Pollution Prevention Intern

Job Description

About the Company

The Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD), located in Madison, boasts a rich history of excellence in STEM, innovation, and sustainability. The District’s core mission is to recover resources and clean wastewater, returning it to nature 365 days a year, through their innovation and expertise.

They are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, striving for a workforce that reflects the communities they serve. As such, they actively encourage women and people of color to apply for internships.

The District places a high priority on safety, having enhanced and exceeded safety precautions for all essential operations. They provide interns with training and experience in virtual collaboration tools and remote work as needed. Interns receive dedicated support from a supervisor, participate in professional development training, networking events, and meetings (virtually or in-person as conditions allow).

Job Description (Detailed)

Position Title: Pollution Prevention Intern

This opening is for the Pollution Prevention Internship Program, an excellent opportunity for enrolled university and technical college students to gain valuable experience and impact water quality in local communities.

Department: Ecosystems Department

Supervision: The intern will work under the supervision of the District’s Pollution Prevention Manager, collaborating with technical experts.

Overall Goal: To support the District’s pollution prevention and pretreatment initiatives. The internship focuses on applying communication, marketing, and outreach skills to environmental sustainability efforts.

Role & Focus:
This role is ideal for students passionate about social marketing, public outreach, and environmental communication. The intern will be instrumental in increasing awareness and participation in pollution prevention programs through various creative strategies.

Key Responsibilities & Creative Strategies:
• Developing social media content and marketing campaigns to educate the public.
• Supporting an engaging “hacks” campaign focused on pollution prevention tips.
• Collaborating on existing behavior change programs to encourage sustainable practices.
• Designing and implementing pilot projects to test new outreach strategies.

The intern will work closely with the District’s Pollution Prevention Specialists, Pretreatment Coordinator, Communications Department, and other staff to develop engaging and effective outreach efforts.

Job Duties:
• Assisting in the development and implementation of education, outreach, and communication activities to support pollution prevention.
• Helping to design and implement pollution prevention initiatives and engagement strategies.
• Identifying opportunities and barriers to behavior change and contributing to the development of effective messaging and strategies.
• Collecting, analyzing, and synthesizing data and insights to support program planning and reporting.
• Performing additional tasks as needed to support District programs.

Desired Skills & Experience (Encouraged, not strictly required):
Applicants are encouraged to highlight relevant background and skills. Ideal candidates may have experience in:
• Marketing, outreach, or public engagement campaigns.
• Social media strategy and content creation.
• Video production or graphic design.
• Behavior change principles and strategies.
• Water/wastewater or environmental sustainability topics.
• Education, public speaking, or informal teaching activities.
• Fluency in additional languages (applicants should indicate proficiency levels).

Eligibility Requirements:
• Applicants must be currently enrolled in a 2- or 4-year college program (sophomore or above) or a graduate program.
• Recent graduates (within the last year) will also be considered.
• Students taking a gap year or transitioning between undergraduate and graduate programs may be eligible if they plan to return to school.
• Non-students may be classified as LTE (Limited Term Employee) instead of interns.

Preferred Majors:
While students from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply, preferred majors include:
• Marketing, Communications, Journalism, Public Relations.
• Environmental Studies, Sustainability, or Public Policy.
• Graphic Design, Multimedia, or Digital Media.
• Psychology, Sociology, or Behavioral Science.

Work Hours & Location:
• Flexible hours: Between 10-16 hours/week during the school year.
• Option for full-time LTE hours during the Summer.
• Work Arrangement: Preference is for the intern to spend at least half the hours in-person at the District’s Nine Springs wastewater treatment plant. The remaining time each week could be either virtual or remain in-person.

Ideal Candidate Qualities:
• Detail-oriented, thorough, and analytical.
• Capable of working well both as part of a team and independently.
• Respects and demonstrates appreciation for diversity and inclusion.
• Possesses a positive attitude, enthusiasm, and motivation to do quality work.

Work Environment:
The position will require some in-person work at the Nine Springs Wastewater Treatment Plant. The incumbent will primarily work in an office environment using traditional office equipment (computer, telephone). There will also be opportunities to access various parts of the plant and other facilities throughout the collection system.

Application Process:
• Applicants MUST include a COVER LETTER with their application materials, expressing their interest in this position and how it relates to their career goals.
• The District reserves the right to begin interviews before the closing date and close the vacancy early if sufficient applications are received. Therefore, early application is strongly encouraged.