Undergraduate Intern II - Project Management (Water Quality/Environmental Research)

Job Description:

Undergraduate Intern II - Project Management (Water Quality/Environmental Research)

Description

Summary

The King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) seeks a 2026 Project Management intern to support our Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) project team.

Our internship is for active students only. To be eligible for this internship, you must be enrolled in a college, or university program for the duration of your internship . For example, if you are graduating from a college or university in June 2026 and are not enrolled for a fall 2026 academic program, you are not eligible for internship but rather highly encouraged to apply for our entry-level job openings.

Please visit Wastewater Treatment Division website: Undergraduate and Graduate Internship Program - King County, Washington .

The King County (KC) Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) protects water quality and public health in the central Puget Sound region by providing high quality and effective treatment to wastewater collected from our local sewer agencies. In certain areas of King County, we operate a combined sewer system. This means that on rainy days, the sanitary sewage and the rainwater from roofs and streets flow through the same pipes towards the treatment plant. During particularly heavy storms, the conveyance system becomes overwhelmed, resulting in overflows of combined sewage into open water.

In the next fifteen years, King County will deliver several large infrastructure projects to reduce the number of uncontrolled combined sewer overflows in the region. A partial solution to these overflows could be implementation of Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI). GSI uses vegetation, soils, and natural processes to manage rainwater where it falls, reducing polluted runoff, flooding, and sewer overflows. Common examples include rain gardens, bioswales, permeable pavements, green roofs, and cisterns. These nature-based systems filter pollutants, recharge groundwater, and enhance urban aesthetics.

About the Role:

The intern will be part of one or more project teams that implement combined sewer overflows (CSO) projects. This position requires using online resources, interviews, attending CSO project meetings and conducting field visits, to investigate the water quality benefits of GSI, particularly the removal of certain contaminants like 6PPDQ. If you’re interested in learning more about 6PPDQ and what King County and regional partners are doing to research this chemical, here are a few helpful resources:

• 6PPD and 6PPDQ | Washington State Department of Health
• King County scientists identify a potential breakthrough for treating salmon-killing tire chemical | King County, Washington
• 2021 Surface Water Design Manual (Amended 2024) | King County, Washington
• Adopt-a-Downspout - Stewardship Partners

The implementation of GSI usually only provides a partial reduction in the combined sewer overflow. Typically, a ‘grey’ solution like storage or a wet weather treatment station, is still required. The purpose of this internship is to research if the removal of 6PPDQ via GSI provides benefits to the control of combined sewer overflows, that grey solutions do not.

The Intern will be able to take ownership of their part in the project in a supportive and collaborative environment alongside team members who will be working on similar or related projects. Towards the end of the internship, a work product (report or presentation) will be part of the intern’s deliverables.

About the Team:
The CSO project teams deliver CSO infrastructure projects along the entire project life cycle: planning, alternatives evaluation, approval of the project plan, design, construction, commissioning and close-out. The teams are made up of members of many different departments and disciplines, such as engineering, permitting, project (financial / schedule) control, environmental impact, community relations and real property.

Join our team dedicated to ensuring clean water for generations to come! With over 1,000 employees engaged in planning, designing, building, and operating treatment facilities, our agency is at the forefront of environmental stewardship. Success for us means upholding our legacy while promising future generations a pristine environment.

We enforce regulations to reduce harmful waste discharge and actively educate the public and businesses on water quality protection. We prioritize accountability to our ratepayers and operate a well-managed agency that services over 2.3 million King County residents . Our regional wastewater treatment system not only sustains a healthy environment but also fuels economic development, fostering prosperity in our region. If you're passionate about making a difference and thrive in a collaborative environment, join us in our mission to safeguard our precious water resources.

Commitment to Equity, Racial, and Social Justice:

King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial, and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a Project Management Intern, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity .

Apply now for a rewarding career at the Wastewater Treatment Division of King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP). Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities. Enjoy training, comprehensive benefits , and growth opportunities.

Job Duties

What You Will Be Doing:

• Investigate whether GSI should be part of the project solutions to reduce uncontrolled combined sewer overflows for the projects the team is working on.
• Interpretation of scientific documents.
• Conduct interviews and attend workshops and meetings.
• Develop an understanding of CSO project elements, such as local permitting, environmental impact, equity & social justice, community impact, and cost.

• Generate reports and presentations.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Qualifications You Bring:

• Enrolled in a college program for a bachelor’s or master’s degree in environmental engineering, environmental science & technology, chemical engineering, or similar.
• Experience/exposure or course work involving GSI, water quality, water/wastewater treatment, stormwater drainage, or similar.
• Experience in interpreting scientific documents.
• Background in conducting interviews and attending workshops and meetings.
• Strong written communication skills.

Competencies You Bring:

• Tech Savvy: Anticipating and adopting innovations in business- building digital and technology applications.
• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Action Oriented: Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Communicates Effectively: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Nimble Learning: Actively learning through experimentation when tackling new problems, using both successes and failures as learning fodder.

Required Licenses:

• Washington State Driver License

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions:

• Work Location: The CSO project team works in a hybrid model, with days in the office as well as telecommuting. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. The primary onsite location is King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson, Seattle, Washington 98104. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. (For potential site visits, please note that the treatment plants do not have public transit access. Candidates should have the means to get to the plants or sites in a timely manner.)
  

• Requirement: Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance to King County worksites to meet onsite reporting requirements.
  
• Work Schedule: This position may begin as part-time during the current school session and will transition to full-time work during the summer break. This position is covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is overtime eligible.
  
• Union Representation: This position is not represented by a Union.
  

Application instructions and selection process: This opportunity is open to college level students currently enrolled and continuing into the fall of 2026 in full or part-time status at an accredited university/college. Proof of full or part-time enrollment status is required . We welcome applications from all qualified student applicants. We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply. Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews.

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application
• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Responses to the supplemental questions

Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.

W ho to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Rodney Dungo at [email protected] .

Discover More About the Wastewater Treatment Division: Visit our website and check us out at Facebook , X (formerly Twitter) , Instagram , YouTube , and the WTD Blog .

Discover More About DNRP: Visit our DNRP website , explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook , X (formerly Twitter) , LinkedIn , TikTok , Instagram , YouTube and Keeping King County Green News .

Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North" , we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

This position is not eligible for King County leave, holiday, insured, or other benefits. Please contact the recruiter on the posting for any additional questions regarding associated benefits.

Closing Date/Time: 4/12/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$22.01 - $27.90 Hourly