Water Quality Public Education, Outreach, and Involvement Internship

City of Raleigh North Carolina • Raleigh, NC

10h

About The Position

The Water Quality Section of Raleigh Stormwater is seeking qualified internship candidates interested in water quality, stormwater management, environmental education, and community outreach. This position will work alongside Water Quality section staff and will support efforts both in the office and in the field related to stormwater pollution prevention, watershed restoration, and water quality research. This is a time limited part-time job opportunity that is term limited to 16 weeks and not to exceed 250 hours. This position will report to Stormwater’s Community Engagement Analyst and will support a variety of public programming opportunities. Events and outreach may require occasional evening and weekend work. Raleigh Stormwater’s Water Quality Section leads initiatives to help prevent stormwater pollution through public education and outreach, as well as initiatives that involve the public in the development and implementation of water quality protection and improvement programs. These public involvement and education and outreach programs are required for regulatory compliance and are part of Raleigh’s Stormwater Management Plan. Activities included in these programs include educating the public through presentations and school visits, writing and designing informational materials based on target pollutants, sources, and audiences, and coordinating volunteer events such as stream clean-ups and storm drain markings. Tracking, assessing, and reporting on these program activities is also required for regulatory compliance and to identify opportunities for continuous improvement. In addition to leading regulatory compliance programs, the Section also helps to implement City strategic initiatives related to Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI). GSI refers to a natural or nature-based system that helps to manage and clean stormwater runoff through temporary storage and infiltration into the ground, such as rain gardens, permeable pavement, cisterns, stormwater wetlands and more. GSI Initiatives include the Raleigh Rainwater Rewards program, Growing More than Rain Gardens Apprenticeship program, GSI Visual Monitoring program, and various capital improvement projects led by the Section to support the advancement of GSI. Activities included in these programs may include presenting at Rain Garden and Rain Barrel workshops, drafting and testing lesson plans that introduce K-12 students to GSI, collaborating with City departments and community partners to enhance GSI awareness and visibility, and training students and teachers on GSI benefits and best practices. Hours will be flexible, with weekend and evening availability required, and 16 hours worked per week.

Requirements

• High School diploma or G.E.D. equivalency
• No previous experience required

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of water quality monitoring techniques and practices
• Knowledge of Green Stormwater Infrastructure devices
• Knowledge of Environmental education guiding principles
• Knowledge of North Carolina’s State Education Science Standards
• Knowledge of Basic organizational and record-keeping principles
• Knowledge of Customer service principles
• Knowledge of Utilizing modern technology and relevant software
• Skill in Public communication, including writing, public speaking, and some graphic design
• Skill in Engaging audiences via written narratives and storytelling
• Skill in Writing and communicating to diverse audiences
• Ability to speak a second language

Responsibilities

• Interact with and inform the public on water quality at events such as tabling, school visits, workshops, and other efforts to educate the public about water quality impacts, pollution prevention resources, and green stormwater infrastructure practices.
• Create educational materials related to water quality and stormwater management, including but not limited to temporary and permanent signage, rack cards, digital materials, and presentation slides.
• Provide staff support during recurring public involvement initiatives, such as Creek Week, Environmental Awards, and Earth Day.
• Draft and review lesson plans and activities for grades K – 12 related to water quality, pollution prevention, and nature-based solutions.
• Facilitate outdoor and interactive GSI training activities for high school students participating in the Growing More than Rain Gardens apprenticeship program.
• Support facilitation of community volunteer events, such as stream cleanups, bioblitz’s, stream repairs, or others as needs arise.
• Coordinate equipment drop off / pick up with Adopt-A-Stream and Storm Drain Marking volunteers.

What This Job Offers

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