Water Quality Intern (Boone Office)
The Water Quality Intern is responsible for aiding the High Country Water Quality Administrator (HCWQA) with managing multiple water quality monitoring programs. This position would require interactions with volunteers on many levels (recruiting, training, organizing). This position requires attention to detail and learning how to apply hard science skills to the needs of the community.
This internship will run from May to August.
Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Assist making maps (using GIS if applicable),
- Attend training on lab equipment used for analyzing water samples,
- Research state and federal water quality regulations
- Collaborate with community partners to conduct public education events
- Support event planning and attend events like live staking and river snorkeling,
- Support the HCWQA with various other projects and tasks.
Qualifications:
- Related education background preferred: environmental sciences/studies, natural resource management, sustainability/technology, geography and planning, etc.
- Experience working with or managing volunteers of various demographics
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Experience with Microsoft Office, Google suite, Facebook, and GIS
- Good time management skills and ability to prioritize multiple tasks
General Requirements/Information:
- Need to provide own transportation (personal vehicle preferred)
- Ability to meet physical demands of paddling, hiking and outdoor work (must be able to swim)
- Most of the internship will be teleservice, but will require in person meetings for training and sampling
To apply, submit resume and cover letter to Andy Hill at andy@mountaintrue.org
Community Outreach and Water Quality Intern – Summer 2021
We are hiring an intern for the summer of 2021 who will participate in the 8-week Non Profit Internship Program (NPIP) sponsored by the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. To learn more about this program, click here. This position will be split evenly between supporting general community outreach efforts and helping our French Broad Riverkeeper team. For the water quality portion of the position, this intern will help facilitate our summer water quality programs, both aimed at tracking sources of bacteria pollution in the river. Our intent with these programs is twofold— 1). to alert the public of high E. coli levels to ensure safe water for safe recreation, and 2) pinpointing sewer/septic leaks and agricultural runoff problems in order to get them fixed. This position will be coordinating water sampling volunteers, taking water samples, performing lab and field work, managing data, conducting research, and distributing and disseminating results to the public.
When not working with our water quality team, this position will support our Community Engagement Director with outreach events, educational programs and/or advocacy campaigns. This work could include promoting events on social media, helping coordinate volunteer work days, preparing materials for educational displays, managing information in our advocacy database, and other tasks that help us communicate with the public about the environmental threats our region faces and our plans to respond to those threats.
We are looking for someone:
- with a positive attitude,
- who is comfortable with a changing schedule as needed per weather and other factors.
- attention to detail,
- eager to learn,
- skilled in communications,
- ideally with experience writing press releases or other written pieces for the public to read,
- ideally some background in water quality monitoring, but not required.
Eligible students must be:
- A rising sophomore, junior, or senior enrolled full-time in a four-year North Carolina college or university; OR
- A rising sophomore, junior or senior North Carolina resident enrolled full-time in a four-year accredited college outside the state; AND
- Pell grant-eligible in the academic year in which they apply for NPIP. As a part of the application process, students will be asked to upload their Student Aid Report verifying their Pell grant eligibility. Students can access this document through their FAFSA login. Click here for further directions. Students ineligible for a Pell grant due to documentation issues or criminal conviction may be eligible and should contact Maya Reynolds at mayar@zsr.org
Students of color are encouraged to apply.
Application Deadline is February 15, 2021. A $3,200 stipend will be provided. Click HERE to submit an application and select MountainTrue from the list of participating non profit organizations. If you have questions about the position, please contact Susan Bean at susan@mountaintrue.org.
