Job Description
Who We Are:
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is the state agency responsible for ensuring clean air, land, and water, the safe management of toxics and hazards, the recycling of solid and hazardous wastes and the preservation of the state's wetlands and coastal resources.
Who We Serve:
Massachusetts was the first state in the nation to combine energy and environmental agencies under one Cabinet secretary. The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) serves Commonwealth residents interested in outdoor recreational activities, clean energy solutions and those who work with animals and livestock. Equally, EOEEA works with energy consumers, power companies, clean energy providers and farmers to delicately balance the interaction with environmental protection laws and regulations while being a cornerstone for our economic prosperity.
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Job Opening:
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, seeks applicants for the position of Contracted Student Intern - Watershed Planning Program, Nonpoint Source Management to perform the following duties:
Please submit a cover letter and resume as part of your application.
Position Summary:
Watershed Planning Program, Nonpoint Source Management Section -
Capacity Building Support to Enhance Nonpoint Source (NPS) Management
The Nonpoint Source (NPS) Management Section in the Watershed Planning Program coordinates the restoration of waters impaired by NPS pollution and the protection of healthy waters by developing and implementing the Massachusetts NPS Management Plan, which is a five-year planning document. To that end, the NPS Management Section manages two federally funded grant programs related to water quality: the Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 604(b) Water Quality Management Planning Grant Program and the CWA Section 319 NPS Competitive Grant Program. In 2024, the NPS Management Section updated the Massachusetts NPS Management Plan, which will guide program activities from 2025 through 2029.
The NPS Management Section implements initiatives to improve access to the benefits of the actions contained in NPS Management Plan for communities with Environmental Justice (EJ) populations and enhance the capacity of Massachusetts communities to respond to climate change. Additionally, the NPS Management Section continuously seeks to improve the quantity and quality of grant proposals it receives through outreach and capacity building through technical support to potential grant applicants. To further that goal, the NPS Management Section conducts an annual NPS outreach forum for prospective grantees and, in 2024, launched an online GIS-based capacity building tool called INSPIRE (Ideas for Nonpoint Source Projects: Information, Resources, and Examples) to help communities develop new project ideas for competitive grant proposals.
The Watershed Planning Program seeks an intern to support and enhance the goals of the NPS Management Section and the delivery of high-quality programs and technical support to applicants and grantees.
Intern duties will include:
- Support public outreach and the implementation of the 2025-2029 NPS Management Plan.
- Develop an NPS grant project success story highlighting a successful grant project for submittal to EPA,
- Update content on the NPS website,
- Maintain and update the 604(b) and 319 grant databases and GIS data layers,
- Develop and/or update supporting documentation for the INSPIRE capacity building tool, such as the User Guide and instructional videos,
- Document project development and activities for future reference, and
- Other tasks as assigned.
Qualifications
First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.
Qualifications:
• Highly motivated individual with good attention to detail.
• Ability to complete assigned tasks independently.
• Good written and oral communication skills.
• Experience with Microsoft Office suite required.
• Experience with ArcPro and ArcGIS Online preferred.
Comprehensive Benefits
When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.
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An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.