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!
Job Description
Applications for the 2025 Ohio Department of Natural Resources Summer Internship Program are currently being accepted for positions in Franklin County, Ohio and from students of Graphic Design, Photography, or Videography disciplines.
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, naturalists, 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
Through the ODNR Summer Internship Program, interns will:
Work on design projects including signage, flyers, handouts and social graphics.
Build content for online platforms.
Research, edit, write and fact check news releases.
Coordinate exhibits, which includes set up, tear down, scheduling and signage.
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:
ARTS: digital arts, graphic design, journalism, visual communication design
BUSINESS: advertising, accounting, business, communication, English, finance, history, hospitality management, human resources, information management, information systems, marketing, operations management, public affairs
HUMAN SERVICES: criminal justice, fire science, outdoor recreation and education, recreation management, tourism
TECHNICAL: carpentry, facilities maintenance, geographic information science (GIS), welding
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
Embrace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Why Work for the State of Ohio
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.
Qualifications
Candidates meeting the following criteria are eligible to apply:
Enrolled as a part-time or full-time student, in Graphic Design, Photography, or Videography 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
Supplemental Information
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources 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. 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).
STATUS OF POSTED POSITIONS: Applicants can view the status of this position by logging into their user profile on the Ohio Hiring Management System [OHMS] Home page at the following link careers.ohio.gov, and selecting "My Profile".
ADA Statement
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.
Drug-Free Workplace
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.