Stormwater & Watersheds Intern

Job title: Stormwater & Watershed Intern

Reports to: Climate and Energy Program Manager

Job location: 493 Main Street, Mahone Bay, NS B0J 2E0

Wage: $18.00 / hour

Hours: 35 hours per week (15-week internship) 

Start Date: Expected May 20, 2025 

Number of Positions: 1

Equity Hiring:   

Clean is committed to Employment Equity. Our goal is to be inclusive of a diverse workforce that is reflected at all job levels. The Clean Leadership Program welcomes candidates from diverse equity groups to apply and encourage you to self-identify on our registration form.  

About the Clean Leadership Summer Internship Program 

The Clean Leadership Summer Internship program helps grow the clean economy by matching interns (age 15-30) with employers for 9- and 15-week summer work placements. Participating interns will receive paid hands-on experience, mentorship opportunities, take part in a professional development conference and training, while supporting local environmental projects. 

Program Requirements 

• Must be a Canadian citizen, Permanent Resident, person who has been granted refugee status in Canada or legally entitled to work in Canada;  

• Must be between the ages of 15 and 30 years old (inclusive) at the start of internship; 

• From and/or will be residing in Nova Scotia for the duration of the internship; 

• Must not be an immediate family member of host employer; 

About the host employer 

The Town of Mahone Bay is a small coastal town located on the South Shore of Nova Scotia with a population of 1,064 people. In March 2021, the Town approved an ambitious Greenhouse Gas Reduction Action Plan.  Environmental Leadership is one of three pillars of the Town Council’s Strategic Plan. This ensures that climate adaptation and stewardship remain a priority for the Town.  

Summary of position  

The host employer for this Summer Internship position through the Clean Leadership program will be the Town of Mahone Bay. In this position, you will be mainly responsible for educating the public on the importance of stormwater management on their own properties and the connection to climate change more generally. This will be done by highlighting recent stormwater projects undertaken by the Town, organizing a rain barrel bulk purchase, hosting a rainwater collection workshop, and assisting with a hydrological study on Ernst Brook, a river that runs through town.  

 The successful candidate needs to have strong communication skills, be comfortable meeting and interacting with new people, have a positive attitude, and a willingness to learn.   

Duties and Responsibilities  

• Supporting stormwater management initiatives that the Town is undertaking 

• Producing and disseminating guidance on what actions homeowners can be taking on their own properties to collect stormwater and protect their homes from flooding.  

• Compiling a literary review on best practices when it comes to watershed management and options for the Town to improve the function of the watersheds that serve our community.  

Helping the Town to promote their HWA treatment program for hemlock trees.  

• Work with the Community Climate Capacity Program staff, other Town staff, residents and your supervisor to advance an FCM funded project that will involve a hydrological assessment of Ernst Brook, and a stormwater management project for the pond in Jubilee Park.   

• Calculating/measuring the space that rooftops and asphalt take up, impervious surfaces.  

• Organizing a bulk purchase of rain barrels and WASP sprinkler systems.  

• Host an information session with an expert in rainwater retention.  

• Educate the public on FireSmart principles around wildfire prevention as it pertains to stormwater management.  

• Communicate environmental issues in understandable and engaging ways in one-on-one or group settings.   

• Effectively represent the Town by displaying professionalism and customer service skills.   

• Support communications including online communications channels and social media.   

• Perform related duties as required.   

Requirements/Qualifications 

• The ability to relocate to the community for the summer (finding housing will be difficult), or to commute.  

• Have an aptitude for safe work practices and the ability to multi-task in a busy work environment; 

• Be able to work productively as part of a team while responding to feedback; 

• Demonstrated interest in future employment in the environmental or clean sector is considered an asset; 

• Quality-consciousness and exceptional attention to detail.   

• Licensed driver with a willingness to travel as needed.  

• Ability to walk/stand for up to five hours at a time in unpredictable weather conditions with reasonable accommodation.  

• Candidates with a strong knowledge of Mahone Bay’s neighborhoods will be considered favorably.  

Working Conditions
The successful candidate will work out of the Town of Mahone Bay Town Hall office located at 493 Main Street, Mahone Bay. The successful candidate will be interacting with members of the public from time to time. 

Physical Requirements
There may be some data collection aspects of the job, which will require the successful candidate to travel throughout the community and may be required to stand/walk for up to five hours at a time, in unpredictable weather conditions, with reasonable accommodation.