Green Infrastructure and Funding Research Intern (Winter 2025)

ABOUT US: At New Jersey Future, we believe that great places help build great lives. To help create and preserve our great places, we promote sensible and equitable planning, redevelopment, and infrastructure investments that foster vibrant cities and towns, protect natural lands and waterways, enhance transportation choices, support a strong economy, and provide access to safe, affordable and aging-friendly neighborhoods for everyone. We do this through original research, innovative policy development, coalition-building, advocacy, and hands-on strategic assistance. Embracing differences and advancing fairness is central to our mission and operations, and we are firmly committed to pursuing greater justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work and culture. New Jersey Future (NJF) is located in downtown Trenton, NJ. For more information, visit www.njfuture.org.

BACKGROUND: NJF’s Mainstreaming Green Infrastructure (MGI) is a program aimed at moving green stormwater infrastructure practices into common practice. Years ago, green building standards, such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), were considered eccentric and expensive. Now, they are mainstream and understood to be the smart way to build. The same thing is happening with green infrastructure. A vital paradigm shift has accelerated the mainstreaming process: the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) updated its stormwater management rules, effective March 2021, to mandate the use of green infrastructure to meet the rule’s stormwater requirements. 

To improve water quality, reduce flood risk, and increase walkability in New Jersey municipalities, more work must be done to promote green infrastructure beyond new development. This internship will research the funding of green infrastructure projects and the planning and implementation of complete and green streets. 

NJF’s Funding Navigator Program is New Jersey’s first nonprofit statewide program committed to helping localities access funding for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater needs. This program connects communities, municipalities, and water systems to the financing and support they need by assessing problems and identifying solutions or connecting them to free technical assistance providers. In addition to green infrastructure research, the intern will provide funding information to the Funding Navigator team so they can best serve municipalities for years to come. Ultimately, the intern's work will contribute to New Jersey Future’s goal of promoting healthy, equitable, and resilient communities. 

INTERNSHIP SUMMARY: New Jersey Future’s Mainstreaming Green Infrastructure (MGI) and Funding Navigator programs seek a current undergraduate or graduate student or recent graduate to support research, analysis, and outreach efforts to improve municipal stormwater management and identify funding needs for Overburdened Communities. The intern reports to the Policy and Program Coordinators for the MGI and Funding Navigator programs.

RESPONSIBILITIES 

The Green Infrastructure and Funding Research Intern’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Research and analyze municipal documentation to determine the strength of Stormwater Management Plans.
• Use data sources and mapping software to identify Overburdened Communities in need of federal funding assistance for water infrastructure.
• Conduct research projects as assigned, including municipal funding from the State Revolving Fund and other sources to support the Funding Navigator program.
• Track water-related issues by legislative district.
• Recommend updates to the Jersey Water Check data dashboard.
• Write short internal reports to document findings.
• Write a blog post to publicize results at the end of the internship.
• Support with community outreach and meeting strategy with municipalities and water systems. 
• Complete other tasks to support the MGI and Funding Navigator programs as needed.

REQUIREMENTS

• Motivated by the organization’s mission and dedicated to creating equitable and sustainable communities.
• Current college student, recent college graduate, or graduate student. 
• Experience gathering information through online research and stakeholder outreach. 
• Strong writing, citation, and communication skills.
• Attention to detail in producing accurate and meaningful results and products.
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously, using time effectively and efficiently.
• Ability to work independently and as a part of a team. 
• Demonstrated initiative and adaptability.
• Interest in environmental sustainability, water infrastructure, and/or policy.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. 

COMPENSATION: This is a part-time job (averaging approximately 10 hours a week throughout the Spring semester) at the rate of $18 per hour. As a part-time employee, you are not eligible for benefits such as disability, health, dental, vision, or life insurance. No vacation days will be accrued, but you will earn one hour of sick time for every 30 hours worked. The MGI and Funding Navigator team will work with the successful candidates to determine the specific internship start date in January 2025 and ending date in May 2025.

New Jersey Future employees are working on a hybrid work-from-home and in-office schedule. The MGI and Funding Navigator team will work with the intern to determine whether their schedule will be hybrid or remote. 

APPLICATION: Interested and qualified candidates should submit a cover letter and a resume to HR@njfuture.org by December 13, 2024. Please write “Green Infrastructure and Funding Research Intern Application” in the subject line. If selected to advance, relevant references and a brief writing sample with original content (not edited or contributed to by someone other than the applicant) may be required. Relevant references will also be required. NJF is currently unable to sponsor or take over the sponsorship of an employment visa at this time. If hired, employment eligibility verification will be carried out upon selection.