please visit the CSU benefits website under the Temporary Admin Pro column (AFAP Non-classified Staff), Student Hourly, or Non-Student Hourly for more information.

    What is employee study privilege?

    • The employee study privilege allows participants hired as Temporary Administrative  Professionals to take up to 9 free credits at CSU per benefit year. Past participants have used this privilege to help with the cost of earning a graduate certificate or many of the graduate degree programs offered by CSU and CSU Online.

    What can I expect after completing the program?

    • Past participants have gained full-time employment with CEMML, the federal government, or environmental consulting firms following completion of their ECDP experience. Other participants have continued their education with graduate-level certificate or degree programs.

    What should I expect when applying to an open pool?

    • Once you apply, your application will be considered for current ECDP openings and even future opportunities that aren’t posted yet.
    • Be explicit in your cover letter and state the type of work experience you are seeking (e.g., wildlife monitoring, prescribed burning, historic property evaluation, NEPA, invasive species management) and the locations you are willing to relocate to ensure you are considered for the right opportunities.

    Questions About the Early-career Development Program?

    Please email [email protected].

    Early-career Development Program Stories

    Great Plains CESU Graduate Student Award winner, Levin Brandt

    CEMML intern wins 2024 Great Plains CESU Award

    Levin Brandt, an intern with CEMML’s Early-career Development Program, was presented with the annual Great Plains CESU Graduate Student Award for his outstanding work supporting ecosystems on Air Force installations in Nebraska, South Dakota, Colorado, and North Dakota. Mr. Brandt is a graduate student in Biology at the University of North Dakota.

    Read More »
    James Fujioka at Lake Mead

    A career-changing student finds success through CEMML

    With the help of CEMML’s Early-career Development Program, James Fujioka is making a transition from managing kitchens to managing natural resources. After beginning his career in the culinary arts, the added stress of working in the restaurant industry during the pandemic, combined with his love for the outdoors, made him rethink his career trajectory.

    Read More »

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