Surface Water Program Internship Announcement

The Tacoma Pierce-County Health Department (Health Department) is looking for a student intern.  The position would be during the spring/summer of 2016.  The internship must be a degree requirement of the student’s college, university or certification.  If you know of any students who would be a good fit please pass the information along.

The Surface Water Program is looking for one Environmental Health Surface Water Student Intern (unpaid). The internship is designed for those interested in pursuing, or exploring, a career in working outdoors in Environmental Health, Marine Biology or Environmental Sciences. The typical schedule will be 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. for three or four days per week, Monday through Wednesday or Thursday, and is under the direction of an immediate supervisor.

Essential functions include:

• Outdoor field work such as collecting water samples;
• Assisting with butter clam, varnish clam and mussel collection for toxin monitoring;
• Assisting with toxic algae monitoring of area lakes;
• Conducting surveys on marine and freshwater recreational activities;
• Recording data and other information as required
• Other related activities or tasks

The intern will be assigned to work as part of our Surface Water Program team.  There will also be opportunities to job shadow within other programs at the Health Department as time allows.

Possession of a valid driver’s license, an acceptable driver’s abstract and the ability to successfully pass a background investigation are required prior to assignment.

This is a summary of the duties and responsibilities for this internship. It is not meant to be all-inclusive, thus, other related activities or tasks may be assigned.

Please make phone contact with one of the staff listed below.  Then submit a volunteer/internship application by April 8, 2016.  Please deliver in person or mail the volunteer/internship application to Lindsay Tuttle (253-798-3530) or Ray Hanowell (253-798-2845) at:

Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department

Attn: Lindsay Tuttle/Ray Hanowell, Environmental Health Surface Water Program

3629 South D St.

Tacoma, WA 98418-6813