VOLUNTEER POSITION DESCRIPTION

for

Water Quality Program Intern (VA Office)

Title:             Program Intern (VA Office)

Hours:            10 hours per week

Duration:        3-6 months, or until school requirements are satisfied

Location:        612 Hull St, Suite 101C, Richmond, VA 23224

Contact:         Liz Chudoba  lchudoba@allianceforthebay.org    (804) 775-0951

To apply:       Please submit a resume & attached application to Liz Chudoba

General Information

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay (Alliance) is a regional nonprofit organization whose mission is to bring together individuals, organizations, businesses and governments to find collaborative solutions, to build a strong commitment to stewardship, and to deliver innovative, broadly-supported programs that benefit the land, waters and residents of the Chesapeake Bay. The Alliance implements local programs that connect people to their local river and become directly involved in local restoration efforts. The Alliance was founded in 1971 and has offices in Annapolis, MD, Camp Hill, PA, and Richmond, VA.

The Water Quality Program Intern will be based in the Richmond office and focus on promoting Alliance programs through a variety of communication channels. The main focus will include our water quality monitoring programs RiverTrends and the Chesapeake Monitoring Cooperative (volunteer water quality monitoring). RiverTrends is the Alliance’s citizen water quality monitoring program and is a regional network of over 50 trained volunteers who perform monthly water quality tests that help track the condition of local waterways the flow into the Chesapeake Bay. The Alliance has been coordinating RiverTrends for over 30 years in partnership with DEQ. The Chesapeake Monitoring Cooperative is larger effort to integrate volunteer-based water quality and macroinvertebrate monitoring data into the Chesapeake Bay Program parnterhsip.

Principal Activities

  • Become a RiverTrends certified monitor and set up a site for the Alliance to conduct water quality monitoring.
  • Assist with RiverTrends certification trainings.
  • Assist with data entry and quality assurance checks for citizen water quality monitoring program and streamwalk program.
  • Assist with data conversion from our current access database into our new Chesapeake Data Explorer.
  • Assist with research and outreach to current monitoring groups throughout Virginia to engage them in the Chesapeake Monitoring Cooperative.
  • Assist with outreach to find new monitoring groups and expand the program in the Piedmont and Coastal Virginia areas.
  • Assist with online/social media communications, article writing to promote programs, and website development and maintenance.
  • Assist in preparation for outreach and volunteer events.
  • Assist in basic office duties and preparation.
  • Additional duties as assigned.

Outcomes/Goals

  • Engage communities in volunteer water quality monitoring efforts.
  • Increase public knowledge of Virginia watershed issues and solutions and the Alliance’s work to address these challenges.

Qualifications

  • Possess a strong work and environmental ethic.
  • Good writing abilities and verbal communication skills.
  • Knowledge and experience with social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter, and WordPress blogs.
  • Superb organizational skills and attention to detail.

Work Schedule

The office is open Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:00 pm. Volunteer works hours may be flexible within this schedule in agreement with the supervisor. Some after-hours and weekend work may be required.

Time Commitment

A minimum of 10 hours per week of volunteer service are expected for this position. The position agreement is for three to six months or until school requirements are satisfied. The commitment may extend depended on the needs of the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and the performance of the volunteer.

Supervision and Support Plan

The supervisor for this volunteer position is Liz Chudoba. The volunteer will attend weekly staff meetings to report on progress of assigned duties.

Volunteer Benefits

  • Opportunity to learn new skills in outreach and communication
  • Reference for employment or academic purposes, dependent on satisfactory performance
  • Opportunity to make profession contacts in a regional organization
  • Opportunity to contribute toward the mission of the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay

Start and End Dates

The volunteer will start in May 2018 or September 2018.

ACB Water Quality Internship Description

ACB Water Quality Internship Application