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
- Cultural Resources Technicianlocation_onJoint Base Elmendorf-Richardson|scheduleSalaried|calendar_monthJob Duration Varies|domainIn-Person|groups1 Position
- Cultural Resources Technicianlocation_onUS Air Force Academy|scheduleSalaried|calendar_monthJob Duration Varies|domainIn-Person|groups1 Position
- Wildlife & Outdoor Recreation Technicianlocation_onEglin Air Force Base|scheduleSalaried|domainIn-Person|groups1 Position
- Cultural Resources Technicianlocation_onScott Air Force Base|scheduleSalaried|calendar_month2-4 Months|domainIn-Person|groups1 Position
- Cultural Resources Technicianlocation_onHill Air Force Base|scheduleSalaried|domainIn-Person|groups1 Position
Alaska
Colorado
Florida
Illinois
Utah
Upcoming ECDP Opportunities
Guam
ECDP is launching job openings for University of Guam students, recent grads, and early-career professionals in:
- Invasive Species Management – Control invasive plants, Little Fire Ants, and Coconut Rhinoceros Beetles.
- Biosecurity for Sensitive Ecosystems – Inspect military equipment for ecosystem protection.
- Vegetation Management – Maintain tropical plants & restore degraded sites.
- Cultural Resources Management – Assist with curation, archaeology, and site assessments.
Stay tuned for job postings on the ECDP opportunities list!
FAQs
- 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.
- 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.
- 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!
- Show up, have fun, learn, share knowledge, and complete an exit survey. See below for ECDP success stories!
- Positions range anywhere from 3 to 12 months.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Questions About the Early-career Development Program?
Please email [email protected].
Early-career Development Program Stories
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.
Spreading the love of monarchs: CEMML intern works with Midwestern pollinators
As part of his CEMML internship, Alexx Uecker’s work for the Midwest Natural Resources Program of the Air Force Civil Engineer Center gave him the opportunity to study bats and support important pollinators like the monarch butterfly. During his six-month experience, Uecker supported monitoring and survey efforts at Air Force bases across the Midwest.
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.
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