About the Organization:

Cardinal Land Conservancy, Inc. (“CLC”) is a nonprofit land trust that works throughout Southwest Ohio and Southeast Indiana to acquire and manage land for conservation purposes. CLC’s mission is to preserve natural habitats, waterways, agricultural lands, and open space in our tri-state region. We protect targeted lands that meet our criteria, we restore native habitats, and we enrich communities through conservation. Our new Community Conservation Initiative seeks to support environmental equity in the city of Cincinnati.

Position Summary

We are looking for a motivated, collaborative advocate interested in both the people and place sides of conservation. You will play a hands-on role in Cardinal Land Conservancy’s burgeoning Community Conservation Initiative. You’ll be helping us connect with neighbors, identify new land for protection, and build equity-centered greenspace projects from the ground up. This role blends community storytelling and relationship-building with data-driven research and project development.

Key Responsibilities

• Relationship Building: Identify and engage with local neighborhood groups, organizations, and community leaders to promote the Community Conservation Initiative and seek out future land protection projects in Cincinnati. Work in conjunction with Cardinal’s Community Conservation Advisory Group to help create a community engagement plan for the program.
• Community Engagement Research: Help Community Conservation staff assess and prioritize Cincinnati neighborhoods and potential community conservation projects.
• Land Protection Research: Assist in evaluating potential new land projects by researching property records, ecological value, and community significance.
• Data & Mapping: Assist in organizing project data and using mapping tools (like GIS) to visualize our conservation footprint and future goals in the city.
• Support: Supporting our partners and our staff on our campus, adaptable and flexible work environment.

Qualifications

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills — comfortable engaging with a wide range of partners, and neighbors.
• A willingness to work collaboratively with Cardinal staff and fellow interns.
• A passion for environmental justice and making the outdoors accessible to everyone.
• Strong analytical skills and comfort working with spreadsheets or databases.
• A big-picture thinker who enjoys organized systems and project timelines.
• A background or future in Environmental Studies/Sciences, Urban Planning, Community Engagement, or Communications preferred. All majors considered.
• Preference for those who live in the neighborhoods we aim to serve.

Compensation and Time Commitment

• Designed for current or rising undergraduate students in the Cincinnati area during Summer 2026.
• $15/hour, 24 hours per week with potential for more, in-person and based at our Clifton office.
• 15 weeks, June through August 2026 (flexible start and end dates dependent on class schedules).
• Ability to work occasional evenings/weekends for community events.

How To Apply

To apply, please submit your cover letter, resume and availability (start dates) to Katie Nolan (Community Conservation Manager): katie@cardinallandconservancy.org