Thurgood Marshall College Fund Internship Program
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund Internship Program offers you a paid summer internship working with the Forest Service. You’ll have the opportunity to grow personally and professionally while making meaningful contributions to conserving public lands.
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund Internship Program offers paid internships for undergraduate and graduate students in career fields such as Forestry, GIS, Public Affairs, Natural Resources, Wildlife, Fisheries, Research, and more, Students who work 640 hours can earn a Public Lands Corps non-competitive hiring authority.
Eligibility
To apply to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund Internship Program, you must meet the following criteria:
Pursuing a degree from an accredited Historically Black College or University (HBCU) or have recently graduated within the last two years. Technical, vocational, associate, undergraduate, graduate, professional, and certificate programs all apply.
U.S citizen
Ideally, you have:
Strong verbal and written communication skills
Demonstrated initiative and drive in the following fields: science, technology, engineering, agriculture, mathematics, business, communications, and other research-based major areas of study.
Minimum G.P.A of 3.0
Benefits
Gain paid work experience while developing and refining skills
Explore a career path
Network with professionals in the field, including Forest Service scientists
Travel funding to and from the internship
Housing provided
Potential to launch your career with the Forest Service
How to Apply
Select the “Apply Now” button
Program Length
You will start your internship in late May or early June. The internship will be full-time (40 hours a week) during the summer. Once you successfully complete 640 hours, you’re eligible to receive a Public Lands Corps hiring authority certificate, which gives you an advantage in competing for open positions with the Forest Service. You have the option to complete your hours during the fall, working part-time and virtually, or to work the following summer full-time to receive the certificate.
Contact Information
Contact Julissa Gonzalez (julissa.gonzalez@usda.gov) or Brittany Short (brittany.short@tmcf.org) with questions.
Benefits of the Public Lands Corps (PLC) Hiring Authority
The authority allows you to apply for permanent Federal positions with the Forest Service and other land management agencies such as the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Bureau of Indian Affairs. Because many of these positions are not open to the general public, you will have the advantage of competing with a smaller pool of applicants such as current and former Federal employees and other applicants with special hiring authorities. You must apply, be selected, and be onboarded into your position within 2 years of when your PLC certificate was signed.
How to Use Your Hiring Authority
1. Find an Opportunity
There are a few options for how to find a current or upcoming career opportunity that allows you to apply using the PLC hiring authority.
Search USAJOBS.gov for a career opportunity. Pay attention to the filters such as agency and hiring paths. The Public Lands Corps authority is under Hiring Paths and Special Hiring Authorities. You can select these filters to narrow your career search to opportunities open to your authority.
Reach out to a regional recruiter directly.
Sign up for the Job Seekers Database to receive weekly emails about the latest Forest Service job opportunities.
Regularly check our Outreach Database. This website shows upcoming opportunities and allows you to respond to the hiring official to share that you are interested in the position. The responses that hiring managers receive in the Outreach Database affect who the job is open to on USAJOBS.gov.
2. Apply
You must apply, be selected, and be onboarded into your position within 2 years of when your PLC certificate was signed.
Visit USAJOBS and find a career opportunity. Pay attention to the filters such as agency and hiring paths. The Public Lands Corps authority is under Hiring Paths and Special Hiring Authorities. You can select these filters to narrow your career search to opportunities open to your authority.
You must still meet the requirements listed on the job announcement to qualify for the position.
Make sure that you apply with a robust Federal resume and that you include all required documents such as your PLC Certificate, high school diploma, and post-secondary or college transcripts if applicable.
Make sure that you respond “Yes” to the following question in the assessment questionnaire, which is part of your application: “Have you completed a qualifying conservation project(s) with the U.S. Forest Service and received a Public Lands Corps Certificate of Eligibility for Noncompetitive Hiring Status?”
Help Applying and Using the PLC Certificate
If you have questions about the internship program, please use the map and list above. If you need help using your PLC hiring authority after completing your internship, or if you have questions including about the status of your application, please use the following resources.
Visit the How to Apply webpage for tips, tricks, webinars, and more.
Call 1-877-372-7248 (select option 2 and follow prompts). We're open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain Time and closed on all Federal holidays.
The USDA is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer