MA River Stewards of Tomorrow
2023 Internship Position Available
The Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) is seeking applicants for our River Stewards of Tomorrow Internship position, available for summer 2023. The River Steward will work on a variety of projects related to water resource management, wildlife conservation, and land protection. The River Steward will be based out of the Stockbridge, Massachusetts office and work mainly in Berkshire County, with potentially work in Columbia County, New York and northwest Connecticut. We anticipate that the River Steward position will be part-time (4 days/week, 32 hours) and last 10 weeks from late May/early June until mid August. See a Story Map about the position created by one of our 2018 interns here.
Internship Overview: The 2023 River Steward will be supervised by HVA’s Watershed Conservation Project Managers, but will also work with other staff on occasion, including the Land Protection Team and Communications/Development Team. Work will include a mix of office and field-based activities (approximately 70% field-based and 30% office-based). Projects that the intern may be involved with include but aren’t limited to the following (in order of estimated proportion of time spent):
- Environmental Monitoring (pollution trackdown): Assist staff in water quality monitoring: surveying stormwater outfalls in dry weather and collecting/analyzing water samples if discharge is observed, collecting/analyzing surface water for water quality, maintenance of temperature and conductivity monitoring loggers, source tracking to identify the causes of bacteria or other parameters in the waterways, collecting surface water samples for bacteria analysis, and data management.
- Green River Watershed Based Plan: Streamwalks on stream reaches expected to have water quality impacts to identify restoration opportunities using the Unified Stream Assessment (USA) developed by the Center for Watershed Protection
- Social Media/Communications/Development: Assist Communications/Development Team in creating social media posts, providing photos and written summaries of summer tasks, and other tasks as needed.
- Restoration project monitoring and maintenance: Assist with maintenance of rain gardens and riparian buffer projects (tasks include weeding, sediment and trash removal and invasive plant removal) as well as water chestnut removal.
- Outreach and Engagement: Assist with river cleanups, public paddle trips on the Housatonic river using canoes, tabling at various community events.
Qualifications: Candidates must be detail-oriented, passionate about conservation, and able to succeed both independently and as part of a team. In addition, the ideal candidate will possess:
- Enthusiasm for outdoor field work, including working under potentially inclement environmental conditions (hot, rainy, etc.);
- Strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to represent HVA in a professional manner;
- Strong organization and data management skills, and ability to follow detailed protocols;
- Ability to problem-solve and think creatively while out in the field.
Requirements: Daily access to a reliable personal vehicle is a requirement of the position (HVA does not have a field vehicle, so all field work, including any work in New York and Massachusetts, will be done in personal cars with mileage reimbursements.) The intern must also be physically able to participate in potentially strenuous field work (i.e., physically active work outside for several hours at a time during the heat of the summer). Housing is not available HVA can provide some assistance in finding the applicant housing if it is needed.
Compensation: This is an unpaid internship, eligible for a stipend through Williams College Center for Environmental Studies (CES). The early deadline for applying for CES funding is March 16, 2023 at 5pm.
Application Procedure: Submit the following materials via email (as a single PDF, titled “[YourLastName]_HVARiverSteward”). Application deadline is February 24. Position will be filled by March 10th.
- COVER LETTER explaining your interest and qualifications
- RESUME
- CONTACT INFORMATION FOR TWO (2) PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES
Questions and applications should be directed to:
Alison Dixon, HVA Berkshire Watershed Conservation Manager
HVA is an equal opportunity employer. If you have the drive, interest and skills to succeed in this position, tell us about what you can do and we will consider your application. HVA provides equal employment opportunities to all eligible persons and administers personnel policies and practices in accordance with all applicable state and federal laws. We do not discriminate or abide discrimination on the basis of race, color, religious creed, age, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, political belief or affiliation, veteran status, sexual orientation, legal history, genetic information, intellectual disability, mental disability or physical disability unless such disability prevents performance of the work required. Our commitment to equal opportunity is a guiding principle in all of our employment practices and policies.
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