Who we are:

Did you know Ohio operates 76 state parks, manages over 750,000 acres of diverse wildlife land and more than 2 million acres of water? That’s just the tip of the iceberg of what we do at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) as we seek to ensure a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all!

Across our 12 divisions and support services, we employ office staff, law enforcement officers, geologists, biologists, engineers, attorneys, communicators, managers, and so much more. Whatever your passion, we likely have a position to fit it and pathways for advancement!

Working at ODNR is a special experience. Our employees are afforded opportunities to participate in public events at parks, nature preserves, wildlife areas, and annually at the Natural Resources Park at the Ohio State Fair! We routinely have Lunch and Learn events at our Assembly Center which are streamed on Teams Live as are monthly updates with our Director.

Applications for the 2026 Ohio Department of Natural Resources Summer Internship Program are currently being accepted for positions in Akron, Columbus, McArthur and New Philadelphia Ohio, and from students of Engineer/Surveyor disciplines.

What we need:

We are seeking energetic, passionate people who enjoy the outdoors and want to play a key role for the position of 2026 ODNR Paid Summer Intern.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) offers some of the most diverse career opportunities in state government. Opportunities expand well beyond parks and recreation. The team of biologists, geologists, naturalist, forestry, wildlife and fisheries employees, just to name a few, helps the department fulfill its responsibility to manage and protect some of Ohio’s most critical resources – forests, rivers, breath-taking natural areas, shorelines and islands, astounding geologic formations, wildlife, oil, gas, minerals and water resources.

About the ODNR Summer Internship

What you will do:

• Assist with infrastructure assessments and construction projects.
• Conduct on-site observations, prepare field reports and evaluate documents prepared by consultants.
• Participate in field investigations, assist with development of plans and help with inspections.
• Work closely with engineers on hydrology, grading and pipe design.
• Develop Standard Drawings alongside team members.
• Gain a comprehensive knowledge of what the Department does and why.
• Have access to unique professional development and training opportunities.
• Play a role in ensuring a balance between wise use and protection of Ohio’s natural resources for the benefit of all.

ODNR seeks applicants from a wide variety of academic majors, including, but not limited to:

• Engineer/Surveyor: architectural, civil, environmental, geological, mechanical, mining, petroleum, engineering technology

An ODNR internship offers:

• Hands-on, practical experience
• Flexible hours
• The option to gain school credit
• A safe, inclusive, respectful workplace

ODNR Core Values:

• Do The Right Thing, The Right Way
• Promote Science-Based Stewardship
• If It’s Worth Doing, It’s Worth Doing Now
• Strive for Excellence in Customer Service

• Commit to Great Communication

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

Candidates meeting the following criteria are eligible to apply:

• Enrolled as a part-time or full-time student, in an Engineer/Surveyor related major, at an accredited college, university, or community college which offers or leads to an associate, bachelor, or graduate degree.
• Good academic standing (2.5 GPA or higher)

• Applicants will be required to submit a resume and writing sample with their application. (A writing sample can be a research paper or writing assignment from a previous job or class and is, generally, one to two pages in length. The topic of the writing sample is up to the applicant but should be relevant to the internship to which the applicant is seeking)

Job Skills: Internship, Active Learning, Customer Focus, Verbal Communication, Critical Thinking, Observation

Please ensure your online application clearly indicates how you meet minimum qualifications (MQs). Transcripts are required for all coursework, degrees or educational accomplishments claimed on the application. Applicants must submit a transcript (can be unofficial until point of selection) by the posting deadline (attach in the Additional Attachments section of the application submission Step 6). Should you have issues attaching, please email to: hr@dnr.ohio.gov. "See resume" is not a substitution for completing supplemental questions. Answers to the supplemental questions must be supported by the work experience/education sections of the application. Applications that fail to demonstrate how they meet minimum qualifications will not be considered.

To request a reasonable accommodation due to a disability please contact Mohammad Yakubu, EEO Regional/Program Administrator at 614-265-6992 or mohammad.yakubu@dnr.ohio.gov.

Effective July 1, 2015 applicants must apply online for positions at all state agencies except the Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD).

The final candidate selected for the position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant's prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.

STATUS OF POSTED POSITIONS: Applicants can view the status of this position by logging into their Ohio Hiring Management System [OHMS] user profile at careers.ohio.gov, and selecting "My Profile".

Please do not upload attachments that have an anomaly or are password protected.

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.