EPIC: California Ocean Protection Council (Sacramento, CA / Remote)

Job Title: CA Ocean Protection Council Intern

Department/Team: Climate Change Program or Biodiversity Program at the CA Ocean Protection Council

Location: Remote, or hybrid in Sacramento, California (if fully remote, we encourage a few visits to Sacramento for meetings as appropriate)

Duration: 40 hours per week for ten weeks over the summer

Reports to: Staci Lewis (Marine Protected Area Program Manager) or other OPC program manager depending on student’s interests

Areas of Interest: Coast and ocean, marine biodiversity, science-informed policy, community engagement

Summer 2023 Fellows:

Audrey Jung

Summer 2024 Fellows:

Anushka Vijay

Summer 2025 Fellows:

Anne Larson

Office Description

The California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) works to ensure healthy, resilient, productive coastal and ocean ecosystems in California for current and future generations. We achieve this by advancing innovative, science-based policy and management, making strategic investments, and catalyzing action through partnerships and collaboration. OPC’s priorities include: safeguarding coastal and marine ecosystems and communities in the face of climate change; advancing equity across ocean and coastal policies and actions; enhancing coastal and marine biodiversity; and improving ocean health through a blue economy.

OPC is a Cabinet-level state policy body within the California Natural Resources Agency, with the role of advancing the Governor’s priorities for coastal and ocean policy and works broadly to protect the coast and ocean in California. The seven-member Council is chaired by the Secretary for Natural Resources and includes the Secretary for Environmental Protection, the Chair of the State Lands Commission, two public members, and two members of the Legislature. OPC is led by an Executive Director who also serves as the Deputy Secretary for Ocean and Coastal Policy for the California Natural Resources Agency.

About the Team:

OPC’s programmatic work is supported by two teams: (1) the Climate Change program, which seeks to prepare for and reduce harmful impacts of climate change on ocean and coastal resources by encouraging adaptation and understanding of climate change and engaging decision makers at all levels of government, and (2) the Biodiversity program, which works to enhance the diversity and health of California’s coastal and marine ecosystems, restore and protect threatened habitats, and support sustainable fishing through science-based, collaborative management.

The EPIC Summer Fellow has the opportunity to work primarily within one of these two teams with the opportunity to support or lead projects that cut across both programs.

Description of the Work

Fellows have the opportunity to support discrete programs and issue areas that align with their interests, related to climate change, biodiversity, tribal and community engagement, and/or public communications. This includes working with state, federal, and external partners on innovative research and/or information needs, providing research to inform grants and projects that advance OPC's 2026-2030 Strategic Plan, and advancing discrete projects in response to the Governor's priorities, including but not limited to conserving 30 percent of the state's lands and waters by 2030 (30x30) or other emerging topics
Influence policy and lead collaborations that cascade across the California Natural Resource Agency and relevant state agencies
Participate in cross-cutting state, regional, and/or international initiatives
Work with dedicated, passionate staff
Obtain experience working at the intersection of science, policy, and management

List of Potential Projects:

Specific examples of the types of projects a summer intern may work on include:

Advancing priorities in OPC’s 2026 – 2030 Strategic Plan: Safeguarding Our Coast and Ocean for All Californians related to climate change, equity, biodiversity, and the sustainable blue economy.
Contributing to staff reports, recommendations, presentations, and other products.
Conducting research to support the development of future grant solicitations, implementation of current initiatives, or inform future projects.
Monitoring and analyzing state and federal legislation affecting ocean and coastal policy.
Facilitating working group meetings on a discrete topic.

Past Intern Projects (non-exhaustive):

Facilitated the development of the 2022 and 2023 State of the Coast and Ocean Reports
Researched to support the development of the Statewide Microplastics Strategy to address the threat of microplastics on coastal and ocean ecosystems
Completed white paper on land-based nutrient pollution effects on the coastal environment, including ocean acidification, hypoxia, and harmful algal blooms
Drafted Policy Resolution on Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia (OAH), see the final adopted Resolution here
Co-led the development of a Community Science Strategy and Human Dimensions Research and Monitoring Agenda for California’s Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Network
Evaluated emerging science to inform the adaptive management of California’s Marine Protected Area Network

Desired Skills

Strong communication, interpersonal and leadership skills.
Ability to think critically and develop innovative ideas.
Ability to manage multiple projects with tight deadlines.
Ability to understand and translate science for diverse audiences.
Ability to work effectively in a team and independently.

Logistics:

EPIC fellows are required to work full-time (35-40 hours per week) for 10 weeks over the summer, and will receive a stipend of $8,000 - $9,500, depending on financial need. This stipend is intended to help cover living and transportation expenses during the fellowship, which the student is expected to arrange and coordinate.
Start and end dates are flexible (start date no later than July 6, 2026).