Position Title: Northern Basin Engagement Intern

Accountability: Northern Basin Engagement Intern reports to Northern Basin Engagement Manager

Job Classification: Part-time, hourly, non-exempt, 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. 

Position Summary: The Northern Basin Engagement Intern is responsible for helping to execute the Swim Guide Program and assist the Northern Basin Engagement Manager in executing the mission of Catawba Riverkeeper in the Northern Basin. In this role, the Intern will be assisting with education program implementation as well as supporting the Swim Guide Program by collecting and analyzing water samples for E. coli.

Responsibilities: 

• Proudly serves the local community, serving as a brand ambassador, promoting awareness and advocacy for the Catawba Riverkeeper and our mission.
• Assists with program planning, implementation, and evaluation for the Wilderness Watershed Adventure environmental education program and other engagement programming. This includes helping to develop curriculum and activities, coordinating logistics and schedule, and assisting with material preparation for programs. 
• Coordinates with volunteers and other interns to collect, process, and publish weekly bacteria data for our Swim Guide program.  
• Assists with waterway patrols and water/land surveys.
• Exemplifies the Catawba Riverkeeper mission statement and supports staff, departments and leadership in pursuing and achieving goals.

• Exhibits a passion for the mission of Catawba Riverkeeper.
• Successfully pass a standard criminal background review.
• Reliable personal transportation and active driver’s license.
• 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.
• Knowledge of environment and ecology of North Carolina Foothills area
• 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 Northern Basin Engagement Intern will be based at the 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 Intern will be expected to work approximately 30 hours a week, from 10am-4pm Tuesday-Friday. This internship starts Tuesday, May 19 and ends Friday, August 28 but is subject to the Intern’s personal and academic schedule.  

Compensation: 

The Intern will be paid $12.50 per hour worked and paid on a bi-weekly basis. 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 of 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.