Position Title: Riverkeeper Intern - Northern Basin 

Accountability: Riverkeeper Intern - Northern Basin Intern reports to Northern Basin Director

Job Classification: Part-time, internship

About: Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation (Catawba Riverkeeper) was founded in 1997 as the 21st waterkeeper organization in the U.S. Now, proudly part of an international movement that boasts over 400 local organizations, we preserve, protect and restore the waters of the Catawba-Wateree River Basin for all through education, advocacy, and engagement. Our 5,000 square mile river basin includes over 8,900 miles of waterways across 26 counties in North and South Carolina. 

The Riverkeeper Intern - Northern Basin (NB) is responsible for helping to execute the Swim Guide Program and assist the Northern Basin Director in executing the mission of Catawba Riverkeeper in the Northern Basin. In this role, the Intern will be collecting and analyzing water samples for E. coli, working on pollution issues, and researching various water quality related topics.

Responsibilities: 

· Proudly serves the local community, serving as a brand ambassador, promoting awareness and advocacy for the Catawba Riverkeeper and our mission.

· Coordinates with volunteers and other interns to collect, process, and publish weekly bacteria data for our Swim Guide program.  

· Analyzes pollution discharge data.  

· Maps current and future threats to the water.  

· Researches industry best practices and stay update on new developments.

· Researches for projects leading to direct policy change.

· Assists with waterway patrols and water/land surveys.

· Collects samples in the field, prepare them for analysis, run laboratory equipment, and track sources of pollutants.

· Exemplifies the Catawba Riverkeeper mission statement and supports staff, departments and leadership in pursuing and achieving goals.

Requirements

· Exhibits a passion for the mission of Catawba Riverkeeper.

· Reliable personal transportation and active driver’s license.

· Successfully pass a standard background review.

· Able to lift/move 35 pounds.

· Willingness to work in various weather conditions (rain, mud, bugs, etc.).

· Ability to hike through brush and moderate terrain.

Education & Experience: 

· Pursuing a degree in Environmental Science or related field.

· Preferred, but not required, coursework or experience in outdoor recreation, environmental science/conservation, biology, education or similar field.

· Proficiency with Excel or Google Sheets, including data manipulation, summary, and analysis.

· Experience with GIS or willingness to learn.

· Kayaking experience preferred.

· Ability to maintain an organized and detailed workflow with changing variables.

· Comfortable working autonomously as well as working in a team environment.

· Attention to detail.

· Clear, concise communication skills.

· Confident self-starter.

· Ability to follow detailed instructions. 

Location:

The Riverkeeper Intern – NB will be based at Northern Basin Office in Morganton, NC and will have the opportunity to work on projects throughout our 26-county footprint in North and South Carolina.  

Schedule:

The Riverkeeper Intern – NB will be expected to work approximately 24 hours a week, from 10am-4pm Tuesday-Friday. The preferred first day is Tuesday, May 20th and last day is Friday, August 8th. If the intern can continue to work after August 8, they will be compensated for their hourly time equal to the hourly stipend amount. Dates are flexible to meet academic schedules.

Compensation:

The contracted intern will be given a $2,500 stipend to be paid biweekly. Activities that require the use of a personal vehicle may receive gas mileage reimbursement upon supervisor approval. 

Values:

We are an organization of action, quality, leaders, innovation, and engagement. We prioritize getting meaningful work done. We hold ourselves to a standard or excellence in everything we do. We strive to be leaders in our individual areas of influence as well as an environmental organization in this region. We are not afraid of trying new things and are willing to take thoughtful risks in achieving our mission. We work to actively bring our communities into the work we do. 

Catawba Riverkeeper provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type.