water utility resilience program

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is seeking an intern for the Water Utility Resilience Program (WURP) at the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. The role involves maintaining service area maps, conducting outreach to water utilities, developing data maps using ArcPro, and assisting with data organization and webpage updates. The position emphasizes environmental protection and sustainability in Massachusetts.
Job Description

Who We Are:

The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) seeks to protect, preserve, and enhance Massachusetts' environmental resources and create a clean energy future for all residents. Through the stewardship of open spaces, the protection of environmental resources, and the advancement of clean energy, EEA works tirelessly to make Massachusetts a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family. Our commitment to environmental justice ensures that every resident, regardless of background or location, can live in a safe, clean environment and shares equally in the benefits of the clean energy transition.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is the state agency responsible for ensuring clean air, land, and water. Our work impacts every aspect of people's lives and is critical to the health and wellbeing of our residents and visitors. MassDEP is the lead agency for safe management of toxics and hazardous materials, promotion of waste reduction and recycling, preservation of the state's wetlands and coastal resources, air quality monitoring and pollution reduction, and so much more.

Who We Are as an Employer:

At EEA, we create meaningful, inclusive opportunities that empower our employees to make a real difference in shaping the environmental future of Massachusetts. We foster a workplace culture where diversity is valued, innovation is encouraged, and collaboration thrives. Our employees play a vital role in advancing sustainability, environmental justice, and clean energy solutions, ensuring a positive and lasting impact on Massachusetts and its residents.

Description: Water Utility Resilience Program (WURP) - Intern

MassDEP's mission is to protect and enhance the Commonwealth's natural resources - air, water, and land - to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of all people, and to ensure a clean and safe environment for future generations. To support this mission, the Water Utility Resilience Program (WURP) develops and maintains statewide service area maps to depict the geographic area served by publicly or privately owned drinking water or sanitary sewer utilities. These datasets are the foundation for understanding water service and waste conveyance. This internship opportunity will assist WURP in the continued maintenance of service area boundary maps, as well as the development of new datasets that support WURP in identifying critical infrastructure vulnerabilities, prioritizing climate preparedness for water utilities, and increasing departmental and agency access to data.

Responsibilities will include:

The selected candidate will work with WURP staff, including GIS Program staff in inventory, outreach, and tracking tasks. Duties include the following:
• Conduct outreach and respond/track responses to water utilities as part of work for maintaining the service area dataset and collecting critical infrastructure information. This includes developing mail-merged documents and graphics.
• Develop individual data maps using ArcPro for water utility review.
• Organize data collected through outreach efforts.
• Assist with updating the WURP webpage.
• Assist with user testing and evaluation of the internal data dashboards.
• Assist with the collecting, organizing, and cataloging of water utility critical infrastructure information. This may include occasional site visits to other regional offices and/or municipalities may be necessary and will be accompanied by the WURP staff.
• Develop process documents for project continuity.
• Document the progress of work, provide oral and/or written summaries on the project status, and prepare a presentation at the end of the intern experience.
Preferred Experience and Qualifications:
• GIS Coursework: Completion of at least two (2) semester-long GIS courses, including one with practical experience using ESRI ArcGIS Desktop and georeferencing scanned maps.
• ArcGIS Online Proficiency: Demonstrated experience using ArcGIS Online.
• Analytical Skills: Logical and efficient problem-solving abilities including the use of Microsoft Excel to organize and summarize workflows.
• Communication Skills: Excellent oral and written communication skills for developing outreach and social media products.
• Attention to Detail: Strong detail-oriented mindset.
• Self-Motivation: Ability to work independently and proactively.
A resume and cover letter must be submitted and uploaded as part of the application.

Qualifications

First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

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.

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards

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.