Empleos y otras oportunidades de contrato

Estuario Internship Opportunity- Stakeholder Education & Awareness

The San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership (Estuario) seeks university-level interns to raise awareness within municipalities and educate about the importance of correct management of solid/liquid waste,  including the impact of incorrect disposal of used oil and other materials on gray infrastructure and the environment.

The Corporation for the Conservation of the San Juan Bay Estuary is a 501©3 non-profit organization that operates the San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership, or Estuario. The Estuario became part of the National Estuary Program (NEP) in 1994 and is the only tropical and non-continental location within the NEP under Section 320 of the Clean Water Act. The Estuario’s mission is to restore and conserve the waters and associated ecosystems of the San Juan Bay Estuary and its watershed as a sustainable axis of social and economic development. Estuario’s work is guided by a master restoration plan known as the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) for the San Juan Bay Estuary.

The Estuario is seeking advanced undergraduates, recent graduates and/or graduated school enrolled students to assist as Estuario Interns- Stakeholder Education & Awareness to coordinate and carry out workshops for municipalities and other stakeholders. Those efforts support the strategies presented in the Watershed-based waste and resource management analysis and recommendation report. 

University-level interns will carry out educational workshops to raise awareness within municipalities and educate about the impact of incorrect disposal of used cooking oil and other materials on gray infrastructure and the environment. The used cooking oil recycling program led by the Estuario in recent years provides the community an alternative, along with the necessary tools to dispose and recycle used cooking oil correctly. The efforts of the community campaign at the Estuario Resilience Hubs, Taller Comunidad La Goyco in the municipality of San Juan, and Puente Blanco in the municipality of Cataño, reflect the capacity and commitment of the communities in relation to these initiatives. We aim to replicate this commitment at a regional level, focusing on municipalities.

The interns will support the development of educational campaigns and community and municipal recycling programs, as these are essential to improve the quality of the habitat, enhance the aesthetic, recreational, and economic values of the SJBE, and help ensure that the estuary system and its watershed is free of aquatic waste. Among the actions outlined in the aquatic waste program area of the CCMP is the implementation of measures to detect, correct, and control illegal dumping activities and comply with existing public policy.

Responsibilities:

The primary function of the Stakeholder Education & Awareness Interns is to coordinate and carry out workshops for municipalities; including the inter-municipal network for the integrated and other stakeholders.

1. Workshop Coordination: The interns (2 in person) will serve as the spokesperson for educational workshops which will last approximately half a day (~3 hours). Participants will include representatives from municipalities and other participants from public, private, and community sectors. The purpose of these workshops is to raise awareness about the impact of used oil in gray infrastructure and the environment. Organizing and coordinating logistics for community relations events, workshops, roundtables, and forums, including developing agendas, project plans, minute taking, and production of reports. Coordination tasks necessary for activities, events, and meetings; including scheduling, reserving locations, and other tasks to ensure the events run smoothly and efficiently.
2. Workshop Implement: The activities and presentations at the workshop will aim to promote the integration and collaboration of the public, private, and community sectors under an educational and action platform at the regional level, empowering these sectors to carry out similar programs. Having in-person workshops will facilitate the sharing of information and overall effective communication with stakeholders. The interns will complete at least (9) workshops across community watersheds. Preparation for activities, events, and meetings; including preparation of agendas, meeting packets, presentations, and other materials. Setting up tables and chairs, distributing meeting materials, mounting projection equipment, and any other tasks necessary to ensure the space is ready for the activity or event to start on time.
3. Workshop Documentation: Documentation includes; note-taking, preparing and sharing minutes of activities, events, and meetings. Identify and follow up the progress of the strategies and series of actions presented in the workshops. Produce and complete a final report that includes pictures, attendance, efforts and the input compiled in the workshops.

Required Qualifications (Education and Experience):

1. University level (undergraduate or graduate)
2. All fields considered. However, fields such as Environmental Sciences, Ecology, Environmental Engineer, Urban Planning, Public Policies or Communications can likely provide the candidate with the skills required for this position.
3. Availability to work remotely and capacity to adapt on Estuario and community’s calendar.
4. Availability to start in February to September 2024.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

The candidates will be and/ or have:

1. Excellent verbal and written communication, and interpersonal skills in English and Spanish, including public speaking to diverse audiences including but not limited to the government (federal, state, and local) sector, businesses, and communities.
2. Public skills to coordinate, facilitate, implement and document workshops for at least 15 persons and be proactive, from communication with diverse audiences.
3. Excellent documentation skills, particularly in taking notes and minutes and action items.
4. Strong ability to track, document, and report progress in a structured manner and follow up on pending tasks and actions.
5. Enjoys and works well independently and as part of a team.
6. Computer literacy in Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, cloud-based data access, and shared software such as Google Drive.
7. Cover business and travel expenses and tools, including transportation, computer, computer software and licenses, materials, etc.
8. Attend any necessary meetings with Estuario staff to prepare and complete all contract deliverables.

Start Date:

Availability to start in February to September 2024.

Language Required:

Excellent verbal and written communication, and interpersonal skills in English and Spanish.

How to apply:

The stakeholder education & awareness interns must submit the following to [email protected] by March 22, 2024:

1. Resume/CV: Written in English, including three references.
2. Writing sample: Written in Spanish. The writing sample must have been completed and edited by the candidate entirely independently and can be an academic essay/report, a formal meeting report, a proposal, or another technical report. In the alternative examples of academic posters, presentations, conferences. Including the exposure to integrate media materials.

The email must specify in the subject the title of the position, «Stakeholder Education & Awareness»

Sources of funding:

EPA Grant 29

The Corporation for the Conservation of the San Juan Bay Estuary is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that operates the San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership. The Corporation for the Conservation of the SJBE provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or genetics. MBE/WBE and other certified minorities and small businesses are encouraged to apply.