Start/End Dates: February 5, 2024 – September 20, 2024

Compensation: $650 per week + $1000 monthly for housing

Medical insurance provided on request.

Application Due: October 31, 2023 

The Resource Assistants Program seeks to engage ethnically and racially diverse young professionals in natural resource careers. You must be:

• a U.S. citizen or legal resident.
• a college graduate.

* A personal vehicle required

Please Apply Here

Project Description:

The Forest Hydrology Intern will accomplish scientific functions related to the study of water resources, based on and requiring a professional knowledge of related sciences and the consistent application of basic scientific principles to the solution of theoretical and practical hydrologic problems. The Internship will bring together the integrally related areas of earth sciences, soils, and water resources management with an applied focus on wildland, forested ecosystems.  

Successful completion of the Internship, leading to permanent, full-time conversion to a professional Hydrologist with the U.S. Forest Service will:

• Complete a minimum of six months of directly related work experience.
• Meet the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for the position to which the Intern may be converted to.
• Maintain acceptable performance under the agency’s approval performance management system.
• Receive favorable recommendation for conversion from mentor/supervisor. 

Responsibilities:

• Help implement watershed restoration and improvement programs in coordination with other Watershed, Engineering and Fisheries specialists.
• Help lead planning and implementation of watershed restoration programs that includes riparian and stream restoration, road storage and decommissioning, and related road work to improve water quality and aquatic passage.
• Coordinate restoration project design and implementation with cooperator staff.
• Serve as interdisciplinary team member for planning of land management activities including silviculture treatments, wildlife habitat enhancement, and recreation (motorized and non-motorized).
• Implement water-quality-related monitoring efforts to inform an array of land management actions, Forest Plan monitoring requirements including the Best Management Practices program.
• Prepare written and oral reports on hydrology-related study or assessment findings.
• Work with a wide array of partners in all aspects of the position and may lead or contribute to agreements, memorandums of understanding, and coordination including non-government associations, watershed planning groups, state and federal agencies and tribes.

Qualifications:

• Major studies relevant to this position: physical, natural science, or engineering that included at least 30 semester hours in any combination of courses in hydrology, the physical sciences, geophysics, chemistry, engineering science, soils, mathematics, aquatic biology, atmospheric science, meteorology, geology, oceanography, or the management or conservation of water resources. The course work must have included at least 6 semester hours in calculus (including both differential and integral calculus), and at least 6 semester hours in physics. Calculus and physics, as described above, are requirements for all grade levels. 

OR

• Combination of education and experience — course work as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Hydrologist Skills and Competencies:

In addition to the technical skills you will acquire through your education, you will need to have and/or develop other important skills, such as:

• Critical thinking: Critical thinking is necessary when developing plans that respond to threats to water quality.
• Communication: Speaking well allows you to present and clearly explain your findings to others, including those who do not have a scientific background. Writing well allows you to clearly present your findings to your professional peers, as well as to government officials and the public.
• Analytical skill: Properly analyzing collected field data can help you to assess water quality and problem solving.
• Interpersonal Skills: You work in close collaboration with other scientists and public officials.
• Time management and organizational skills: You must be able to achieve goals, work independently and meet deadlines, while handling multiple tasks.
• Computer skills: You must know writing and spreadsheet software for data extraction and reporting.
• Physical stamina: Field work may involve hiking to remote locations while carrying testing and sampling equipment.

Direct Hire Authority (DHA)

All RAP interns receive Direct Hire Authority (DHA) at the successful conclusion of their internship. DHA status enables an agency to hire, after public notice is given, any qualified applicant. A DHA expedites hiring by eliminating competitive rating and ranking, veterans’ preference, and “rule of three” procedures. For more information, please click HERE.

EEO Statement:

Environment for the Americas provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.