Undergraduate Fellowship

UNDERGRADUATE FELLOWSHIP for the Spokane River Forum 

RATE OF PAY: 18.00/HR 

START DATE: June 2025 

END DATE: May 2026 

Deadline: Application review begins March 3, 2025; open until filled

INTRODUCTION: 

The Spokane River Forum is a non-profit organization based in Spokane, WA whose mission is to create activities, materials, and events that promote regional dialogues for a healthy river system while meeting the needs of a growing population. The Forum is a catalyst for action by serving as a convenor and facilitator among diverse interests and empowering individual stewardship focused on water quality, water supply, fisheries and other ecological, economic, and cultural watershed needs. The Forum is intimately knowledgeable about environmental conditions within the watershed and partners with many tribal, local, state, and regional organizations.

The Forum is hiring an undergraduate fellow to assist in communications, digital media campaigns, and program development. This position is designed for a 12-month term, starting full time and in person the first two months, then moving to part-time with a hybrid in-person/remote option for the remaining 10 months during the 2025-2026 academic year. 

Over the course of 12 months, the fellow will receive training, experience, and career pathway mentoring from the Forum’s executive director who has an extensive background in higher education and a passion for teaching and mentoring young adults. The fellow will assist with communications, digital media campaigns, and program development while gaining invaluable professional experience.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Reporting to the executive director, the successful candidate will become a member of the Forum’s staff for the duration of the fellowship to assist with social media posts, electronic news articles, creative and logistical coordination of video and static educational advertisements, event planning, and grant writing for new programming initiatives. 

The fellowship will run from June 2025 through May 2026, starting full time for the first two months over the summer and extending throughout the academic year on a part-time basis of no more than 10 hours per week. 

The first two months will involve an initial orientation and training to provide a “big picture” understanding of the Forum, why it is critical to sustain a healthy river system, and how doing so supports long term water quality to meet the environmental, cultural, and economic needs of a growing population. The fellow will also be introduced to critical environmental concepts and terminology and the importance of being able to communicate in common language using different methods to reach and engage diverse audiences.

For training during the initial two months, the work week will typically be 8 hrs/day, 5 days/week, in person at the Forum’s office. The fellow will be assigned specific tasks, such as drafting electronic news articles, creating social media posts, observing and weighing in on the creative development process of digital media campaigns, coordinating event logistics, and conducting research to support the development of new programs and grant writing. After the first two months, the fellow will work on a part-time basis with a hybrid in-person/remote option and for no more than 10 hours per week during the academic school year.

Occasionally, work may be conducted in the field for meetings or volunteer activities. These activities may involve tabling at events and possibly sitting, standing and/or walking in inclement weather conditions or uneven shoreline terrain to learn about tribal, federal, state, and local programs and processes. As much as possible, the fellow will be invited to observe stakeholder meetings to gain a deeper understanding of the practical realities and challenges of creating and funding new projects. 

The fellow will directly contribute to meeting the Forum’s goals to protect and enhance water quality and supply in the region. With this, the fellow will gain invaluable, broadly applicable professional experience and mentoring that will support a career pathway in the public or private sector of environmental stewardship.  The fellow will be expected to maintain a weekly log of their hours, activities, and accomplishments.

 KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES REQUIRED FOR POSITION: 

• Willing and able to work in a professional office setting with co-workers and general public
• Excellent oral and written communications skills
• Punctual and proactive
• Able to work effectively in supervised and non-supervised settings
• Flexible about working on tasks as necessary
• Reliable transportation to/from Spokane office
• Travel to work site locations (mileage will be covered)

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:  

• Currently enrolled as a first, second, or third-year college or university student
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 Suite
• Knowledge of social media
• Experience with audio/video recording and editing
• A valid state issued driver’s license, with the ability to obtain a Washington State Driver’s License, and good driving record for insurance purposes
• Physically able to perform the job duties described above

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS: 

• Interest in a career field related to environmental stewardship
• Course work in environmental studies (sciences and/or humanities)
• Work experience in a professional office setting

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or listen. The fellow is also regularly required to stand, walk, sit, and use hands for extended periods and must be able to safely lift and carry 30lbs (equipment or materials) for events. Occasionally, the fellow may be required to sit, stand, and walk in inclement weather conditions or uneven shoreline terrain. 

HOW TO APPLY: 

Please e-mail the following materials to info@spokaneriver.net

• A cover letter highlighting why you are interested in this position and how your background, qualifications, and experience align with the Spokane River Forum’s mission and goals.
• Resume
• Unofficial academic transcripts
• Two academic references, including name, title, organization, and current contact information

Please contact info@spokaneriver.net with any questions about this position.