Current Openings

Grand Valley Metro Council - Environmental Programs and REGIS

2025 Internship Job Description 

Description

The Grand Valley Metro Council (GVMC) is an alliance of governmental units in the West Michigan area focused on growth and development planning, quality of life improvements, and governmental services coordination. The Environmental Programs (EP) Department works with municipalities on stormwater management and development rules, community groups and schools on broad environmental education activities, and subwatershed groups on building capacity to improve local waterways. The Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds (LGROW) is an agency of GVMC with a mission to “Understand, protect, and improve the natural resources of the Lower Grand River Watershed for all to enjoy.”

Regional Geographic Information System (REGIS), an agency of Grand Valley Metropolitan Council, is a unique consortium consisting of 19 local governments and government agencies in West Michigan that have worked together to build a shared and centralized GIS (Geographic Information System) as cost-effectively and efficiently as possible.  The REGIS agency was formed in 1997. 

This intern position will be under the supervision of the Stormwater Programs Manager and the Director of REGIS. This position will assist EP’s staff, and REGIS’s staff with their work. Primary duties will focus on activities associated with meeting the goals of the Lower Grand River Watershed Management Plan and the compliance activities of the communities with Municipal Stormwater permits. This position will also support REGIS staff on GIS data entry and map making projects.  Other tasks across GVMC may be assigned as needed.

Specific Duties may include, but are not limited to:

·      Field Work: Assist with water quality monitoring, watershed inventories, tree planting, rainscaping site assessments, planting and maintenance days, and other field work.

·      Communications: Assist with development and implementation of marketing and outreach plans as well as program-specific plans. Develop content, including taking photos for print, website, social media, blogs, and newsletters. Connect with and coordinate communications with other staff and partners.

·      Events: Assist in facilitation and coordination of LGROW’s presence at community events, including some evenings and weekends. This includes assisting with general event planning as needed with event organizers, setting up LGROW’s vendor table, contacting and coordinating volunteers, and developing activities and content related to the specific event. Intern must be available to work during LGROW’s Spring Forum May 15-17, 2025.

·      Community Science & Service: Assist with reaching out to partners, volunteers, and/or school groups to use LGROW’s stream cleanup and storm drain cleaning kits. Coordinate clean up days with groups.

·      Mapping: inventory missing storm sewer data for MS4 communities, collect record drawings, and gather field data to input into GIS software focusing on storm sewer outfalls.

·      REGIS Work:  Assist REGIS staff with GIS data entry projects and other special projects as needed. 

·      Data Management: Connect with community partners to collect water quality sampling results, review data collection records, perform quality assurance/quality control procedures, and enter in LGROW’s Data Repository.

·      Office Work: Assist with document organization and creation for stormwater program and other initiatives.

·      NPDES Permit Assistance: as time allows, working directly with the Stormwater Programs manager to review NPDES program-specific plans to begin process of updating, including facilitating feedback sessions and researching similar plans.

Hours Expected, Dates of Employment, and Compensation

The Intern is expected to be available to work between 20 to 30 hours per week Monday through Thursday. Hours are flexible to accommodate evening and weekend hours spent covering events and community meetings. Friday-Sunday work will be communicated in advance. This position is open from mid-April and ends late-August, although other dates can be accommodated. Rate is $15/hour, and this position is considered part-time with no fringe benefits.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Minimum Qualifications:

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and qualifications desired to perform the essential functions of the position.

·      Current enrollment or recent college graduate in an environmental or related field.

·      Over 18 years old.

·      Able to provide own transportation.

·      Familiarity in the use of Microsoft Office software, including but not limited to Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Adobe Acrobat.

·      GIS experience combined with field data collection and mapping. Additional training will be available. Experience with ESRI products: ArcMap, ArcGIS Pro, ESRI Field Maps is preferred but not required.

·      Proficiency with social networking tools to keep up with changing methods of communication.

·      Creative thinking skills to critique and assist in developing innovative and interesting public education materials and programs.

·      Ability to work independently to accomplish tasks and within in a team to help meet larger goals and objectives of programs.

·      Ability to attend meetings and events at times other than regular business hours.

·      Strong writing skills.

·      Customer service and communication skills.

Orientation:

GVMC’s Stormwater Programs Manager, Director of REGIS, and the Director of Human Resources will provide an orientation program during the first week of employment. This will include introductory meetings with key staff and GVMC members, an orientation to current projects, and the creation of a work plan.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may need to communicate with others in person, over email, and on the telephone. The employee may compose and read written and computerized documents, plans, and maps. The employee may need to travel to locations within and outside of Kent County. The employee must be able to occasionally lift and/or move items of light weight and carry equipment outdoors.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in a business office setting or outdoors. The employee may be exposed to outside weather conditions during travel, site visits, and conducting field work and outdoor educational programs.

Application Process

Additional information about the work involved is available at: https://www.gvmc.org/epabout and www.LGROW.org. If interested in this position, please email resume and cover letter to Gayle McCrath at mccrathg@gvmc.org  by March 10, 2025.