Deadline: Sat, 03/02/2024 - 12:00pm Employer: Aurora Sustainable Lands (Aurora) Job Field: Other Job Type: Seasonal, Temporary, Internship Location: North Carolina Location Detail: Chapel Hill, North Carolina Job Description: About the Organization: Aurora Sustainable Lands (Aurora), was formed in the fall of 2021 as a joint venture of the global Investment firm Oak Hill Advisors and Anew Climate, LLC, the largest marketer and originator of carbon and environmental credits in North America. Aurora’s mission is to purchase and more sustainably manage high value forestland. In total, Aurora now owns and manages some 1.7 million acres of forestland spread over 17 U.S. Eastern states, and the firm is now one of the 10 largest forestland owners in the U.S. We are a passionate group of people dedicated to delivering real GHG emission reduction and efficiency projects, services and strategies, and we are looking for enthusiastic, personable and like-minded team players to join our team to help us increase our positive impact. Position Summary: Aurora Sustainable Lands (Aurora) seeks an intern to support the company’s forest and carbon Operations team. This is an excellent opportunity to gain exposure to large-tract forest management and forest carbon projects. Preferably, the candidate will have experience in basic statistics, exposure to remote sensing, an awareness of forest carbon markets, and knowledge of nature-based climate solutions. Success will require strong project management and interpersonal skills. The Operations Intern reports to Israel Golden, Carbon Forester at Aurora. Primary Responsibilities and Competencies*: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Below is a list of projects that we envision our summer intern could spend time working on during their internship. Duties or responsibilities may be subject to change as needs arise. · Perform statistical analyses of on-the-ground timber harvest activities to calibrate Aurora’s harvest impact model. · Develop harvest detection webapp prototype with Google Earth Engine (GEE) to support digital Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) of forest carbon projects. · Research Lease opportunities for properties (e.g., birding, fishing, mountain biking) for community engagement purposes. · Research non-timber forest product opportunities across portfolio (e.g., pine straw, laurel, ginseng, agroforestry). · Other projects related to Operations Team as needed. · Opportunity for at least one site visit in the field for exposure to forest management and carbon operations. · Produce capstone memo to be shared with executive team detailing internship experience. *Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time. Qualifications: The successful candidate will be in pursuit of or have completed an undergraduate degree in Forest Science, Ecology, Forestry/Natural Resource Management, or a closely related subject; or the candidate has completed or is currently in pursuit of an MF or either an MEM or MS with a Forestry focus. Strong geospatial and statistical skills are required. The successful candidate will be familiar with core forestry concepts and terms. They will have enthusiasm for using environmental markets to address critical climate challenges. Ideal Personal Background The Operations Intern must have excellent verbal and written communications skills. They must have proficiency in GIS tools, remote sensing techniques, and basic statistical analysis. Familiarity with Google Earth Engine is a plus. They will have a strong work ethic, must be able to work in collaborative and team environments, and must also be able to work independently. They must be self-motivated, organized, and able to efficiently manage several diverse tasks at the same time to meet required deadlines. The successful candidate must report to Aurora’s Chapel Hill office, a hub of forestry activity where the intern will regularly interact with a variety of Aurora team members and executives. The majority of the Operations Team works remotely on Eastern and Central time, so regular remote interfacing will be required. The position is expected to work 40 hours per week. The position will receive a $10,000 stipend and any required field travel will be paid for by the company. How to Apply: Interested candidates should submit their resume and cover letter outlining their interest in environmental sustainability and land management to Israel Golden at igolden@aurorasustainablelands.com by January 31, 2024. Aurora Sustainable Lands is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply. Successful applicants will be notified by February 16, 2024 for interviews, and the internship will commence in May 2024.
