Water Quality Intern - Milwaukee Riverkeeper (SEJ Program)

Background:
Working for Milwaukee Riverkeeper...
 

At Milwaukee Riverkeeper® we’re looking for more than just a person to fill a desk. We’re seeking team members that share our passion for healthy rivers and strong communities. If you want to become a part of our team, you will be empowered to work the way you work best. Your voice is important, you’ll help shape the role you’re in and the future of our organization. From the top down and the bottom up, we’re more than just a workplace, we work together, and play to win!
 

Position Description 
The Water Quality Intern is primarily responsible for assisting the Water Quality team in executing our community-based water quality monitoring program and aiding in the robotic plastic removal project. Our monitoring program currently has 80+ volunteers collecting data at over 100 locations throughout the Milwaukee River Basin. The Water Quality Assistant would help with additional projects including trout stream, emerging contaminants, freshwater mussels, and winter road salt monitoring. This position reports to the Water Quality Manager and will work closely with all aspects of the position's work. 
 

Responsibilities:

• Assist in training and coordinating volunteer monitors
• Assist in the deployment of plastic beach cleaning robots and waste characterizations
• Perform QA/QC field checks with volunteer stream monitors in the field
• Perform monthly water quality monitoring; help with preparing and shipping samples
• Enter field data into the WDNR's surface water quality database
• QAQC potential priority sites & assist in streamlining water quality monitoring program
• Assist with miscellaneous water quality projects which may include data analysis and mapping projects
• Assist with tabling and public outreach events
• Milwaukee Riverkeeper employees are expected to be flexible and to take on additional duties as assigned, according to the organization's needs and the staff member's skill and abilities.
 

Qualifications:
The successful candidate will have the following qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree or working toward bachelor's degree
• Strong attention to details & good interpersonal skills
• Experience working with volunteers is a plus
• Data entry experience

• Ability to work independently and resolve routine problems
• Willingness to work occasional weekends and evenings

Other:
This list of essential responsibilities and requirements is not intended to be exhaustive. The Milwaukee Riverkeeper team needs to be flexible and may be asked to take on additional duties based on the organization’s needs and the team member’s skills and abilities. Milwaukee Riverkeeper reserves the right to revise this job description, as needed.
 

Equal Opportunity Employer:
Our rivers flow through, and unite, a diverse myriad of communities. Milwaukee Riverkeeper is committed to working towards equity and inclusion in all we do to protect, restore, connect with, and advocate for our waterways. Diversity, equity, and inclusion strengthen our organization's ability to advance environmental justice and we believe that all people should see themselves reflected in our work. Milwaukee Riverkeeper is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics,
disability, marital status, age or veteran status and hires in accordance with state and federal law. For more information about Milwaukee Riverkeeper, visit www.milwaukeeriverkeeper.org, or for Plastic-Free MKE, visit www.plasticfreemke.org.

Compensation:
This internship is part of the Lawrence University Social & Environmental Justice Cohort, which provides an opportunity for Lawrentians to explore social and environmental justice impact careers, gain professional experience, and develop as leaders. Students complete a full-time summer 2025 internship with an identified social and/or environmental justice impact organization in Milwaukee or Appleton, while participating in ongoing reflection with fellow students, Professor Jason Brozek, the Career Center, community leaders and alumni.  Students may apply for as many positions as they are qualified for and interested in. Each student in the SEJ program will receive a $5k stipend to help cover housing and transportation costs and living expenses. For additional details and to see other SEJ opportunities, please see the SEJ Cohort webpage.

• Before applying, you must meet with a Career Center staff member for a resume review, or your resume must achieve green status in VMOCK.  If your resume does not meet professional expectations, you may be asked to resubmit your resume.  Please make an appointment with the Career Center here on Handshake.
• Once your resume is approved, you will then apply directly to one or more of the designated SEJ Internship options in Handshake by February 14, 2025 at 11:55 p.m. A separate application should be prepared for each position.
• Complete this form to indicate your transportation needs. The form only needs to be submitted once.

Please ask Michelle Buchinger for more details about how funding works Michelle.m.buchinger@lawrence.edu 

The Urban Ecology Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to make all personnel decisions without discriminating on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, physical disability, mental disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, national or ethnic origin, and any other protected status.