Riverkeeper Intern

Position Title: Riverkeeper Intern

Accountability: Riverkeeper Intern reports to the Riverkeeper 

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 Riverkeeper Intern is responsible for helping to execute the Swim Guide Program and assist the Riverkeeper in executing the organization’s mission. 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 serve 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 updated on new developments. 
• Researches for projects leading to direct policy change. 
• Assists with waterway patrols and water/land surveys. 
• Collects samples in the field, prepares 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. 

• 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, geography, 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. 
• Experience kayaking or willingness to learn.  
• Ability to maintain an organized and detailed workflow with changing variables. 
• Comfortable working autonomously as well as working in a team environment. 
• Confident self-starter. 

Location:  

The Intern will be based at Catawba Riverkeeper’s main office at Confluence in Cramerton, 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.