A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.

As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What we offer

• Impact - The work you do here matters to millions. 
• Growth - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it? 
• Diversity & Inclusion - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
• Benefits - We care about your well-being.

Agency Description

The Philadelphia Water Department is a municipal department of approximately 2500 employees working in all facets to provide water/wastewater treatment services to the City of Philadelphia and the surrounding counties.

The Office of Watersheds is a unit within the Philadelphia Water Department’s Planning and Environmental Services Division whose core mission is to preserve and enhance the health of the region’s watersheds and drinking water sources through effective wastewater and stormwater services.  The unit is responsible for the implementation of the Department’s Green Cities-Clean Waters Program which uses land, waterway, infrastructure, and sustainability practices to support policies and programs targeted to protect our drinking water supply and the propagation and protection of fish and wildlife habitat.  OOW’s restoration strategies, focused on our water resources, are complimentary to the region’s green development practices, recreation, ecotourism, and sustainable riverfront re-development efforts. 

This full-time internship/co-op position will begin in April 2023 and end in September 2023. Schedules will be determined during the interview. The position may require candidates to work hybrid schedules, which means in-person and remote workdays.

Essential Functions

The candidate selected for this position will assist an interdisciplinary team of scientists and environmental educators to address water quality and ecosystem services using innovative techniques centered around biological propagation, aquaculture, and reintroduction strategies, tidal freshwater wetland restoration using “living shoreline principles and practices”, beneficial re-use strategies for ecological uplift in rivers and streams, and research and development (R&D) to optimize the Basin’s Freshwater Mussel Recovery Program.  

Typical tasks and responsibilities include freshwater mussel collection, propagation, and rearing; host fish collection and maintenance; water chemistry analysis, database management, fish collection using trapping and electrofishing techniques, laboratory operation and maintenance, fieldwork related to biological reintroduction, living shorelines monitoring, beneficial reuse of shell material for oyster reef restoration and shoreline restoration,  bathymetric surveys, tidal shoreline monitoring, marine debris, and floatable collection, and public outreach.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Computer and basic writing skills are essential.  Knowledge of or interest in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), programming, and proficiency in Excel and/or Access is a plus. A basic understanding of general water quality is also a bonus.  Individuals selected for this position may be required to complete basic Microsoft Access and relational database training. Field work is an essential component of this position.

Preferred Majors:

Environmental Sciences, Biology, Ecology, Environmental Engineering, Aquatic Biology, Marine Biology

TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a resume.

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to [email protected].

For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx