Job description
About Rincon
We are proud to be a Certified Great Place to Work, reflecting the trust, connection, and sense of purpose our team members share. We strive to create a welcoming environment where people can learn, grow, and contribute to meaningful, mission-driven work.
We are a California-based environmental consulting firm with more than 500 professionals and 13 offices across the state. For over 30 years, we’ve provided high-quality, client-focused environmental science, planning, and consulting services across a range of sectors, including transportation, energy, water, infrastructure, private development, and government.
Schedule & Location
This internship is anticipated to run for approximately three months, from June through August. While the internship does not guarantee future employment, candidates who have completed an undergraduate degree may be considered for full-time, regular employment at the conclusion of the internship based on business needs, performance, and mutual interest.
This position will be part-time (approximately 30–40 hours per week), with weekly schedules determined collaboratively between Rincon and the selected candidate. Hours may vary based on project needs and intern availability.
This position is being offered at our Ventura, Los Angeles, or San Diego offices. While this role offers flexible work arrangements that may include a mix of in-office and remote work, changing business needs ultimately determine the level of remote-work flexibility.
About the Role
As a Climate Intern, you will support projects that advance climate action, climate adaptation, decarbonization, wildfire resilience, and other community sustainability initiatives across California. You will gain hands-on experience preparing climate and resilience planning documents, supporting community engagement, and developing data-driven insights alongside Rincon’s Environmental Sustainability and Climate Resilience team. Most work will be conducted for clients in the public sector, including cities, counties, and other public agencies. This role is ideal for students interested in applying climate science, planning, and policy to real-world challenges and contributing to strategies that help communities prepare for a changing climate.
What You’ll Do
- Assist with preparing Climate Action and Adaptation Plans, General Plans, Community Wildfire Protection Plans, and related planning documents through research, technical analysis, policy development, and writing for public audiences.
- Contribute to Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments, including evaluating risks such as extreme heat, wildfire, flooding, and sea level rise.
- Contribute to GHG inventories, including data collection and analysis.
- Participate in facility GHG audits and verification reports.
- Prepare research summaries, data visualizations, and planning materials for public-facing communication using software such as DataWrapper and Canva.
- Assist with community engagement materials, including social media posts, flyers, workshop content, and in-person workshops.
- Prepare drafts of technical memoranda, meeting minutes, presentations, and related written materials.
- Collaborate with project teams and represent Rincon professionally in all assignments.
What You’ll Bring
- Current status as an incoming college senior, graduate student, or recent graduate who has completed an undergraduate or graduate degree within the past two years in Sustainability, Climate Science/Policy, Urban or Regional Planning, or a related field (e.g., Forestry, Community Planning, Science Communication).
- Ability to research and synthesize information for planning, policy, and climate-related projects.
- Strong teamwork, interpersonal, and communication skills, with the ability to work independently when needed.
- Detail-oriented, organized, and committed to managing time effectively and producing high-quality, professional work.
- Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to draft professional emails, support technical report preparation, and policy writing.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, PowerPoint).
- Experience using design or visualization tools (e.g., Canva) to create graphics, posters, or brochures.
- Positive attitude and interest in improving processes and workflows.
- Creativity, adaptability, and enthusiasm for working in a dynamic consulting environment.
- Desired: Ability to translate technical information into Spanish.
EEPIC Program Opportunity (Optional)
Students applying for this internship may simultaneously select to apply to the Environmental, Engineering, and Planning Internship and Charrette (EEPIC) program, a partnership among seven leading consulting firms—Ascent, Dudek, EPS, ESA, Fehr & Peers, PlaceWorks, and Rincon. This program aims to expand representation within the environmental, engineering, and planning fields by creating meaningful opportunities for students across all backgrounds. This includes, but is not limited to, students who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC); veterans; individuals with disabilities; and students who are the first in their families to attend college.
In addition to the three-month Rincon internship, EEPIC participants join a two-week charrette, collaborating with interns from partner firms on a real-world planning challenge. This unique experience offers hands-on learning, multidisciplinary teamwork, and valuable networking opportunities.
To participate, you must be willing to attend a two-week in-person charrette in San Diego from July 13–24, 2026 (travel and lodging provided if needed). Learn more about the EEPIC program, click here.
Additional Details
The base pay for this internship opportunity is $27.00 per hour. At Rincon, our salary ranges are based on market median of similar jobs, according to third party salary benchmark surveys. To apply, a resume and cover letter are required as part of the application.
Individuals offered employment must successfully complete a pre-employment drug screening as a condition of employment. Additionally, those hired who may be assigned to federal projects will be subject to further drug testing, including screening for cannabinoids (THC/marijuana), in compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and other applicable federal regulations, which take precedence over California state and local laws.
We are accepting internship applications from January 5th through February 6th, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. PST.
Rincon Consultants, Inc does not accept unsolicited applicant/candidate resumes from search firm recruiters and/or temporary agencies that do not have a signed contract and specified work order with Rincon Consultants. Further, such resumes received will be deemed the sole property of Rincon Consultants and no fees will be paid in the event Rincon Consultants subsequently hires such individual. Rincon Consultants is an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.
