Watershed Conservation Internship

Allegheny Regional Office (Ridgway, PA)

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) has been dedicated to protecting and restoring the region’s exceptional natural places since 1932. As a member-based nonprofit organization, we work in cities and towns across Western Pennsylvania and rely on the help of thousands of members, partners and volunteers. We are making a difference in our region’s water, land and life. We do this work for the benefit of wildlife and people who call Western Pennsylvania home, and for future generations.

Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) seeks a summer intern for the Watershed Conservation Program based in WPC’s Allegheny Regional Office in Ridgway, Pa. The intern will work under the supervision of assigned watershed conservation staff.

Job Duties

Interns will assist with implementing a variety of watershed restoration projects and aquatic surveys, in close coordination with Watershed Conservation staff. Duties may include assisting in the areas of:

• Water quality monitoring & assessment
• Watershed restoration and stream habitat enhancement
• Agricultural best management practices
• Project design, planning, and implementation
• Biological survey work focusing on macroinvertebrates, various fish species, hellbender salamanders, and/or freshwater mussels

Absolute Requirements

• Proficiency with all Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word and Excel
• Able to travel to various worksites and willing to work some evenings, weekends, and overnight trips as needed
• The ability to conduct field research in remote locations as part of a team is essential for this position
• Job requires the ability to traverse rugged terrain while carrying at least 50 pounds of equipment in a variety of weather conditions and assist with strenuous physical duties, including heavy lifting and using hand/power tools to complete construction activities

Physical Requirements

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Utilizing keyboarding and fine motor skills
• Utilizing gross motor skills to operate tools and equipment
• Driving a motor vehicle
• Pushing, pulling, lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds
• Bending, twisting, stooping, crouching, kneeling and crawling
• Reaching overhead, at, and below eye level
• Swimming and wading in flowing water
• Climbing up and down stairways and ladders
• Sitting/standing/walking for periods in excess of 2 hours traversing rugged terrain
• Speaking and hearing in-person, telephone, and other remote speech (2-way radio)
• Seeing with near, far, and peripheral visual acuity
• Evenings and weekend hours
• To be able to complete all physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation

Qualifications

To be able to complete all physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Location

This position's primary location(s): Allegheny Regional Office (Ridgway, PA)

Position Duration

• This is a part-time temporary position.
• Spring/Summer of 2024 for approximately 13 weeks (500 hours)
• Tentative term dates: May 06, 2024 to August 9, 2024

Pay

Application Process

To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to khorrell@paconserve.org and list Watershed Intern-Ridgway in the subject line.

Application Deadline

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