Posted April 2022–

Employment Opportunity

Neponset Environmental Science and Engineering Fellowship

The Neponset River Watershed Association is seeking applications for the Neponset Environmental Science and Engineering Fellowship. This is a 13-month full-time position that provides the opportunity for a recent graduate to gain intensive hands-on experience working with a well-respected regional nonprofit.

The Fellowship is intended to provide broad exposure to the full range of science, education, outreach, and community organizing functions involved in watershed management. The Fellow will work closely with the Association’s River Restoration Director, Executive Director, Outreach Director, and Environmental Scientist.

The Fellow’s primary responsibility will include day to day supervision of the Association’s volunteer-based water quality monitoring program. Key elements of this experience include planning and participating in water quality monitoring events, managing the water quality monitoring database, and submission of water quality data to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection for use in Clean Water Act regulation. This combination of tasks will provide the Fellow with experiences all the way from collecting and managing raw field data through data preparation and submission for use in environmental policy.

Another core responsibility will be a leadership role in organizing spring and fall river-cleanup events. The final core responsibility includes participation in our school education programs. The Fellow will visit (remotely or in-person depending on COVID-19 status) public schools to teach students about stormwater and/or water conservation in 4th and 5th-grade classes, and possibly middle and high school classes.

The Fellow will play a supporting role in other projects including our hotspot monitoring program, bacteria monitoring program, and stream habitat restoration projects. In these projects, work may include time in the field, in our lab, or time at a computer.

Other skills the Fellow will gain from this experience include public speaking, grant writing, preparing comments on a development or permitting issue, and management of professional social medial accounts.

Schedule and Compensation

This is a full-time position that runs for 13 months (ideally June 1 to June 30). As the COVID pandemic persists, work will be conducted in accordance with state and local health recommendations. a hybrid model (office and remote work) or appropriately distanced in the field. Compensation includes a salary of $33,800 per year, health insurance, and paid time-off benefits. The position requires occasional early morning sampling and evening or weekend events.

Qualifications

The Fellowship is open to applicants who have recently received a master’s or bachelor’s degree in watershed management, environmental science, civil/environmental engineering, or a related field, and who are interested in a natural resource protection career.

Applicants should have excellent written, telephone, and interpersonal communication skills, and should enjoy working with a diverse collection of volunteer personalities. They must have a demonstrated ability to plan and implement projects in a fast-paced environment, working both independently and as part of a team. Applicants must be comfortable working outdoors, in poor weather, on uneven ground, and in a canoe, and must have their own transportation. Attention to detail is critical for all data related activities and experience with ArcGIS and data analysis will be helpful.

Applicants should have an interest in youth education and the charismatic persona necessary to engage and motivate young people. Experience teaching or volunteering with grade school students is a plus.

Applications by minority candidates, candidates interested in a career in the nonprofit sector, and residents of the 14 Neponset Watershed communities are particularly encouraged. We are an equal opportunity affirmative action employer.

Application Procedure

Interested applicants should submit a resume and cover letter via email. In the cover letter, please describe your interest in the position, relevant academic and/or work experience, and how a one-year fellowship would fit into your overall career goals. We recommend submitting application materials by early May. We hope to make a final hiring decision by mid-May and to have the new fellow start work in June 2022.

Send applications to Sean McCanty, River Restoration Director, at mccanty@neponset.org

Posted February 2022–

Internship Opportunities

Part-time Summer Greenway and River Access Internships

Opportunity Description

The Neponset River Watershed Association is looking for two enthusiastic interns from late spring through summer of 2022, with an interest in urban river revitalization and community engagement. The interns will work in close collaboration with the Association’s Greenway’s Coordinator, Executive Director, and community volunteers.

The interns will help plan and manage programming events along the Greenway Corridor to help improve the community relations with the Neponset River and its green spaces. The interns will also assist in park revitalization projects aimed at helping to improve riverfront and parkland access around the Neponset Watershed and Neponset Greenway, and help organize volunteer opportunities in these parkland spaces. The interns may use GIS to map out possible routes to extend the Neponset River Greenway Trail to connect with regional trail networks and assist in leading stakeholder meetings to collect public input on trail extension options.

This work will provide experience with community engagement, access improvement initiatives, GIS mapping software, and volunteer coordination.

Compensation for the internships is $17 an hour, 20 hours a week, for 10 weeks.

Where

Typically, work occurs at the Neponset River Watershed Association office (2173 Washington Street Canton, Massachusetts, 02021) and in the field throughout the Lower Neponset River in Dorchester, Quincy, Mattapan, Milton, and Hyde Park. Depending on the status of the pandemic, there will be a mix of working remotely with daily ‘check-in’ Zoom meetings, meetings in the field at project sites, and ‘in-office’ meet-ups, all with proper social distance guidelines.

When

The interns will be responsible for a minimum of 16 hours weekly depending on availability, interest, and other commitments. Help can begin as early as May and last through October and we request a minimum commitment of 10 weeks. The hours are flexible and can be determined at the end of each week for the following week, though field days will be planned in advance. Work occurs primarily during normal business hours, with occasional early morning, evening, or weekend activities or meetings.

Skills and Special Requirements

The interns should be an undergraduate or master’s student pursuing degrees in geography, environmental policy, public health, urban planning, or related fields.
Experience with mapping software (ArcGIS) is desired.
Experience with managing volunteers.
Self-motivation, reliability, the ability to work independently, and the ability to communicate effectively over email.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential and the ability to engage racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse community members.
The interns should enjoy working in the field on uneven or muddy terrain and under adverse weather conditions (rain, cool mornings, hot afternoons, etc.).
Basic computer skills are required.

To Apply

To apply, please send an email describing why you are interested in the position with a copy of your resume to Andres Ripley, ripley@neponset.org

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Summer Water Quality Intern

Opportunity Description

The Neponset River Watershed Association is looking for two enthusiastic volunteer interns, late spring through summer of 2022, with an interest in watershed sciences, water quality, and/or freshwater and estuarine ecology. The interns will work in close collaboration with the Association’s River Restoration Director, Environmental Science Fellow, Executive Director, and community volunteers and will receive hands-on experience with environmental science fieldwork, lab work, and project management.

The interns will help with all aspects of the volunteer water quality monitoring program and hot spot monitoring program during the summer of 2022. This includes preparing sampling materials and supplies, fieldwork, data management, sample analysis in the lab, and volunteer coordination. The interns will also assist with planning and coordination for the 2022 Fall Neponset River Cleanup. Depending on the intern and their level of interest there may be the opportunity to take a leadership role on an independent project in projects involving the Neponset estuary or the upcoming Superfund designation. The interns will also gain experience on additional projects underway with the Association, including restoration projects and the development of a biomonitoring program.

This is an unpaid internship.

Where

Work typically occurs at the Neponset River Watershed Association offices (2173 Washington Street Canton, Massachusetts 02021) and in the field throughout the watershed. Depending on the status of the COVID-19 pandemic, office-related activities may be held virtually, with daily “check-in” virtual meetings with the supervisor. Field activities and essential office tasks will follow all guidelines for COVID safety.

When

The schedule is for 2-3 days a week, with a minimum of 10 and maximum of 20 hours per week depending on the intern’s availability, interests and other commitments. Help can begin in May and run through October. A minimum commitment of 10 weeks is requested. The schedule is flexible but must be consistent from week to week. Work occurs primarily during normal business hours, with occasional early morning, evening, or weekend activities.

Skills and Special Requirements

The interns should be undergraduates or master’s students pursuing degrees in environmental science or related fields
Familiarity with environmental sampling and analysis techniques is desirable but not required
Self-motivation, reliability and the ability to work independently and follow specific sampling protocols are all critical, as is attention to safety procedures
Basic computer skills are necessary and having your own transportation is required
Interns should be enthusiastic to work in the field on uneven terrain and under adverse weather conditions (i.e. rain)
Excellent verbal and written communication skills are essential.
The demonstrated ability to engage with racially, ethnically, and socio-economically diverse community members is strongly desired.

To Apply

To apply, please send an email describing why you are interested in the position with a copy of your resume to NepRWA River Restoration Director, Sean McCanty at mccanty@neponset.org

Volunteer Positions

Click here for the latest volunteer positions. Last updated on April 25, 2022.

We have many additional volunteer opportunities throughout the year, so be sure to sign up for our emails to stay up to date.

As a volunteer, you might:

sample water at streams around the watershed
work with other volunteers on a river cleanup
staff an event table on behalf of the Watershed Association
take photos of sites around the watershed for use in publications
survey dams and culverts
advocate for watershed protection
assist with office projects

General questions about volunteering? Email NepRWA NepRWA Environmental Scientist, Declan Devine, at devine@neponset.org

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