Water Quality Monitoring Intern

Intern must be local to attend in-person cohort meetings, activities, and any work-related tasks. The program runs 6/2/2025 – 8/22/2025, but there is some flexibility with the start and end dates.

Why It's a Great Opportunity: The Pierce County Summer internship program is back! Our program will run from 6/2/2025 through 8/22/2025. We are excited to offer opportunities that provide realistic and meaningful work experiences while providing Pierce County Departments, the Council, the Executive's Office and Courts with interns who bring fresh perspectives and assistance to complete special projects. Interns also get an opportunity to be a part of a cohort of interns who will attend weekly activities together. These sessions include professional development classes, collaboration with other interns, and tours of various departments and facilities where you will learn about the County and the types of great job opportunities we offer. As a cohort, you will be responsible for a culminating group project/presentation to the Pierce County Council.  

Check out what our interns have done in the past! 

https://www.piercecountywa.gov/6506/Paid-Internship-Program

As an intern in the Water Quality section, you will have the opportunity to interact with trained water quality specialists (environmental and marine scientists), wetland ecologists, fisheries biologists, and engineers. You will participate in a long-term water quality monitoring program and gain valuable skills in water quality sampling, interpersonal communication, operation, and maintenance of specialized equipment, and gain real-world job experience.
 

About the Department: PPW is a diverse and fast-moving department filled with motivated professionals working to ensure Pierce County is positioned to handle growth while building, operating, and maintaining reliable infrastructure to support livable communities. PPW is responsible for a broad and complex portfolio of services that provides unique opportunities to collaborate, innovate, and inspire. We are responsible for the County road and levee systems, sewer systems, airports, ferries, building permits, environmental review, sustainability, community planning, and code enforcement - just to name a few!
 
Learn more about Planning and Public Works here.

We are looking for you to contribute to many exciting projects geared towards preserving, protecting, and enhancing Pierce County’s streams, rivers, lakes, and groundwater. In addition to assisting with our stream monitoring program, you will have opportunities to learn about the operation of weather stations, make measurements of flow in streams, assist with operation of sensors for water temperature monitoring in creeks and in groundwater wells, as well get on a boat to capture lake water quality measurements. In the process, you will visit sites across Pierce County from Key Peninsula to locations near Mount Rainier. You will see first-hand how stormwater and surface waters are managed at the local scale while gaining a deeper understanding of environmental policies and regulations.

How to be Successful in the Role: We are looking for you to have a true interest in how humans shape the environment around us, especially our air, water, and climate. The ideal candidate will possess a positive attitude, be ready and willing to learn and interact with a diverse group of people with varied backgrounds, be self-motivated, possess great attention to detail, and enjoy working on a team.  

Core Daily Responsibilities:

• Project tasks in the office, laboratory, and field.
• Prepare sample bottle labels, chain-of-custody forms, and track sampling supply inventories.
• Collect water samples and record water quality data from streams using sophisticated instrumentation by following standard operating procedures.
• Process water samples and operate laboratory instruments.
• Conduct calibration procedures for instrumentation and assist with routine maintenance of field instruments.
• Conduct benthic macroinvertebrate sampling in streams.
• Assist with a GIS project related to cataloging underground injection control sites (UIC) within the county.

Requirements: 

• A cover letter is required for consideration. 
• Must be local 6/2/2025 – 8/22/2025 to attend in-person cohort meetings, activities, and any work-related tasks.
• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Willingness to learn and grow.
• Education in environmental studies, natural science, engineering, or GIS.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite (especially Word and Excel).
• Ability to lift and carry up to 40 pounds over uneven ground including up and down stream banks.
• Ability to ride in vehicles over long distances to field sites.
• Possess a valid WA State Driver's License.

To be considered for this opportunity please:

• Complete and submit a detailed online Pierce County Employment Application by selecting "APPLY" above or go to:   www.piercecountywa.org/jobs.
• If you have a question about this opportunity, please email the Recruitment Team at PCHRRecruit@piercecountywa.gov and specify the Job Number and Title.
• If you do not have internet access, you may visit your local public library or any WorkSource location and use their computers.
• Individuals needing accommodation in the application, testing process or need this job announcement in an alternative format may call Human Resources at (253) 798-7480, at least two days prior to the need.

This is a competitive selection process. Your application will be reviewed and evaluated for the quality and quantity of education/experience in the areas listed. Applicants whose qualifications most closely correspond to the County's needs will be eligible for further consideration. Notification of application status normally occurs 2 to 3 weeks after the closing date. Short notice may be given to applicants to participate in further selection processes which may include assessments, phone screen, and interviews.

At Pierce County, diversity, equity, and inclusion means commitment, not a single step. We strive to foster an inclusive environment that supports equitable access to opportunities throughout your career. We want to recruit, develop, and maintain a talented workforce from various backgrounds, cultures, lifestyles, and perspectives, committed to our vision.   Employees of the County have local, direct, and visible impact in our diverse community. Will you join us in keeping Pierce County a place people are proud to call home?