The Solid Waste Division of King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks is seeking to fill two internship positions in their Recycling and Environmental Services Section!
 
The King County Solid Waste Division plans, develops, and implements a variety of programs that target residents, businesses, local governments, and schools with programs including waste reduction, recycling and moderate risk wastes. We are looking for two dynamic and enthusiastic interns. These positions will assist the waste prevention, recycling, and hazardous waste staff with program planning and implementation, communications, research, and other duties as assigned.

Examples of past intern projects include: Developing replicable Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) efforts for a green building capital project that provides green apprenticeship training for marginalized communities in the service area, researching different cities and countries Zero Waste plans to identify gaps in King County’s new Zero Waste of Resources plan, developing social media posts and communications strategies, planning and implementing a tour of British Columbia plastics recycling facilities, and creating an “equity in hiring” checklist, and conducting research. Interns will have the opportunity to explore other areas of King County government beyond Solid Waste through informational interviews and networking opportunities.

We invite you to join a Zoom call to learn more about this position on Thursday, January 21, 2021, from 9:30 am to 10:30 am: https://zoom.us/j/95559209363?pwd=cnVtSTFaYzUzZldVRERiK2lKUllhQT09
Meeting ID: 955 5920 9363
Passcode: 347428
One tap mobile: +12532158782,,95559209363# US (Tacoma)

If you are unable to join us during that time and have questions about the position, you can call Tristen Gardner at 206-263-0400 or tristen.gardner@kingcounty.gov, or Alex Erzen at 206-477-5273 or alex.erzen@kingcounty.gov.

Who May Apply: This position is open to full-time students working toward an undergraduate degree including community college, trade school, etc. Please ensure that you are available to work throughout the school year.

Internship Length: Duration is for one year with up to three, one-year renewals possible while the student is enrolled full-time in an undergraduate program at an accredited institution.

Work Schedule: Interns work up to 15 to 20 hours per week during the school year and 40-hours per week during the summer, with maximum hours limited to 900 hours per year. The core working hours are within 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday. We are flexible about student working hours and will make every effort to accommodate student schedules.

Work Location: Primarily teleworking and the King Street Center 201 S. Jackson St., Seattle WA 98104.

The work associated with this position will be performed remotely on a permanent basis.  There will be situations where the employee is required to report to a County worksite. Employees must reside in WA state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection (access may be supplemented in some situations) where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. To support employees during this time King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will be joining an innovative and progressive team.

Compensation Details: This is a paid internship. Student interns are not eligible for benefits but do receive a free transit (ORCA) pass.

• Undergraduate Student Intern (Intern II) – $17.77 to $22.53 (Pay range 26)

Generally, student interns begin at Step 1 of their pay range. Pay rates above Step 1 may be offered in certain circumstances based upon the intern’s program of study, experience, and class standing.

Application Materials Required: (1) A King County online application and (2) a cover letter that describe your interest in the position(s), how both you and King County Solid Waste will benefit from your employment, and how your background and experience demonstrate creativity, initiative and an ability to communicate with others.

If considered for an interview, please be prepared to provide proof of full-time enrollment in an accredited college or university, a transcript, and proof of cumulative grade point average. Proof of enrollment and eligibility to work is required upon hire.

Recycling and Environmental Services Section Profile: Recycling and Environmental Services Section is the lead for the division’s recycling programs. Some of the notable programs include communications, green building, hazardous waste and the Wastemobile, product stewardship, policy, resource recovery, junk vehicle, and special waste programs. The section also has outreach programs designed to educate the public on proper recycling methods and help the county reach the desired 70 percent recycling rate. Some of the most successful outreach programs are Guilt Free KC, Green Schools, Food: Too Good to Waste, and Recycle More/Recicla Mas.

Potential for Student Learning in This Internship:

• The intern will use skills in communication, collaboration, research, project development, and implementation, and will become familiar with the structure and organization of King County government.
• The intern will improve project management skills.
• The intern will improve understanding of waste prevention/recycling programs, communications, policy, product stewardship, and hazardous waste management.
• The intern will gain expertise in working on project teams.
• The intern will learn how to apply a racial equity lens to projects, programs, policies, procedures, hiring and retention practices, etc.
• The intern will learn how to design and apply culturally and audience-appropriate outreach and education strategies.
• The intern will learn how to plan and implement culturally and audience-appropriate projects.

Example of Intern Responsibilities:
Under direct supervision, the student will:

• Assist with developing outreach tools to support waste prevention and recycling education programs including school and general outreach programs.
• Conduct research related to audience attitudes, beliefs, and barriers to sustainable behaviors associated with hazardous waste, recycling, and environmental services programs.
• Assist with product stewardship and policy programs.
• Assist with other recycling and environmental services projects, as needed.
• Assist and contribute to process improvement efforts.
• Assist with external communications including social media and marketing campaigns.
• Assist with internal communications including copywriting and coordinating newsletters.
• Assist with visual communications including creating or supporting graphic design, photography, videography, and data visualization.

Internship Requirements and Qualifications:

• Experience using communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience using written, analytical and organizational skills.
• Experience working with or basic knowledge of or willingness to learn about King County residents who speak languages other than English.
• Working knowledge of software products used in an office environment, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and Outlook.
• Self-motivated, flexible, and able to work independently.
• Enrolled full time in an undergraduate program at an accredited institution.

Who to Contact: If you have questions about this position and wish to know more about the Solid Waste Division contact Tristen Gardner at 206-263-0400 or Alex Erzen at 206-477-5273.
If you have questions about how to apply or other questions about this recruitment, please contact Prakash Meloot at  prakash.meloot@kingcounty.gov Supplemental Information

Forbes recently 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 your recruiter listed on this job announcement.