Environmental Student Assistant Intern

Job Description Summary:
 

Salary Range: $18.08 - $27.12 per hour

The mission of the District’s Watershed Program is to protect water supplies through responsible watershed planning and stewardship. The program accomplishes this by leading watershed stakeholders, decision-makers, and scientific experts in the development and implementation of stakeholder-driven plans designed to reduce the flow of pollutants to streams and lakes.

As a summer-seasonal Student Assistant, you will join the environmental services division to solve challenges. Our solutions enrich our communities and improve the quality of life. The Program’s Student Assistant will be responsible for delivering and assisting with education, engagement, and outreach programs and events to stakeholder groups and the public, as well as assisting in other technical and administrative tasks of watershed planning throughout the TRWD service area and reservoir watersheds. You may calculate, analyze, and collect environmental or geospatial data, review and participate in environmental studies, assist with database development and data entry, and assist with project management and reporting efforts. Work duties will primarily be at the main campus’ TRWD Rainscapes in Fort Worth, Texas and will require additional travel to TRWD’s satellite offices and offsite events in other locations. The technician will shadow staff from Environmental Services, as well as other TRWD divisions that may align with the Watershed Programs or the missions of the Tarrant Regional Water District.

Job Description

 

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to this position.

• Conduct research and educational activities to advance understanding of water and watershed issues in TRWD reservoir watersheds and the Trinity River basin at the TRWD Rainscapes
• Interest in water reuse, natural biological systems, wetlands, water quality, conservation, watershed management, environmental science, and statistics
• Field investigations
• Provide presentations and hands-on demonstrations to students, the public, private landowners, agency representatives, and others
• Perform vegetation monitoring
• Collecting and organizing engineering or environmental data into usable formats
• Maintain an updated schedule and record of presentations and events
• Assist in maintaining and developing content for website, social media and marketing, and news articles
• Utilize Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel to update databases and standard operating procedures, produce graphs, make figures or presentations, and develop electronic forms for data collection to provide reports of program activities to management
• Obtain familiarity with strategic District levels of service
• Continuous improvement monitoring and innovation efforts
• Perform other duties as required

Required Experience/Skills:

• Less than one (1) year of experience
• Must be 18 years of age or older
• Strong organizational, writing, communication skills
• Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Ability to lift 50 lbs.
• Ability to work outdoors for extended periods of time
• Relevant coursework in environmental sciences, water resources, planning, agriculture, education, or a related natural resource management field
• Ability to work and travel outside regular business hours, especially evenings and weekends for events and trainings

Desired Experience/Skills:

• Intern experience performing environmental or geographic data collection, analysis, and survey
• Knowledge of Texas native flora and fauna
• Ability to work independently, establish work priorities, and manage time effectively
• Ability to work effectively with individuals, groups, and units of government
• Prairie Restoration, Irrigation, or other vegetation management experience.
• Utilize ArcGIS to collect field data and create or update maps
• Knowledge of citizen science projects and software, including iNaturalist and Rubbish

Required Education/Certification/License:

• High School Diploma
• Enrolled in (or recently completed) college or university majoring in environmental sciences, water resources, planning, agriculture, education, or a related natural resource management field 
• Please use cover letter to write about experiences.
• Valid Texas driver’s license

Desired Education/Certification/License:       

• Ability to safely connect and tow a trailer
• Enrolled in a graduate degree or graduate coursework in a related field
• Texas Community Watershed Partners’ Introduction to Green Infrastructure Course
• EPA’s Watershed Academy Training Certificate
• TRWD’s Green Pros Landscaping course (Save Tarrant Water)

Success Factors/Job Competencies:

• Receives supervision and guidance related to performance of tasks
• Passion for the natural environment and water resources
• Desire to produce high-quality work in a timely manner
• Communication: Clear verbal and written communication skills
• Problem-solving: The ability to identify and resolve issues effectively
• Teamwork: Collaborating effectively with colleagues
• Adaptability: Adjusting to changing work environments and priorities
• Time Management: Meeting deadlines and managing resources efficiently

Physical Demands and Work Environment