Position Summary

Want to be part of a team of passionate advocates who are working toward a cleaner Puget Sound for everyone? Does the idea of working for clean water and environmental justice excite you? Come join our team!

Washington Conservation Action (WCA) is seeking a talented individual who believes that everyone deserves clean water, and that properly managing sewage is a responsibility to protect downstream communities from sewage pollution. The Puget Sound Water Quality Intern will work as part of the Puget Sound Program researching sewage spills to Puget Sound from wastewater treatment plants and community notification programs. The position is based in Seattle, Washington. This internship will start October 1 and run through December 13, 2024. This is a great part-time position for someone who is interested in building their skills around environmental policy and advocacy.

This is a hands-on internship focused on building research and policy skills. Someone who has strong attention to detail and seeks to broaden knowledge of key Puget Sound pollution issues will find this work extremely rewarding. This intern will have weekly supervision meetings, training, professional development and networking opportunities. This position is supervised by WCA’s Puget Sound Program Director.

About Organization

Washington Conservation Action is a statewide environmental advocacy organization that advances environmental policies and pushes for actions that equitably address climate pollution, restore Puget Sound, sustain our state’s forests, and protect our democracy. For Washington to remain a national leader on environmental issues, we need environmental champions in elected office and to hold our leaders accountable. To keep our environment protected, healthy, and vibrant, we are committed to supporting Native candidates, candidates of color, and environmental leaders seeking election.

We are committed to a representative, socially just, and welcoming work environment – young people, people of color, people with varying abilities, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are especially encouraged to apply. We continue to advance the application of a racial equity lens to our work and are led by a CEO who is a citizen of the Confederated Tribe of Warm Springs, Oregon.

Internship Hours, Timeframe, and Stipend

The Puget Sound Water Quality Intern will work 15 hours per week, typically between the hours of 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM Monday through Friday, for eleven weeks between October 1 and December 13, 2024. This will be a hybrid internship and while most of the work can be done remotely, this intern will be expected to attend weekly in-person meetings with the Puget Sound team. The schedule is flexible and can vary weekly. This internship can count as course credit if approved by your institution. A $2,500 stipend and transit pass (e.g. ORCA card, c-tran pass, or other regional pass) will be provided. The stipend will be paid in two installments: halfway through and at the end of the internship. A laptop is required; one can be provided for the duration of the internship if needed.

Primary Responsibilities

• Research and compile information on sewage spills through the Department of Ecology’s online Permitting and Reporting Information System (PARIS) database, publications, web sites, social media, news media, health districts, and other sources for wastewater treatment plants that discharge to Puget Sound.
• Compile existing community notification pathways when spills occur, including through local health jurisdictions from Bellingham to Olympia to Neah Bay.
• Identify communities impacted by sewage pollution and research mechanisms to provide information to them on sewage spills in a timely and effective way.
• Develop recommendations for best practices to improve communications with communities impacted by sewage pollution.
• Develop recommendations for wastewater treatment plants and the Department of Ecology to decrease spills and their impacts and to clearly communicate with communities impacted by pollution.
• Summarize work in a written report and brief fact sheet.

Qualifications and Required Skills

Previous experience is not required. Applicants should have:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including strong writing skills
• Ability to research complex technical issues and summarize results accurately and concisely
• Ability to work well individually and as part of a team
• Comfort with Microsoft Office applications (like Word, Excel), web searches, and email 
• Ability to multitask and meet deadlines
• A passion for clean water and environmental justice

Desirable Skills

• Knowledge of Washington state environmental policy
• Interest in protecting the local environment and environmental justice 
• Experience with graphics and mapping software, and Geographic Information Systems

To Apply

Please submit a cover letter describing your interest in this internship, your resume, and your typical availability here. We will review applications beginning September 5 and will schedule Zoom interviews for the week of September 16.

WCA is an equal opportunity employer committed to dismantling structural racism and creating a welcoming work environment. WCA does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, creed, gender, religion, marital status, veteran’s status, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation. People of color, people with disabilities, and people of all gender identities are encouraged to apply.