Undergraduate Intern II - Water Quality

About the Role:
The King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD), Environmental Services Unit seeks a 2025 Summer Water Quality 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: Undergraduate and Graduate Internship Program - King County, Washington

The King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) has a mission to protect public health and the environment by collecting and cleaning wastewater while recovering valuable resources for a thriving Puget Sound region. The work of the Environmental Services Unit supports this mission by considering environmental impacts and mitigation during project planning, by protecting stormwater and environmentally sensitive areas during project construction, and by restoring disturbed areas after construction. 

The primary function of the Water Quality Intern is to assist Water Quality staff with data collection and construction site inspections for compliance with environmental permits. The work will include data collection at active construction sites, in previously impacted natural areas, and at future construction project locations. The position will provide an opportunity to learn about stormwater management principles for construction projects by assisting with weekly site inspections at several large infrastructure projects. Inspections will focus on evaluating site requirements for compliance with Washington Department of Ecology’s Construction General Stormwater Permit and the performance of Temporary Erosion and Sediment Controls for protecting water quality. Inspections will also include evaluating project compliance with other environmental permits, as needed.

In this role, the Water Quality Intern will support an ongoing project to collect water temperature data in one of WTD’s restoration sites by assisting staff with sensor maintenance and data downloads. This role will also include an opportunity to map various stormwater and natural drainage features associated with future construction projects, supporting future permit compliance efforts. The position includes opportunities to participate in broader Unit-wide initiatives or projects, including supporting environmental assessments on WTD properties or capital projects and supporting the work of environmental planners.

This position provides a great opportunity to learn the fundamentals of compliance with Ecology’s Construction General Stormwater Permit, a common permit applicable to many private and public projects. Project work includes environmentally sensitive locations that will require problem solving, creative thinking and working in a collaborative team environment. This internship will provide an opportunity to support the team with development of data management processes

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 Water Quality Intern, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.

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. What You Will Be Doing: 
The incoming intern should expect to become familiar with:

• Assist Water Quality staff with weekly Temporary Erosion and Sediment Control (TESC) inspections of construction projects. Inspections include taking notes, photos, and stormwater samples for turbidity and pH. TESC inspections support permit compliance, with a goal of protecting water quality equitably across the service area. 
• Assist Water Quality and Mitigation and Monitoring staff with surface water temperature data collection at a restoration site.
• Map stormwater and natural drainage feature information at future project locations. Data collection may include smartphone or GPS technologies. This effort will support future project planning and permit compliance.
• Learn about project planning and execution with a team of Water Quality, Mitigation and Monitoring, and Environmental Planning professionals at a public agency. This position provides an opportunity to experience some of the different ways WTD works to protect water quality and the environment. 

Qualifications You Bring:
This internship would be ideal for students with a focus of academic studies in engineering principals including civil, architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and controls. Engineering or any with interest and applicable skills / experience.

• Must live within 20 miles of Seattle city limits and be willing to go out in the field on short notice.
• Comfortable working outdoors in variable weather conditions, navigating challenging terrain and active construction sites.
• Highly motivated
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including editing.
• Organizational skills and the ability to meet deadlines and ability to follow direction.
• Ability to effectively use Microsoft Office products.
• Detail-oriented and self-starter
• Interest in current events, local government, and environmental issues.
• Ability to working both independently and in a team environment.

Competencies You Bring:

• Interpersonal Savvy - Relating openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people.
• Collaborates - Builds partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Tech Savvy - Anticipates and adopts innovations in business-builds digital and technology applications.
• Action Oriented - Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Communicates Effectively - Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.

Required License: Valid WA Driver's License

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring:

• Experience with any type of data collection and management is preferred. 
• Interest in water quality, environmental protection, natural resource management, ecology or related field is highly desired.
• Skills or interest in mapping/GIS also desired.

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application
• Resume
• Cover Letter 
• Responses to the supplemental questions

Discover More About the Wastewater Treatment Division: Visit our website and check us out at Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, and the WTD Blog.

Discover More About DNRP: Visit our DNRP website, 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 teamdedicated 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.

Salary : $21 - $27