SWCD Internship Available (Boone County)

2017 Boone Soil and Water Conservation District Summer Internships

Duration: 10-12 weeks, 40 hours per week

Locations available: Boone, Iowa (Boone County)

Pay: $12.00 per hour

Qualifications: Open to any students currently enrolled in college or recent graduate majoring in a field of study related to agriculture, conservation, engineering, construction trades, GIS, communications, public relations, urban planning, or environmental sciences.

Duties: The Intern will assist the Boone Soil and Water Conservation District and Natural Resources Conservation Service with duties including, but not limited to:

  • Working with local landowners and partners to develop interest in and commitment to implementation of conservation programs and activities
  • Water quality monitoring through the collection of water quality samples
  • Assist field office staff with the development of conservation plans and implementation of conservation practices
  • Working with Palmer Amaranth in CRP plantings.

Work environment: This position includes both office and field work.  Successful candidates will work as part of a local team as well as independently, be able to traverse rough terrain on foot, spend time outdoors in the summer months, be able to work with the public including landowners and customers, use GPS/GIS tools, work in extreme temperature or inclement weather as required, work around large equipment, and complete work in a timely manner.  A valid driver’s license is required.

Reporting:  The Intern will report to the District Conservationist on a day-to-day basis. A background check of the student will be required. The student Intern will also make a formal presentation at the end of their internship to report on their experience and work completed over the summer. The student is expected to coordinate the planning of this meeting and present findings to interested conservation partners.

 Deadline to apply

Applications must be received (not postmarked) by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, May 8th, 2017

Application Process

Submit a Cover letter and Resume or 2017 Boone SWCD Summer Intern Application to:

Boone Soil and Water Conservation District, 1602 Snedden Drive, Boone, Iowa 50036

For more information about a specific position, contact:

Boone, Iowa (Boone County) – Jayne Smith, Conservation Assistant, 515-432-2316 Ext. 3

We’ve got news…

It’s been a little quiet around this old blog-that tends to happen in the aftermath of the Iowa Water Conference. A challenge we’ve always faced is limited staff – you’ll notice there are only two faces on our About Us page.

That’s about to change. Today, our posting for a program assistant went live on iastatejobs.com. As public interest in Iowa’s water management has heated up, so has the role we’re able to play in shaping Iowa’s water future. The Iowa Watershed Approach grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and increasing expansion of the Daily Erosion Project have put us in a place where we not only need more staff, we have the support to do so.

So what will the program assistant do? Lots of important stuff. Does that sum it up? Okay, to be more specific, this person will:

  • administer our competitive grants program
  • help with planning education and outreach events (including the Iowa Water Conference)
  • keep track of the approximately 10 million details involved in managing IWC sponsored projects
  • spread the word about all the fantastic water research and activities going on

We’re looking for a know-it-all. A details person. A deadline embracer. A communicator.

The posting is currently open through June 5. If you or someone you know are interested in this position, please review the job posting and submit through the Iowa State system. Want to talk it through? Call or email. We’re ready.

Now Hiring: A unique opportunity for science communicators

Our friends over at Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) and Water Rocks! (WR!) have a position open right now that you may want to take a look at. They’re hiring a Communications and Outreach Specialist for their programs – which sounds pretty standard, right? But there are so many reasons this job is unlike others in the same category.

  1. ILF and WR! are high energy programs with a small team that works very closely together. The right person for this job will appreciate working along side others and sharing knowledge and skills to achieve program goals.
  2. This communicator will not just spread information – they will have the opportunity to teach others (especially children) about natural resources. The Communications and Outreach Specialist won’t just be stuck in an office all day – they’ll get to mix it up by attending some of the many events ILF and WR! put on in schools, at fairs and other public places.
  3. This position isn’t just limited to communications – they’ll get to get their hands dirty by doing some agricultural field work. Now that’s something most communications jobs don’t offer.

If you or someone you know is passionate about natural resources, appreciates and understands scientific concepts, is great at engaging others, and thrives in a team environment, this might just be a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Really important things to know:

-This job requires a bachelor’s degree and 1 year of experience
-Applications are being accepted until 10/25/15
-You can apply online through Iowa State’s employment website

The position description is available online. We look forward to meeting our new colleague (wherever/whoever they are!) and wish ILF and WR! a happy hiring experience!

Side note: Iowa Water Center Rick Cruse participated this week in the ILF podcast series Conservation Chat – look for his interview coming soon.