Internship - NOAA Data Strategy

National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Internship dates: June 2 - August 24, 2025 = 12wks

About Us:

The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is the largest provider of hands-on conservation programs for youth and adults. Program participants protect and restore national parks, national forests, wildlife refuges, marine sanctuaries, cultural landmarks, community green spaces, and much more across the country.

NOAA Background: NOAA's National Ocean Service (NOS) provides data, tools, and services that protect our ecosystems and enhance climate and economic resilience. This project is designed to develop the NOS Data Strategy which covers the range of 8 Program Offices including the Office of Coast Survey, National Geodetic Survey, Office for Coastal Management, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, Office of Response and Restoration, and the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System Program.

Position Description: This internship project involves developing a (high level) comprehensive data strategy and plan for (NOS). The project will align closely with the overarching goals of the NOAA Data Strategy and the NOS Strategic Plan, ensuring data management practices support NOAA's mission and strategic priorities. The intern will collaborate with NOS staff to assess current data practices and policies, identify gaps, and create actionable recommendations. This effort will culminate in a detailed data strategy document and supporting implementation plan.

Member Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Orientation and Familiarization
  • Review the NOAA Data Strategy, NOS Strategic Plan, and Public Access to Research Results documentation to understand their goals, objectives, and priorities.
  • Engage in discussions with NOS staff to gain insights into existing data practices, challenges, and aspirations.
• Assessment of Current Data Practices
  • Conduct a baseline assessment of NOS's current data management processes, systems, and tools.
  • Identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT analysis) related to NOS's data practices.
  • Document the alignment of existing practices with NOAA's and NOS's strategic objectives.
• Stakeholder Engagement
  • Interview NOS staff, data managers, and stakeholders to understand their data needs and priorities.
  • Gather feedback on the usability, accessibility, and quality of NOS's current data resources.
  • Facilitate discussions to identify shared goals and potential barriers to strategic alignment.
• Development of the Data Strategy
  • Draft a NOS-specific data strategy that aligns with the NOAA Data Strategy and NOS Strategic Plan.
  • Define key focus areas such as data accessibility, interoperability, quality assurance, and stewardship.
  • Establish measurable goals and objectives for data management and usage.
• Creation of an Implementation Plan
  • Develop an actionable plan to operationalize the data strategy.
  • Include steps, timelines, and resource requirements for achieving the strategy's objectives.
  • Recommend policies, processes, and technologies to improve data governance and usability.
• Documentation and Reporting
  • Produce a comprehensive report summarizing findings, the proposed data strategy, and the implementation plan.
  • Document the methods used for assessment, stakeholder engagement, and strategy development.
• Professional Development and Immersion
  • Participate in immersion activities to learn about NOAA's mission, operations, and federal employment opportunities.
  • Attend relevant workshops or training sessions to enhance skills.
  • Network with professionals in data management and governance.
• Final Presentation
  • Deliver a presentation to NOS leadership and stakeholders summarizing the project outcomes.
  • Highlight key findings, the data strategy, and recommendations for implementation.
  • Facilitate a Q&A session to gather feedback and address questions.

Member Required Qualifications:

Minimum qualifications are the ability to read and synthesize information. This project could be completed by a range of professions and experience. The path can vary based on the experience or lack thereof.

Member Preferred Qualifications:

Interest in learning more about environmental/climate science, strategic planning, and/or government policy.

Member Benefits:

• $600 per week living allowance
• $1,130 one-time relocation travel allowance
• $1,000 per month housing allowance