Watershed Planning Internship

Applications are being accepted through: 3/3/26

If no date is displayed, applications are being accepted on an ongoing basis; however, this job posting may close at any time after a minimum of 5 days of being posted.

Watershed Planning Internship

Colorado Springs Utilities’ Watershed Planning group works to manage landscapes with various partners to restore and enhance ecosystems for the protection of Utilities’ water supply and system infrastructure. The Watershed Planning group is offering a unique opportunity for college students to learn forest management, watershed sciences, and source water protection at a landscape level. This work will have unique opportunities of working in the field supporting vegetation management projects, source water monitoring and protection projects, and supporting overall operations as it relates to watershed management in the summer months.

This is a summer only internship from May 26th through August 8th/14th depending on school schedule

Specific details and opportunities Watershed Planning internship offers:

Exposure to environmental stewardship and the daily skills needed for careers to be effective in natural resources management and conservation
Overview of forest and watershed management, operations and recreation
Support in the development of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as it relates to the development of forest management projects, plans, and monitoring of watershed level forest and vegetation conditions
Supporting watershed related water projects to support stream channel restoration, stream flow management, and water quality monitoring
Extensive training and field work in remote watershed areas and natural environments supporting the design, layout and implementation of vegetation management, forestry, and fire related projects on municipal watershed lands

In this internship, the Watershed Planning Intern will have direct involvement and assist in ongoing projects while helping develop new projects for future work as it relates to watershed health and the protection of resources within a watershed landscape. The intern will have the opportunity to work closely to understand where our water comes from, the value of water, and the impacts associated to forest fire, recreation uses, and water quality. The Watershed Planning group will share the best practices of each unique program and the science related to the specific projects and how they connect to protect critical watershed systems.

Key Focus Areas:

Forest Management Program - 50%
- Support the forest management program with forestry related project, planning, stand data collection, forest inventory, vegetation and noxious weeds wildfire modeling, and project implementation on the municipal watershed lands and development of the Forest Management Plan
Fountain Creek Watershed Program - 20%
- Support project planning and water related projects in municipal watersheds and along fountain creek
Source Water Protection Program - 20%
- Support source water protection projects as it relates to water quality and recreation on municipal watershed lands. Assist in recreation events and impacts to water from recreation
General Watershed Related Tasks - 10%
- Support the Watershed Planning group in overall operations and mapping for watershed management. Support and learn from other workgroups within the section as it relates to water, electric, and water conservation.

Who You Are...highly qualified students will be working towards a degree with a focus in Natural Resource Management, Forestry, Wildland Fire Science, Hydrology, Environmental Science or Watershed Management.

This is an on-site, non-remote/non-telecommuting position
Hourly rate is dependent on year completed of academic degree, e.g., second year complete, third year complete, etc.
Candidates MUST be enrolled in a degree seeking program (Associates/Bachelors/Masters) with a 2.5 GPA and be able to provide documentation if requested. Enrollment in a certification program does not qualify.
As this position is field focused, the selected candidate will spend time out of doors, hiking/climbing/walking to remote locations and be impacted by various weather conditions
A valid, unrestricted driver's license is required for this role

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORKING CONDITIONS:

Exerts 20-50 lbs. of force occasionally, and/or 10-25 lbs. of force frequently, and/or up to 10 lbs. of force constantly to move objects. Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Light Work.
Positions in this class typically require climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions. Incumbents may be subjected to moving mechanical parts, vibrations, fumes, odors, dusts, gases, poor ventilation, chemicals, oils, extreme temperatures, workspace restrictions and intense noises.

Who We Are:
Colorado Springs Utilities is the largest community owned, not-for-profit, four-service utility in the nation. For 100 years, we have provided Colorado Springs with safe, reliable and competitively-priced electric, natural gas, water and wastewater services. We care about our community's well-being, support local business and have an interest in all things that help make Colorado Springs a great place to live, work and play

Be a part of a unique, customer-owned and operated four-service utility. With our rare distinction of providing four utility services – natural gas, electricity, water, and wastewater treatment – we offer a varied, fast-paced work culture teeming with potential.

Colorado Springs Utilities infuses corporate responsibility and safety into daily business operations with the foundation of decision-making focused on our community owners, employees, and environment. As an employee, you will have an opportunity to contribute ideas and solutions in an engaging, dynamic team environment.

Our Commitment to Our Employees…
Our people are the heart and soul of Colorado Springs Utilities. They keep the lights on, gas flowing, water coming in, and wastewater leaving. We don't just say people are important – we prove it! That’s why we are honored to invest in protecting the health and financial security of our employees and their families through our rich benefits program.

Time Off to Recharge

Vacation – Start with 13 days annually, increasing to 24 days with tenure
Paid Holidays –12 paid holidays per year
Sick Leave – 12 days per year for personal or family health needs
Vacation Buy – Option to purchase up to 40 additional hours annually

Health & Wellness – Benefits elected are effective the first of the following month

Medical Plans: Three comprehensive options, including a $0 premium High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with Health Savings Account (HSA) eligibility
Zero Health: Access to hundreds of medical services at no cost
Dental & Vision: Two dental plans and one vision plan
Family Building-Benefits: Support for fertility, preservation, adoption, and surrogacy
Wellness Program: A voluntary program that rewards you for prioritizing self-care! If you're enrolled in a our medical plan, you and your spouse can earn up to $600 in HRA or HSA contributions by completing healthy activities
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): Pre-tax contributions for healthcare and dependent care expenses
Health Savings Account (HSA): Available with HDHP
Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential support for mental health, stress, legal, financial, and work-life balance

Financial & Retirement Security

Pension Plan: Colorado PERA provides retirement benefits and peace of mind
Supplemental Retirement Plans: PERAPlus 401(k), MissionSquare Roth IRA, and 457 plans
Disability Coverage: Short-Term and Long-Term Disability insurance available
Life Insurance: Employer-paid coverage with optional supplemental plans
Long-Term Care Insurance: Available for purchase to support extended care needs

ATTENTION:

All positions will be posted for a minimum of 5 calendar days.
Starting pay will be determined within the posted pay range based on the experience, education, and training of the successful candidate; if there is a single pay rate posted, the job starts at that rate.
Colorado Springs Utilities does not sponsor work visas of any kind, including H-1B, TN, or F-1 student visas (with or without OPT or STEM work authorization), or any other employment-based visas. All eligible applicants must be authorized to work in the United States and work authorization must not be based on any work visa.

Colorado Springs Utilities is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Colorado Springs Utilities is committed to the principles of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity in accord with Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act, 38 U.S.C. § 4212, as amended (VEVRAA), and § 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (§ 503). In addition, no person shall be unlawfully discriminated against because of race, color, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation), age, religion, veteran status, disability, genetic information, marital status, or any other basis protected under state or federal law. Human Resources shall assure Colorado Springs Utilities’ benefits, classification, compensation, employee development, employee relations, and employment programs, conform to current legal and regulatory requirements and the provisions of Colorado Springs Utilities’ Affirmative Action Plan in accordance with VEVRAA and § 503.

Accessibility Accommodations. If you are an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who is unable to use our online tools to search and apply for jobs, you may request a reasonable accommodation by contacting us at accessibility@csu.org or by calling 719-668-7500. This option is reserved for individuals who are unable to use or require assistance with the online tools as the result of a disability and is not intended for other purposes.

E-Verify and Right to Work Notice. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States. Colorado Springs Utilities participates in E-Verify. For more information on your rights and responsibilities as an applicant, please visit: http://coloradospringsutilities.jobs/applicants-rights-and-responsibilities/. If you have a legal right to work in the United States, there are laws to protect you against discrimination in the workplace. You should know that no employer can deny you a job or fire you because of your national origin. Unless mandated by law or government contract, employers cannot require you to be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident or refuse any legally acceptable documents. If any of these things have happened to you, you may have a valid charge of discrimination that can be filed with the OSC. Contact the OSC for assistance in your own language. Call 1-800-255-7688. TDD for the hearing impaired is 1-800-237-2515. In the Washington, D.C., area, please call 202-616-5594, TDD 202-616-5525 Or write to: U.S. Department of Justice Office of Special Counsel NYA 950 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. Washington, DC 20530.

Have a question? If you have a question about a position or need assistance from a recruiter, email us at csurecruiting@csu.org or call 719-668-7500.

Job Type: Internship

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