Diversity Outreach Summer Intern - Soil and Water Division
The Virginia Department of Conservation (DCR) is the state’s lead conservation agency, and it takes a diverse agency to work for a diverse commonwealth. DCR protects what people care about – clean water, natural habitats, and access to the outdoors, open spaces, and safe infrastructure. The DCR Division of Soil and Water Conservation works with 47 Soil and Water Conservation Districts, farmers, urban and suburban landowners, and other land managers to reduce harmful runoff in Virginia’s waters. This division works to reduce nutrients and sediment that can impact the quality of Virginia’s waters, including the nation’s largest estuary, the Chesapeake Bay. DCR has identified minority stakeholder groups that are not currently well represented in the leadership, decision making and implementation of conservation and restoration activities, and is developing meaningful opportunities and programs to recruit and engage them.
If you are interested in environmental policy, water quality protection, and/or agriculture, the Department of Conservation and Recreation has an Internship opportunity available. The Diversity Outreach Intern will extensively use the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency database to research and document the different levels of nutrient and sediment reduction credit for agricultural best management practices and components recognized by the Chesapeake Bay Program, the Virginia Agricultural Best Management Practice Cost Share Program, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The intern will also build a database with these research findings in order to advise policy and program staff in the DCR Division of Soil and Water Conservation on possible approaches and proposed mapping that geographically delineates Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay watershed into newly formed Conservation Efficiency Factor Regions and assigns nutrient and sediment reduction values for agricultural best management practices in each of these regions. This work will assist the Division in efforts to regionalize the state cost share program, and help Soil and Water Conservation Districts to more efficiently authorize the use of cost share funding and better implement the Phase III Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load Watershed Implementation Plan. Term of work is for 10-12 weeks, 28 hours/week, Mondays – Thursdays. Term of work must be completed on or before September 4, 2020.
Minimum Qualifications:
Must be currently enrolled in a two or four year college or university as a fulltime student. Students graduating in 2020 or full-time graduate students are also encouraged to apply. Applicants must possess a minimum cumulative collegiate grade point average of 2.5 or above on a 4.0 scale at the time of application submittal. Unofficial transcripts are required. Demonstrated proficiency, creating, querying, and interpreting statistical databases. Demonstrated proficiency creating maps using ArcMap, ArcView, or other Geographical Information Systems. Independent research experience. Ability to give attention to detail and accuracy. Interest in environmental policy, water quality protection, and/or agriculture.
Preferred Qualifications:
Knowledge of agricultural best management practices. Experience with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Chesapeake Bay Program models. Knowledge of production agriculture, water conservation, crop farming, and/or farm animals. Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Special Requirements:
Official transcripts may be required if selected for an interview. Selected candidates must provide their own lodging. This position is funded by an Environmental Protection Agency, Chesapeake Bay Program grant. Candidates for interviews must satisfy the U.S. Environmental Agency’s “Diversity Outcome Management Strategy, 2015-2025, v.2” criteria.
https://www.chesapeakebay.net/documents/22052/2018-2019_diversity_management_strategy.pdf
“For the purposes of this strategy, the following definition of diversity is being used: “Expanding the diversity of the workforce and participants in restoration and conservation activities means to include a wide range of people of all races, income levels, faiths, genders, ages, sexual orientations and disabilities, along with other diverse groups.”
Special Instructions to Applicants:
State applications will only be accepted as submitted online by 11:59 pm on the closing date through the Recruitment Management System (RMS). Applications submitted via email, postal mail, fax, or in person will not be considered. Applicants are expected to fully represent qualifications and work history on the State applications and or in resumes. The decision to interview an applicant is based on the information provided on the application, resume, and other relevant documents provided; therefore, it is essential to for applicant to supply detailed information. Submitting an incomplete state application/resume, or a state application/resume lacking in detail, may impact your interview eligibility. This website will provide a confirmation of receipt when the application is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your RMS Account to check the status of your application for this position.
DCR is an E-verify and Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities are encouraged to apply.