Environmental & Permitting Intern - Habitat Restoration

We’re a team of friends bound together by a mission to preserve our planet for future generations through innovative energy solutions and modern infrastructure. In December 2025, Google announced an agreement to acquire Intersect, to enable more data center and generation capacity to come online faster while accelerating energy development and innovation. After close, we’ll continue doing exactly what we were built to do - develop, construct, and operate the most ambitious power and data infrastructure in the country.

Intersect’s operations will remain separate from Alphabet and Google under the Intersect brand. We’re on an aggressive growth trajectory and looking for people hungry to tackle the largest energy challenges on the planet.

About This Role

As part of Intersect’s Environmental & Permitting team, you’ll help deliver high-impact playa lake restoration efforts that support responsible project development and long-term environmental stewardship. This internship offers hands-on experience coordinating field restoration activities while contributing to broader strategy and planning across a growing project portfolio.

You’ll work cross-functionally with teams including Permitting, Development, Land, Construction, Engineering, and External Affairs to support both on-the-ground execution and long-term planning initiatives.

Team Overview

This team plays a critical role in advancing Intersect’s mission to accelerate the renewable energy transition by ensuring projects are developed responsibly and in alignment with environmental regulations and stewardship goals. The Environmental & Permitting team works at the intersection of science, policy, and project execution—partnering across functions to unlock project value while minimizing environmental impact. Joining this team offers the opportunity to contribute to meaningful, real-world outcomes while building foundational expertise in environmental planning and permitting.

What You’ll Do

Coordinate Field Restoration Execution

• Coordinate playa lake restoration activities by aligning internal teams and external partners to ensure timely and effective field execution

• Support logistics, communication, and documentation for restoration work on active project sites

Develop Restoration Plans and Insights

• Capture lessons learned from ongoing restoration work and translate them into a detailed execution plan for a near-term project

• Contribute to the development of a portfolio-wide playa lake restoration strategy, identifying risks, opportunities, and best practices

Support Technical Analysis and Communication

• Compile and analyze environmental data to inform restoration planning and decision-making

• Develop clear, high-quality technical documentation to support public-facing communications on restoration efforts and their environmental and business impact

Deliver Project Outputs

• Produce a restoration execution plan for an upcoming project

• Contribute to a portfolio-level restoration strategy document

• Deliver a final presentation summarizing findings, recommendations, and key outcomes

What You’ll Bring

• Currently pursuing or recently completed a Bachelor’s degree in Restoration Ecology, Conservation Biology, Environmental Science, Environmental Policy, Construction Management, or a related field

• Coursework or hands-on experience in restoration ecology or conservation initiatives; field experience is a plus

• Familiarity with environmental permitting concepts, land use, water systems, and regulatory frameworks

• Experience using tools such as ArcGIS Online, Google Earth, and Slack to support mapping, analysis, and collaboration

• Ability to collect, analyze, and translate environmental data into actionable insights

• Clear and effective technical writing skills to communicate complex information to diverse audiences

• Strong organizational and communication skills, with the ability to coordinate across multiple teams

• Exposure to academic, research, or environmental nonprofit networks that support learning and collaboration

• Detail-oriented and collaborative work style that supports success in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment

• Curiosity, humility, and a willingness to learn quickly by asking thoughtful questions and adapting to new challenges

• A commitment to environmental stewardship, integrity, accountability, and alignment with Intersect’s values of Equity, Humility, Authenticity, Long-run Value, and People Come First

Program Details

Duration: 10 weeks

Program Dates: June 1 – August 14

Location: Interns are expected to work in-person from our San Francisco office

Mentorship: Each intern will receive guidance from experienced professionals throughout the program

Capstone Presentation: Interns will present their final project to executive leadership at the end of the program

Compensation

• $35 USD per hour for undergraduate students.

• $45 USD per hour for graduate students.

Applicants must be authorized to work in Canada or the US. Intersect is unable to sponsor visas for this position.

Ready to gain real-world experience while contributing to meaningful innovation? Apply now and start building your career with Intersect.

Intersect maintains a work environment free from discrimination, one where all employees are treated with dignity and respect. All employees share in the responsibility for fulfilling Intersect's commitment to equal employment opportunity. Intersect does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by and consistent with applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. We adhere to these principles in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training, compensation, promotion, benefits, social and recreational programs, and discipline.