Jump to: Ecological Technician | Water Resources Internship

Ecological Technician (2-Year Term)

Posted: 12/10/2024

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The Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) seeks an enthusiastic, entry-level ecological technician for its aquatic habitats program.  This is a full-time, 2-year position with potential for long-term employment. The individual will support ICPRB staff in conducting field work, geospatial and desktop analyses, interpretation of bio-statistics, biological dataset management, producing data, information, and reports about the condition of non-tidal streams and rivers in the Potomac River basin and the larger Chesapeake Bay watershed. Examples of specific activities include working with project teams to assemble and analyze water quality and biological monitoring data sets collected from non-tidal streams and rivers; assisting in field work to collect water quality, biological, and physical habitat data; and participating in regional efforts to improve monitoring program coordination.

Required qualifications:

• Master of Science degree in ecology, chemistry, biology, biostatistics, geology or related environmental science discipline or Bachelor of Science in a related field and two years of relevant work experience;
• Demonstrated understanding of one or more of the following areas: water quality data and analysis, freshwater aquatic biology, and/or geology;
• Experience with data manipulation and analysis;
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite;
• Demonstrated ability to communicate with technical and non-technical audiences, both verbally and in writing;
• Ability to work cooperatively with staff at ICPRB and at other agencies and organizations;
• Must possess and be able to maintain a valid driver’s license and be able to drive to and from the office and remote/off-road field work locations;
• Comfortable with on-water research and possess or be willing to learn boat-handling skills;
• Ability to complete tasks and adhere to sampling protocols while in physically challenging environments (i.e., extreme outdoor temperatures and storm sampling) with reasonable accommodation;
• Moves equipment weighing up to 50 pounds in a field setting;
• Able to conduct 12+ hour days in remote conditions; and
• Able to stay overnight at hotels and/or campsites.

Preferred qualifications:

• Familiarity with relevant software such as ArcGIS, QGIS, PostgreSQL, and R and other programming languages; and
• Demonstrated commitment to environmental stewardship and collaborative management of resources.

This is a 2-year term position, which includes a 6-month probationary period, and includes benefits and opportunities for telework. The expected salary range is $60,000-$70,000 and will depend upon education and experience. Submit an electronic cover letter and resume to info@icprb.org by January 10, 2025.

ICPRB is an Equal Opportunity Employer that strives to maintain a diverse workforce. No applicant or employee will be discriminated against on the basis of race, sex, gender identity, age, religion, national origin, veteran status, political affiliation, disability, or any other non-job related factors. Individuals shall be considered for employment and advancement solely on the basis of qualifications and abilities for specific positions.

ICPRB is located in Rockville, Maryland.

Water Resources Internships

Up to three paid internships are available for the spring/summer of 2025.

Posted: 12/10/2024

Click here for a PDF of this announcement >>>

The Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin’s (ICPRB) mission is to enhance, protect, and conserve the waters and associated land resources of the Potomac River basin and its tributaries through regional and interstate cooperation. ICPRB has openings for up to three interns for the spring and summer semesters. The start and end dates are negotiable, approximately March to August, 2025. All internships will be completed no later than August 29, 2025. These are paid, temporary positions with flexible working hours. Pay is $17/hr. ICPRB is located in Rockville, Maryland.

Minimum Education: Undergraduate juniors or seniors majoring in a relevant environmental science or engineering field. Graduate students majoring in environmental science, environmental engineering, water resources or a related field preferred.

The primary tasks of these internships are to support the water resources program, assist with updating the water quality data inventory, and archive ICPRB photographs and reports.  The following projects and associated tasks will be divided between up to three interns based on skill sets, interests, and project needs. Modifications may occur based on project needs and to create a positive experience for the interns.

Water Resources Support – ICPRB staff work collaboratively with basin jurisdictions to better understand and quantify watershed processes, develop stressor analysis, Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), and watershed management plans. Assistance is needed obtaining and processing input data for models such as the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), Spatial Statistical Network (SSN) model, and CE-QUAL-W2. This position may also involve conducting literature reviews on water resources-related topics.

Water Quality Data Sources Inventory – As part of the implementation of the Potomac Basin Comprehensive Water Resources Plan, ICPRB maintains an inventory of water quality data sets available from many agencies and organizations throughout the basin. Internship tasks may include updating information currently contained in the inventory, making improvements to the web version of the inventory, and documenting the process for web updates.

Photograph and Report Archival – ICPRB maintains a large library of reference material including photographs and staff reports. Assistance is needed to print, bind, and catalog the reports and scan and tag Commission photographs for electronic storage and easy retrieval.

Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Access, ArcGIS, R Studio, Shiny, GitHub, Adobe Lightroom, and/or reference manager software such as Zotero, Endnote, or Mendeley preferred. The interns will work in a hybrid environment with a combination of in-person hours (from ICPRB’s offices in Rockville, Maryland) and virtually from the convenience of their own remote office. The interns are expected to participate in regular meetings with their supervisor and project teams. Must be authorized to work in the United States.

Submit an electronic cover letter and resume to info@icprb.org by January 10, 2025. Please include in your cover letter where you saw the internship announcement.

ICPRB is an Equal Opportunity Employer that strives to maintain a diverse workforce. No applicant or employee will be discriminated against on the basis of race, sex, gender identity, age, religion, national origin, veteran status, political affiliation, disability, or any other non-job related factors.

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