Engineering Intern - Water Resources

Dakota County, MN • Internship • Apple Valley, Minnesota, United States • 6d ago

Salary: $18.00 - $21.00 Hourly

Location : Apple Valley, MN

Job Type: 6 month Temp

Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid

Job Number: 9000B.25.001

Department: Environmental Resources

Opening Date: 12/18/2024

Closing Date: 1/13/2025 4:30 PM Central

General Description

POSTING TYPE: Open-competitive Internship or Summer Employment Opportunity
DEPARTMENT: Environmental Resources
HOURS: Temporary, full-time
HIRING RANGE: $18.00 - $21.00/dependent on education & skills
LOCATION: Western Service Center, Apple Valley
CLOSE DATE: 4:30 pm on Monday, January 13, 2025

The Water Resources Engineering Intern is responsible for performing a variety of semi-skilled to skilled tasks in construction observation, report writing, watershed modeling, CAD work, environmental assessments, and other various tasks for Water Resources related projects. This position works for the Water Resources unit within the Dakota County Environmental Resources Department. The position will require in office and field work throughout the County, with the ability to remotely work from home as approved by the Water Resources Project Supervisor.

This is a great opportunity for students to explore their interest and gain work experience in the Water Resources Engineering field. This position will last approximately 3-4 months during the summer season. Candidates who are interested in a formal internship are responsible for making arrangements with their university/college. Candidates must have the ability to occasionally work a flexible schedule which could include early morning or evening hours. This position does not include benefits.
Minimum Qualifications
• 2 years of completed coursework from an accredited college or university program in one of the following fields: environmental engineering, geological engineering, civil engineering/technician, construction engineering, hydrology, geology, environmental science, water resources science, earth science, geoscience, or a closely related field.
AND
• Valid driver's license

Preferred Qualifications:
• Previous engineering, science, or technical internships.
• Direct experience, education, and/or training with Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
• Direct experience, education, and/or training related to construction site erosion and sediment control inspections.

Duties & Responsibilities

These examples do not include all possible tasks in this work and do not limit the assignment of related tasks in any position of this classification. Regular attendance according to the position's management approved work schedule is required for all positions.

1. Complete routine lake sampling at the Lebanon Hills Regional Park Chain of Lakes for eutrophication standards while maintaining the water quality database and provide data deliverables to the Parks Department.

2. Complete routine lake sampling at County beaches.

3. Assist the Water Resources Engineer with drafting, modeling and design efforts and tasks necessary for stormwater projects occurring in transportation, parks and other various departments.

4. Provide site inspection and construction inspection services to assist the Water Resources Project Supervisor on various construction observation and compliance tasks on County projects.

5. Complete comprehensive watershed delineation utilizing watershed delineation tools in Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

6. Assist the Environmental Assessment Program with grant administration, grant writing, data gathering, data evaluation, coalition and partnership development, and communications relating to both grantee and grantor relationships and activities.

7. Assist the Environmental Assessment Program with project selection, work plan preparation, data collection and management, consultant oversight, field work, project management and other project related activities.

8. Assist the septic system regulatory program with compliance needs, inspections, data management, and regulatory requirements.

9. Assist water resources working groups with data gathering and public education opportunities.
10. Assist the Senior Water Resources Engineer with completion of monthly inspections at the Byllesby Dam for instrumentation and other various monitoring field tasks.
11. Work as part of multi-department project teams which could include Project Managers, Technicians, Engineers, Geologists, Scientists, Planners and Regulators. Day-to-day activities will include field data collection, data and database importing, and data analysis; GIS analysis and map generation; report writing and reviewing; and team meetings and conference calls.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: Duties 1 - 11 are essential functions as well as regular attendance according to the position's management approved work schedule.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities and Work Environment
• Excellent verbal and written interpersonal communication skills.
• Mathematically competent and science literate.
• Exceptional work ethic, reliable and consistent performance and attendance.
• Fluency in modern office software programs (e.g., Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Working knowledge of database computer software programs (e.g., Microsoft Office-Access) and other engineering related programs (e.g. AutoCAD, ArcGIS, HEC-RAS, HydroCAD, HY-8)
• Positive attitude and ability and desire to learn new technical skills quickly.
• Must be a self-motivator and enjoy problem solving.

Work Environment

Work is performed indoors and outdoors in Dakota County. The position will be based out of the Western Service Center in Apple Valley, Minnesota; however, also offers remote work from home and field work throughout the County. This position may require the ability to work outdoors in all weather and the ability to perform strenuous physical tasks on a daily basis.

Selection Process

You submit an online application that includes supplemental questions
We assign you a score based on your qualifications
Top scoring candidates are referred to the hiring manager for interview consideration
We conduct interviews and reference checks before extending an offer
We extend an offer and conduct background checks

No benefits are offered to volunteers and/or interns

01

*******Applicants for this recruitment will be rated based on their answers to the supplemental questions listed below and application materials. It is IMPERATIVE that information provided on the application and resume are detailed and clearly outline your work experience & skills. They must also support and/or match answers to the supplemental questions.Please initial the box below to CONFIRM that the information provided is accurate and true to the best of your knowledge. Falsification may result in disqualification from consideration for this and subsequent recruitments with Dakota County for up to three years.

02

Have you completed at least 2 year of coursework from an accredited college or university program in one of the following fields: environmental engineering, geological engineering, civil engineering/technician, construction engineering, hydrology, geology, environmental science, water resources science, earth science, geoscience, or closely related field?

** Two years of coursework must be completed by the end of the Spring 2024 semester.

03

Select which of the following best describes your years of relevant coursework/education in environmental, geological, construction or civil engineering; hydrology, geology, environmental science, water resources science, earth science, or geoscience.

I have not completed coursework in an engineering related program
Less than 1 year (1 semester)
1 year (2-3 semesters)
2 years (4-5 semesters)
3 years (6-7 semesters)
4+ years (8 semesters)
Graduate student

04

List any coursework that you have completed in a civil engineering/technician, construction engineering, environmental engineering, geological engineering, or surveying program. List the school attended, course title, and year completed. If you have not completed relevant coursework, indicate "none" below.

05

Have you previously completed an engineering, science, or technical internship?

06

Are you enrolled in an ABET accredited college or university program?

07

Do you have a valid driver's license?

08

Select which of the following best describes your years of relevant work experience in environmental, geological, construction or civil engineering; hydrology, geology, environmental science, water resources science, earth science, or geoscience. This experience may have been from an unpaid/paid job, work study, internship, etc..

Less than 1 year
1 year
2 years
3+ years
No experience, but willing to gain

09

Select which of the following best describes your work experience specifically in water resources.

Less than 3 months
3 to 6 months
7 to 12 months
13 to 24 months
25 to 36 months
More than 36 months
No experience, but willing to gain.

10

Do you have education or work experience using the following programs? (check all that apply)

AutoCAD
ArcGIS
HEC-RAS, HydroCAD, HY-8 or similar program
None of the above

11

What type of opportunity are you seeking in this position? (check all that apply)

3-4 month full-time summer Internship
3-4 month full-time summer job, not as an intern
Either an internship or summer job

12

Why are you interested in this seasonal position at Dakota County? (check all that apply)

To gain work experience in my field of study
To complete an internship
Previously worked in this position at Dakota County
Previously worked in this field for another organization
Other (explain below)

13

If you answered "other" above, please explain why you are interested in this position.

14

Are you willing to work outdoors in all weather (extreme heat) and perform strenuous physical tasks on a daily basis?

15

Would you accept an offer between $18 - $20 an hour for this position? The rate of pay offered to the candidate is based on overall on completed education and direct work experience.

16

Your response to this question will help Dakota County evaluate the effectiveness of recruitment sources for this specific position. Please select the one source that most closely describes how you first learned about this opportunity.