What are the responsibilities and job description for the Graduate Intern III - WaterWorks position at King County, WA?
Salary : $23.88 - $30.27 Hourly
Location : Seattle, WA
Job Type : Intern
Job Number : 2025-23865
Department : DNRP-Natural Resources & Parks
Division : Wastewater Treatment
Opening Date : 02 / 12 / 2025
Closing Date : 2 / 27 / 2025 11 : 59 PM Pacific
FLSA : Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit : Z3 : KC Personnel Guidelines
Full- or Part-Time : Full Time
Hours / Week : 40 hours / week
Summary
About the Role :
The King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) seeks a 2025 full-year Waterworks Intern. Our internship is for active students only. To be eligible for this internship, you must be enrolled in a college, or university program for the duration of your internship. For example, if you are graduating from a college or university in June 2025 and are not enrolled for a fall 2025 academic program, you are not eligible for internship but rather highly encouraged to apply for our entry-level job openings.
Please visit Wastewater Treatment Division website :
This role provides an opportunity to work with two different programs, the Waterworks Grant Program and Resource Recovery, that support the overall mission of the Wastewater Treatment Division to protect public health and the environment. Both programs also help fulfill King County goals of sustainability and equity and social justice.
Resource Recovery provides leadership around sustainability and the reuse of valuable products, through recovering and reusing products from the wastewater treatment process. Beneficially recycling the treated water and nutrient-rich biosolids and recovering energy from waste gases increases the efficiency of our wastewater treatment plants, conserves resources, protects the environment, and saves money.
The WaterWorks Grant Program provides funding for sound investments in clean water and community, for diverse organizations and projects that improve water quality in the region. Significant funding of over $5 million every two years promotes innovation and community-driven projects including rain gardens and GSI, research, water quality monitoring, tree planting and other restoration, and education and outreach in many languages.
This intern will assist in making these programs more effective through tracking metrics, updating information, and creating communications materials that engage diverse community members and organizations. In addition, you will be involved in direct outreach and develop your skills in conveying technical information in a way that is accurate and engaging. Through this process you will gain perspective on best practices in grant management, community involvement, and project management.
With on-the-job training and guidance, intern tasks and areas will include :
- Becoming familiar with the WaterWorks Grant Program and the Resource Recovery Research Program
- Learn best practices for grant management, community engagement, and science communication
- Tracking and communicating performance measures
- Data management
- Learning to develop communications content on water quality topics for a broad audience for use in blogs, reports and websites
- Acquiring an understanding of how water quality topics are addressed through a local government program and communicated with different audiences
- Data and materials organization, including an accounting of people reached and programs delivered
- Receive training on the basics of environmental education and community engagement
WTD protects public health and enhances the environment by collecting and treating wastewater while recycling valuable resources for the Puget Sound region. WTD interns create real value for our projects, programs, and agency while getting real world job experience, networking opportunities, and learning about water systems. Summer interns join a group of their peers to take trainings, tour job sites, develop job skills, and complete their own projects. At summer's ends, interns present their projects to an audience of staff and hiring managers. Interns get exposure to careers and opportunities they might not have imagined before. Participants have used their internships to acquire jobs at WTD and elsewhere in King County, their university, and elsewhere the public and private sectors.
Our regional wastewater treatment system has a big job. Not only does it operate around the clock to sustain a healthy environment, this vital infrastructure also supports economic development that enables our region to thrive. King County is committed to recovering and reusing products from the wastewater treatment process. Beneficially recycling the treated water and nutrient-rich biosolids and recovering energy from waste gases increases the efficiency of our wastewater treatment plants, conserves resources, protects the environment, and saves money.
This position performs work remotely and onsite.
About the Team :
Join our team dedicated to ensuring clean water for generations to come! With over 900 employees engaged in planning, designing, building, and operating treatment facilities, our agency is at the forefront of environmental stewardship. Success for us means upholding our legacy while promising future generations a pristine environment.
We partner with regulatory agencies to reduce harmful waste discharge and actively educate the public and businesses on water quality protection. We prioritize accountability to our ratepayers and operate a well-managed agency that serves over 2.3 million King County residents. Our regional wastewater treatment system not only sustains a healthy environment but also fuels economic development, fostering prosperity in our region. If you're passionate about making a difference and thrive in a collaborative environment, join us in our mission to safeguard our precious water resources.
Commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice : King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a Waterworks Intern, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at Apply now for a rewarding career at the Wastewater Treatment Division of King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP). Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities.
Job Duties
What You Will Be Doing :
The incoming intern should expect to become familiar with :
Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
Qualifications You Bring :
This internship would be ideal for students with a focus of academic studies in public administration, environmental science, environmental studies, planning, landscape architecture, construction management, engineering, public relations, or communications.
Competencies You Bring :
Required License : Valid WA Driver's License
It Would Be Great if You Also Bring :
Resource Recovery and Sustainability
Waterworks Grant Program :
Supplemental Information
Working Conditions :
Application instructions and selection process : This opportunity is open to college level students currently enrolled and continuing into the fall of 2025 in full or part-time status at an accredited university / college. Proof of full or part-time enrollment status is required. We welcome applications from all qualified student applicants. We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply. Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews.
To apply, submit a :
Note : Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.
W ho to Contact : For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Diana Eberly at diana.eberly@kingcounty.gov
Discover More About the Wastewater Treatment Division : Visit our website and check us out at Facebook , , , YouTube , and the
Discover More About DNRP : Visit our , explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook , X (formerly Twitter) , LinkedIn , TikTok , Instagram , YouTube and Keeping King County Green News .
Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.
Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.
Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ , people living with disabilities, and veterans.
King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.
To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.
This position is not eligible for King County leave, holiday, insured, or other benefits. Please contact the recruiter on the posting for any additional questions regarding associated benefits.
Are you currently a full or part-time student enrolled at an accredited high school / college / university, and you will continue to be in a full or part-time college student status in the fall of 2025?
What is your anticipated graduation date from College? Pleasae enter your month and year (for example, June 2026).
How would an internship with King County Wastewater Treatment Division benefit your education and career goals?Please limit your response to 200 words or less.
School transcripts will be required for final candidates prior to Job Offer. Will you be able to provide your transcripts?
Required Question
Salary : $5
