Water Resources Planning Intern

Position Description

About Seattle Public Utilities

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is a Community Centered Utility whose mission is to foster healthy people, environment, and economy by partnering with our community to equitably manage water and waste resources for today and future generations. We deliver high quality, vital services across four major lines of business: providing water, solid waste, drainage, and wastewater services for Seattle residents and businesses. In addition, SPU provides drinking water for 1.6 million regional customers in Seattle and other municipalities.

SPU commits to Our City Values and Race and Social Justice as core principles that guide our work. We actively take steps to dismantle systemic racism and increase service equity. We value diverse life experiences and strive to create a workplace that is welcoming to all, taking steps to be inclusive and equitable in our recruiting, hiring, and promotional opportunities.

Job Responsibilities

As a Water Resources Planning Intern, you will support the SPU Water Resources program in critical water supply planning and climate change analysis. Reporting to a Water Resources Planner, you will assist in managing the vital natural resources that provide water to the greater Seattle area.

Planning & Resource Management

• Supply Analysis: Support seasonal and long-term water supply planning projects to ensure regional water security.
• Climate Readiness: Contribute to climate change analysis and modeling to prepare our water systems for future environmental shifts.
  
  

Technical Data & Communication

• Data Analysis: Utilize environmental time series data to monitor trends and inform management decisions.
• Programming & Modeling: Apply R or Python programming skills to environmental modeling tasks.
• Technical Reporting: Communicate complex technical data clearly to diverse audiences through written documentation and presentations.
  
  

Learning Objectives

Through this role, you will bridge the gap between academic theory and the practical realities of water resource management. By the conclusion of this term, you will have:

• Applied Hydrology: Developed a deep understanding of real-world hydrology concepts and municipal water supply planning.
• Technical Mastery: Gained proficiency in data visualization and analysis using R and Excel.
• Professional Growth: Enhanced your written documentation skills, presentation skills, and task management skills within a government utility.
• Field Insight: Gained unique perspective on water infrastructure through site visits to the Cedar River Municipal Watershed and Landsburg diversion dam.
  
  

Qualifications

• Education: Currently enrolled as an Undergraduate (Junior or Senior) or Graduate student.
• Undergraduate students must be enrolled on either a part-time or full-time basis and maintain a 2.0 GPA for the duration of the internship.
• Graduate Students must be enrolled on either a part-time or full-time basis and maintain a 3.0 GPA for the duration of the internship.
• Preferred Majors: Background in Hydrology, Environmental/Water Resources Engineering, Geology, or Environmental Science.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in Mathematics, with experience in environmental time series data analysis.
• Programming: Exposure to programming in R or Python (with a preference/willingness to use R).

Academic Requirement: Students are not required to be enrolled during summer sessions but must provide documentation of continued Fall enrollment.

Additional Information

• Hours: Up to 20 hours per week during school sessions, with the potential for up to 40 hours during breaks and summer months.
• Schedule: Standard work hours are between 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM.
• Duration: This is a 1 – 2-year internship.
• Salary: The full salary range for this internship is $22.56 - $27.67 an hour.
• Mentorship: Includes weekly one-on-ones, quarterly skip-level meetings, and "Flash Mentoring" with SPU management.
  
  

How To Apply

To be considered for this position, you must attach the following documents:

• Resume clearly identifying how you meet the qualifications.
• Cover Letter indicating your interest in this specific internship.
• Unofficial Transcript from your college or university.
  
  

All 3 documents (Resume, Cover Letter, and Transcript) must be attached to your application to be considered a complete application.

Incomplete applications may not be considered. Applicants selected to interview will be requested to provide references at the time of the interview.

Who May Apply

The City of Seattle encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experience. We value diverse perspectives and consider all qualified candidates regardless of race, color, religion, sex, or identity.