What are the responsibilities and job description for the Intern - Surface Water Management (Marine Ecology) - Seasonal position at Snohomish County?
Spend your summer gaining valuable career experience with Snohomish County as a Marine Ecology Intern. We are hiring one highly motivated internship candidate to join our Surface Water Management team for the 2025 field season.
Intern Job Summary
Your internship at Snohomish County will challenge you, sharpen your skills, and start paving your way to a career.
SWM provides a wide variety of public programs and services to preserve and improve the health of Snohomish County’s water resources and natural systems and to reduce road and property flooding. Interns gain hands-on experience under the direction of water resource professionals.
As a Marine Ecology intern, you will:
- Collect data on marine resources including kelp, forage fish, and marine water quality
- Asist with analysis and reporting on marine data
- Collaborate with local partners on marine projects, including attending Marine Resources Committee Meetings (third Wednesday of the Month, evenings 4:30-6:30PM)
- Create education and outreach materials for the public
The preferred internship candidates will be:
- Currently enrolled in a four-year or graduate environmental studies, environmental science, marine science, or environmental policy program.
- Knowledgeable of marine resources in the Salish Sea.
- Experienced in using GIS.
- Experienced doing field work during inclement conditions.
- Experienced in collecting data used to understand the health of the marine environment.
- Interested in pursuing a career in natural resource science, policy, or communication.
- Comfortable on boats in large rivers, marine waters, and estuaries.
- Committed to be a helpful, responsive, and dependable teammate.
Ideally interns will be available to start in May or June and work for a minimum of 12 weeks with opportunities to extend their internship. Work schedule is flexible with ideal candidates being available Monday – Friday regular office working hours. Interns shall not exceed more than 1040 hours in a 12-month period. Intern schedule and internship length will be agreed upon with candidate and County Staff. Interns will be given the option to work partially from home depending on the work required. Onboarding, some meetings, and field work will require the intern to be in-person at the Snohomish County Campus and various field sites in Snohomish County.
Rate of pay is determined by the number of full academic years the applicant has completed at an accredited college or university by the beginning of the internship. Candidates must be majoring or completed coursework in any of the following programs: environmental science/studies, marine science or policy, civil engineering, watershed or water resource management, water quality, biology, chemistry, ecology, limnology, forestry, agriculture, botany, plant ecology, horticulture, environmental health, toxicology, environmental planning, geology, geomorphology, geography, GIS, communications, environmental education, marketing, or related field.
Proof of current enrollment in an accredited college or university at the time of participation. If not currently enrolled, the student must provide proof of future enrollment.
About Surface Water ManagementSWM is a stormwater utility that provides services to unincorporated Snohomish County. These services are funded by service charges paid by property owners in the unincorporated county. SWM is the largest division in Snohomish County’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources with an annual budget of $54.6 million.
SWM works in partnership with other local and regional agencies to improve Snohomish County now and for future generations. SWM provides a variety of programs and services for reducing road and property flooding and preserving and improving the health of Snohomish County's water resources and natural systems. We focus on four core areas of service:
- Drainage and road flooding
- Clean water in rivers, streams and lakes;
- Salmon and marine habitat; and
- River flooding
About the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)
The Snohomish County Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) includes the Division of Surface Water Management, the Division of Parks & Recreation, the Office of Energy and Sustainability and the Office of Agriculture and aims to achieve high-priority environmental sustainability goals. Some of the greatest assets we have in Snohomish County are our unparalleled beauty and abundant natural resources. From the Puget Sound and five watersheds, to forestland, lakes, farms, ranches and parks, our quality of life, economic prosperity and future sustainability are dependent on protecting and improving our environmental resources. Visit the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources web page to learn more. For further information on Snohomish County Surface Water Management’s programs, please go to www.surfacewater.info.
About Snohomish County
Snohomish County, north of Seattle, is located in northwest Washington between the Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains. The county has rich scenery, numerous activities, and a thriving economy. Snohomish County is a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family. When joining the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, you will work in an environment where innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement are highly encouraged and supported. We are proud to offer an outstanding benefit package to employees and their dependents. We are invested in your success and growth and offer competitive wages, job flexibility and stability, employer paid ORCA cards, and a friendly, diverse team atmosphere where employees are appreciated and make a real difference providing services for our citizens. We strive to not only provide a meaningful job, but a lifelong career.
- Interns may be required to perform one or more of the following job duties:
- Assists with Surface Water Management projects and programs.
- Assists with project assessment and monitoring activities.
- Assists with public outreach at public meetings, fairs and festivals.
- Assists with coordination of volunteer activities for protecting water quality and restoring salmon habitat.
- Assists with data management.
- Performs related duties as required.
Have completed two full academic years of studies at an accredited college or university by the beginning of the internship and be majoring in or have completed coursework in any of the following programs: environmental sciences/studies, civil engineering, watershed or water resource management, water quality, biology, chemistry, ecology, limnology, forestry, agriculture, botany, plant ecology, horticulture, environmental health, toxicology, environmental planning, geology, geomorphology, geography, GIS, communications, environmental education, marketing, or related field.
A valid Washington State Driver's License is required
Increase Intern Knowledge of:
- elementary principles and practices of surface water management as related to area of assignment;
- elementary research and data collection techniques;
- use of personal computers and related software.
- communicate effectively, both orally and in writing in a multicultural workforce serving a diverse population;
- work effectively with a cross-section of watershed residents, businesses, specific interest groups and agencies;
- gather, evaluate and document technical data;
- apply technical data to practical in-field problems.
The intern is trained and mentored by an administrative superior as assigned. The work is performed with a moderate degree of independence and is reviewed through conferences, periodic reports and results obtained.
WORKING CONDITIONS
The work is performed in a regular office environment with some work performed outdoors in all types of weather conditions. The intern may be required to lift, move and carry objects between 20 and 50 pounds, crouch, crawl, kneel, bend, climb and balance. The intern may be required to work along the water's edge, wade in streams, or work on the water in a boat. The intern may be required to work evenings, weekends and holidays as necessary.
Accommodations for individuals with disabilities are provided upon request.
EEO policy and ADA notice
Salary : $55
