Environmental Intern (35 Hour)

 

At the State of Connecticut, Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP), we are dedicated to conserving, improving and protecting our natural resources and the environment and increasing the availability of cheaper, cleaner and more reliable energy. DEEP is charged by CT General Statute 23-8 to meet the open space protection goal of 21% of the state. This is to be accomplished by the state holding 10% of the state as open space and municipalities, land conservation organizations and water companies holding 11% of the state as open space. 

 

The DEEP Commissioner's Office, Program and Planning Development Unit, administers two programs to meet these goals. The Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition program is a grant program for municipalities, land conservation organizations and water companies to permanently protect land as open space and the Recreation and Natural Heritage Trust Program which is a DEEP acquisition program. Preservation of open space also supports achieving the goals of Governor Lamont's Executive Order 3 on Climate Change mitigation and adaption measures.

The Program and Planning Development Unit has a current opportunity for an Environmental Intern, target class: Environmental Analyst 1, to be part of their team.based in Hartford, CT. This position will be trained to coordinate and administer the grant and acquisition opportunities and planning efforts in order to meet these goals including revisions to the State's five year Comprehensive Open Space Acquisition Strategy (Green Plan).  

In addition, this position will assist with property management issues associated with protecting the 260,000 acres of open space that the state currently holds including requests for use of state land and resolution of encroachments on state land.  These type of land acquisition and management matters require consideration of and coordination with multiple disciplines across DEEP and other agencies on matters of climate mitigation and adaptation, wildlife, fisheries, forestry, natural resources, parks, dam safety, flood control, wetlands, watershed and coastal management and other Environmental Quality Branch regulatory programs. 

Hours per week: 35

This position is first shift.

Applicants must include a resume within the "Resume Tab" of their application.

Questions about this position should be directed to the hiring agency's human resources office:  DEEP.HumanResources@ct.gov, (860) 424-3006.

 

This position is non-competitive. Open to the public.

In order to be considered for this position, candidates must have a Bachelor's or Master's degree in a scientific or technical discipline related to the environmental field including but not limited to the biological, earth, or physical sciences; environmental planning; environmental law; leisure services; geographic information systems; geography with a concentration in geographic information systems; environmental or natural sciences; or natural resources. 

Must possess a valid driver’s license.  May be required to travel.

In a state agency receives training in introductory professional environmental work for the development of technical and professional skills and knowledge in order to qualify for advancement to the professional environmental work of the agency; performs a wide variety of increasing difficult duties as technical skills are acquired during the course of the training period.

This position will work with staff of higher grades in Program and Planning in the performance of the following tasks: 

• Coordinate, administer and support DEEP's two state open space programs - the Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition program (a grant program to municipalities, land conservation organizations and water companies to permanently protect land as open space) and the Recreation and Natural Heritage Trust Program (a DEEP acquisition program) to fulfill CT's open space protection goal of 21% of the state in accordance with CT General Statute section 23-8. In addition, to offset the state's investment in open space acquisition, this position will also coordinate federal and private grants for land acquisition.   
• Coordinate planning efforts to ensure DEEP’s open space acquisitions and grant programs meet State and federal planning objectives including drafting revisions to the State's five year Comprehensive Open Space Acquisition Strategy (Green Plan). 
  
  
• Coordinate and administer property management issues associated with protecting the 260,000 acres of open space that the state currently holds including requests for use of state land and resolution of encroachments on state land. 

• To address land acquisition and property management matters, coordinate with multiple disciplines across DEEP and other agencies on  including climate mitigation and adaptation, wildlife, fisheries, forestry, natural resources, parks, dam safety, flood control, wetlands, watershed and coastal management and other Environmental Quality Branch regulatory programs.

Some knowledge of basic theories, principles and practices of environmental and policy analysis; some knowledge of basic statistics; general knowledge of environmental program planning principles and practices; interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; analytical skills; research and organizational skills; ability to understand and interpret legislation and technical data; ability to utilize computer software.

A Bachelor's or Master's degree in a scientific or technical discipline related to the environmental field including but not limited to the biological, earth, or physical sciences; environmental planning; environmental law; leisure services; geographic information systems; geography with a concentration in geographic information systems; environmental or natural sciences; or natural resources.

• Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills and proficient information technology skills.
• Ability to comprehend and communicate technical, scientific, regulatory or policy information to wide variety of audiences in a clear and understandable manner.
• Ability to administer grants and develop and implement policies and innovative approaches to address property, environmental and natural resource challenges.
• Ability to exercise critical thinking, plan and manage projects.

Incumbents in this class may be exposed to some danger of injury or physical harm from on site environments and moderate degree of discomfort from exposure to year round weather conditions.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.