Individual Placement- River Operations & Restoration Fellow

Student Conservation Association • Cleveland, OH

9d

About The Position

The Water Economy Workforce Fellowship Program is a partnership between Cuyahoga
County, the Student Conservation Association, and the NOAA Climate Ready
Workforce Internship program. The River Operations & Restoration Fellow
will gain hands-on experience in river operations, restoration, and recreation
management at Cuyahoga Valley National Park, working directly with park staff,
partner organizations, and community stakeholders including water trail
partners, and volunteer groups. The fellow will support the River Operations and
Restoration Team through river patrols, water quality monitoring, visitor
management, and volunteer coordination. The fellow will assist with river
cleanup initiatives, paddle programs with River Rangers, long-term planning for
water trail development, and public engagement activities. The fellow will also
support volunteers with various river-focused projects and programs. The primary
goal of this position is to support sustainable river operations and restoration
while engaging the public and volunteers in stewardship of the Cuyahoga River
within the national park.

Requirements

• Must be a recent high school graduate, current college student, and/or recent college graduate
• Must be a minimum of 18 years of age
• Must have the ability to legally work in the US
• Must be able to meet SCA's criminal background check standards
• Valid driver's license and access to reliable transportation
• Ability to work in outdoor environments
• Strong interpersonal skills for public engagement and volunteer management
• Ability to safely navigate waterways and work in outdoor conditions
• Physical ability to perform field work and assist with river operations.

Nice To Haves

• Currently enrolled in college or recent graduate with relevant coursework in environmental science, natural resource management, recreation management, ecology, or related fields
• Experience with water quality monitoring, sampling techniques, or environmental data collection
• Familiarity with river ecosystems, aquatic ecology, or watershed management
• Background in volunteer management, coordination, or community engagement
• Experience with paddling, boating, or water-based recreation; Interest in, experience with, or willingness to learn and model water safety best practices for river users
• Hands-on experience coordinating or supporting community events, cleanups, or restoration projects
• Experience working with diverse volunteer groups and community partners; Interest in long-term conservation planning and water trail development
• Strong communication skills, particularly in working with park visitors, volunteers, and partner organizations
• Enthusiasm for river conservation, restoration, and public engagement.

Responsibilities

• Monthly river patrols and monitoring
• Water sampling and water quality data collection and/or analysis
• Visitor use monitoring and access management
• Supporting river cleanup paddle programs with River Rangers
• Assisting with volunteers for river projects
• Providing information to and engaging with park visitors and the public
• Working with volunteer groups to plan and execute river-focused projects
• Utilizing volunteers to support restoration and maintenance activities
• Supporting on-river programming and educational initiatives
• Dssisting with long-term planning for water trail development
• Collaborating with water trail partners
• Field work including hands-on sampling, monitoring, and restoration work
• Data management and reporting
• Communications with partners and stakeholders
• Supporting the River Operations and Restorations Team in daily operations and special projects.

Benefits

• $850/week living allowance
• $1000/month housing allowance (3 disbursements) or access to partner provided housing
• Cohort-based networking and learning opportunities
• Intercultural Competency certification
• Water quality monitoring training
• Stormwater infrastructure and maintenance training
• OSU Stone Lab workshops
• OSU Stone Lab courses

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: High school or GED