GIS intern
About the position
Grand Canyon Trust staff and volunteers collect and use data to support our mission. We are looking for someone with substantial ArcGIS experience to help develop offline field apps for collecting important field data. Before field staff can collect field data, the Trust’s GIS team curates and prepares offline maps and reporting dashboards. Apply your creativity to customize field maps and present the data so staff can efficiently collect observations in the field. Your work during this internship will result in tools that help us restore, protect, and advocate for public lands and support tribal priorities across the Colorado Plateau.
Application deadline: Feb. 24, 2026, at 5 p.m. MST
Anticipated start date: May 18, 2026
What does this position entail?
You will help us develop several offline survey apps and curate data. Possible projects include:
- Building data collection maps in Esri’s Field Maps application for Trust staff.
- Designing data dashboards that highlight patterns and insights of field data collected by staff and volunteers.
- Constructing a Survey123 app, shareable with members of the public who will conduct offline pinyon jay surveys.
- Building a database that collates uranium contamination data from multiple sources for abandoned mine sites on the Navajo Nation.
What might you learn along the way?
- How to build customized and professionally designed offline surveys using Esri’s Survey123 and Field Maps apps.
- Scripting skills in languages including Python, R, and Arcade, useful for automating GIS operations and for processing and presenting data collected by our apps.
- Inner workings of ArcGIS Online and Enterprise as well as ArcGIS’ Map Viewer, Dashboards, and Experience Builder.
- How geospatial data is used in support of conservation.
Do you have what it takes?
- Extensive experience with Esri’s GIS platform, including ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online.
- Demonstrated competence with ArcGIS Online interactive web map builder.
- Experience with Esri’s online applications such as Dashboard, Experience Builder, Field Maps, and Survey123.
- Experience with a scripting language such as Python, R, or JavaScript.
- Substantial GIS coursework at a college or university.
- Ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple projects at once.
- Strong attention to detail and highly organized.
- Willingness to work independently on assignments.
- Ability to give and receive feedback and ask for help when needed.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to communicate complex information effectively and succinctly in written and visual materials.
- Ability to communicate scientific data effectively through written reports and graphs.
- Interest in and commitment to communicating with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Note that experience includes lived experience, traditional knowledge, volunteer experience, school or coursework, work experience, and other related qualifications, skills, and experience.
No candidate will meet every requirement. If you’re excited about the position and think you may be a good candidate, we encourage you to apply.
The nitty-gritty
Location
Remote, but the intern must reside in Arizona, Utah, Colorado, or New Mexico. If you are based in Flagstaff, Arizona, you will have the option to work at our local office. If based around Denver, Colorado or Moab, Utah, you may have the opportunity to occasionally work in-person with the GIS director or senior GIS analyst.
Compensation and benefits
$25.00 per hour. This is not a benefits-eligible position, but interns accrue sick leave during their internships (about two days), and receive a $500 housing stipend, $250 travel allowance, and $200 professional development stipend.
Employment term
This is a 12-week internship, beginning on May 18, 2026, and ending on August 7, 2026. The intern is expected to work an average of 40 hours per week. There is some flexibility in start and end dates, if needed.
Supplies needed
The intern must have reliable internet access. The Trust will provide the necessary hardware and software subscriptions for the duration of the internship.
Who would my supervisor be?
Josh O’Brien, senior GIS analyst
Grand Canyon Trust internships are managed by the Rising Leaders Program. Interns are expected to communicate regularly with Rising Leaders staff about progress and any support needed along the way.
How do I apply?
Please answer the application questions and upload your resume (pdf or word.doc format) titled LastName_FirstName_GISIntern. Please provide 1-2 examples of your past related work, or a link to your portfolio in the application.
The application deadline is Feb. 24, 2026, at 5 p.m. MST. If you need a reasonable accommodation, contact risingleaders@grandcanyontrust.org
Application deadline: Feb. 24, 2026 at 5 p.m. MST
The Grand Canyon Trust is an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in every aspect of our organization. We work actively to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the basis of identity including but not limited to: Race, ethnicity, gender, parental status, national origin, age, religion, disability, veterans’ status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. We actively seek diversity in our candidate pools. Applicants of all identities are encouraged to apply.