Jobs

WATER POLICY INTERN

Ogeechee Riverkeeper (ORK) and Savannah Riverkeeper (SRK) are seeking an Water Policy Intern that will research water supply facts, issues, concerns, and strategies. The candidate will deliver a work product that assists ORK and SRK in our water supply advocacy. This paid part-time position will work as an integral part of a small staff and will report to the ORK Legal Director. The position can be in-person, hybrid, or fully remote depending on individual needs and the intern’s ability to fulfill the position’s primary responsibilities.

Download PDF of job description and application information

Primary Responsibilities

  • Conduct research on how water is currently supplied and allocated to municipal and industrial uses in the Savannah area and in the surrounding counties.
  • Catalog the Savannah region’s current water usage data, including quantity of water supply, sources of water supply, how the water is used, and existing permits.
  • Draft memoranda, fact sheets, background papers synthesizing the information researched.
  • Investigate past and ongoing case studies of limited groundwater water supply and transitions to alternate water supplies.
  • Draft, submit, coordinate, and review open records requests to local and state government agencies.
  • Attend local meetings and events, as available.

Desired Qualifications and Skills:

  • Current graduate or law student focused on public interest or environmental advocacy.
  • Prior experience researching and analyzing complex governmental agency strategies, policies and procedures, planning documents, permits, and implementing actions.
  • Strong writing, communication, analytical, and research skills.
  • Comfortable working and communicating with other advocacy organizations, governmental officials, and diverse communities.
  • Self-motivated, ability to work independently and collaboratively, and excellent attention to detail and time management skills.
  • Proficiency with computer applications and software, including Google Workspace and Zoom.

Working Conditions

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that the Water Policy Intern encounters while performing the primary responsibilities of the role:

    • This position can be in-person, hybrid, or fully remote, depending on the circumstances of the intern. 
      • If in-person or hybrid – Much of the position will be performed in a climate-controlled office. As an environmental nonprofit, off-site events are frequently partially or entirely outdoors. Occasional regional travel may be required. Intern is required to move about their work area, ascend and descend stairs, and stand and/or sit for extended periods of time. The intern is occasionally required to lift, drag and/or move up to 25 pounds unassisted.
      • If remote or hybrid – Intern may complete this position from wherever the primary responsibilities can be achieved.
  • While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to receive oral and written instructions in English and to clearly communicate in English in person, over the telephone, through email and through other electronic means.  
  • The employee is required to visually or otherwise identify, observe, and assess. Special vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
  • Intern will be responsible for providing their own computer and phone. Both are essential to completing the position’s primary responsibilities.

Compensation – $15 per hour. ORK and SRK are happy to support the intern in earning class credits for this work. Pre-approved job-related expense reimbursements will be available. 

Time Commitment – ~10 hours per week, for 33 weeks. ORK and SRK are happy to extend the work period beyond this timeframe to help receive class credits. However, due to limited resources in our grant, pay, travel, and business expenses will not exceed $5,000 total for the internship. 

DISCLAIMER

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and essential duties and responsibilities of work performed by Water Policy Intern. It may not contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required to do this role. Nothing in this job  description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

To apply: Applications should be submitted electronically to: Ogeechee Riverkeeper – info@ogeecheeriverkeeper.org. Please include “WATER POLICY INTERN” in the subject line of the email. Include a cover letter, resume, list of completed/current course work, short writing sample (8 pages maximum), and three references, as a single PDF. 

Please do not contact to ask questions about the position. Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled.

Download PDF of job description and application information

About Ogeechee Riverkeeper: Ogeechee Riverkeeper 501(c)(3) works to protect, preserve, and improve the water quality of the Ogeechee River basin, which includes all of the streams flowing out to Ossabaw Sound and St. Catherine’s Sound. The Canoochee River is about 108 miles long and the Ogeechee River itself is approximately 245 miles long. The Ogeechee River system drains more than 5,500 square miles across 21 counties in Georgia. More at ogeecheeriverkeeper.org.