Partnership Raleigh Community Climate Intern (Cohort 5)

A wide variety of internship opportunities are available. This is a 10-week (June 2-August 8) paid internship program for college students.

 Specific internship focus areas include:

• Assist with administrative records management.
• Assist with engineering items related to inventory tracking, asset tracking, and development review.
• Analyze both environmental and engineering data.
• Test water and wastewater samples in a certified laboratory.
• Assist Raleigh Water's Safety and Emergency Preparedness Team on various safety items, including drafting Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Assist Raleigh Water's Land Management team to help with farm activities, including operating various agricultural equipment.
• Assist various trades and operational crews with work orders both in our primary facility and at remote outdoor facilities.
• Support project implementation for the City of Raleigh Community Climate Action Plan.
• Conduct analysis and make recommendations to advance equity and resilience initiatives.

Candidates applying for this position will need to provide a required essay question response. Please ensure that you enclose this document with your application.

Partnership Raleigh offers career exploration and internships for students aged 17-24 and those entering educational institutional programs by Fall 2025. Through structured, skill-building experiences, the program aims to prepare young adults for meaningful career pathways and long-term professional success.

Partnership Raleigh Community Climate Interns will gain professional development and hands-on experience in sustainable water services and resource management, preparing them for potential careers in federal, state, and local government.

We are seeking personable and highly motivated Interns to work a 10-week internship, June 2 - August 8, 2025 (10 weeks).

The Community Climate Intern Program is a collaborative initiative between Partnership Raleigh, Raleigh Water, and the Office of Sustainability. Raleigh Water provides water and sanitary sewer services to over 200,000 metered customers with a service population of approximately 640,000 people in Raleigh, Garner, Wake Forest, Rolesville, Knightdale, Wendell, and Zebulon.  Raleigh Water’s mission is to provide safe, sustainable water services for our customers while protecting public health and contributing to the economic, environmental, and social vitality of our communities. The Office of Sustainability works with City departments and the Raleigh community on the Community Climate Action Plan (CCAP) focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, understanding the role of equity and the implications of climate change on vulnerable communities, and how the impacts of climate change affect overall community resilience.  This internship program is an opportunity for undergraduate students to work on projects with Raleigh Water divisions and the Office of Sustainability in support of the City’s climate action goals and water sustainability efforts. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Interns will be placed in various divisions within Raleigh Water and Sustainability supporting a wide range of projects and tasks such as:

• Manages records, inventory tracking and asset tracking
• Collects and analyzes field data
• Works in laboratory and supporting lab operations
• Audits billing systems
• Tracks truck sites and performing digital scans
• Drafts standard operating procedures for work zones and excavations
• Develops maintenance and safety documents
• Assists with the implementation of environmental safety and health management software
• Operates various agricultural equipment
• Supports project implementation for the CCAP
• Conducts analysis and making recommendations to advance equity and resilience initiatives
• Assists with HVAC, Electrician, Facility Maintenance Technology, and Construction Equipment Systems Technology

Interns will have the opportunity to interact with Public Utilities and Raleigh Water professionals while learning about the career opportunities associated with water resource management and sustainability.

Additional internship program interests include:

• Green Stormwater Infrastructure, Water Resource Management, Agriculture, Laboratory Testing and Analysis, Engineering, Sustainability, Environmental Science, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
• Data analysis and integration, general electrical/HVAC maintenance, project management, policy and research, GIS, community outreach and engagement

Typical Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Students aged 17-24 and those entering educational institutional programs by Fall 2025
• Access to a computer and reliable internet connection
• Ability to navigate Microsoft Teams
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite and databases
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment
• Solid organizational skills and attention to detail
• Access to reliable transportation

Licensing and Certifications:

• Valid North Carolina Class C Driver's License with a satisfactory driving record, or the ability to obtain within 60 days of hire (Required only for specific field-based internship positions)

Please note that most internship positions are project-based and may require some outdoor work and field-based tasks. Some field-based intern projects will require driving a City vehicle to complete work assignments.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in an office environment
• Applicants who live, work, or attend college, community college, or university in the Raleigh and/or Triangle Region (not required)
• Elementary experience with ArcGIS mapping software
• Proficiency in Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams)
• Basic statistical analysis in Excel
• Some knowledge of strategy development, environmental research methods, and environmental best practices

Additional Information

Young adults of color and those that are under-represented in the field of sustainability and public utilities are encouraged to apply.

Strong candidates will have trades experience in HVAC, electrical, or refrigeration or academic majors in environmental science, geographic science, environmental, health science, earth sciences, chemistry, biology, geospatial sciences, sustainability, geographic information systems, data analytics, political science, public administration, agricultural and environmental systems, environmental health & safety, environmental engineering, engineering, and parks, recreation & tourism or a related field.

Note:
This job classification description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) designation may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.