Undergraduate Intern II - Industrial Waste

Summary

The King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) seeks a 2026 Summer Industrial Waste Intern to assist staff with mission critical projects related to our Comprehensive Industrial User Survey and Dental Program. Spend your summer with an organization that values diversity and environmental stewardship and that will give you the opportunity to work with a wide range of industries to protect the community and local environment

WTD interns create real value for our projects, programs, and agency while getting real world job experience, networking opportunities, and they will learn how a wastewater utility and delegated pretreatment program operates. Summer interns join a group of their peers to take trainings, tour treatment facilities, develop job skills, and help our program comply with Federal requirements.

Our internship is for active students only. To be eligible for this internship, you must be enrolled in a college, or university program for the duration of your internship . For example, if you are graduating from a college or university in June 2026 and are not enrolled for a fall 2026 academic program, you are not eligible for internship but rather highly encouraged to apply for our entry-level job openings.

Please visit Wastewater Treatment Division website: Undergraduate and Graduate Internship Program - King County, Washington .

About the Role:
The Industrial Waste Intern will mainly assist with the Comprehensive Industrial User Survey and the Dental Program. Interns will receive guidance and mentoring from project leads and supervisors. The main tasks associated with these projects will be as follows:

• Working with large data sets in Power BI and Excel
  
• Contacting businesses to ensure that they complete regulatory requirements
  
• Performing site visits to various businesses in King County to determine operating status
  
• Keeping detailed records of customer contacts and site visits.
  
• Developing solutions for tracking survey completion and dental compliance certifications.
  
• Attend regular staff and project team meetings.

Interns may also shadow Compliance Investigators during inspections of industrial facilities or Compliance Specialists during wastewater sampling events. They may also visit various Wastewater Treatment Division facilities as part of work assignments and learning opportunities.

About the Team:
The Environmental and Community Services Section advances the values of King County and the Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) by protecting public health and the environment and providing equitable, inclusive services to residents and businesses across King County. To our agency, success means providing clean water safely and reliably to the next generation. It also means being accountable to our ratepayers and operating a well-managed agency. We are committed to the principles of equity and social justice. We value diverse perspectives and life experiences in our workforce and are committed to building a culturally diverse and inclusive environment.

Commitment to Equity, Racial, and Social Justice:

King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. Our True North is to create a welcoming community where everyone can thrive. We prioritize equity, racial, and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a Industrial Waste Intern, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity .

Apply now for a rewarding career at the Wastewater Treatment Division of King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks (DNRP). Join our talented workforce in protecting and restoring the natural environment and promoting more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities. Enjoy training, comprehensive benefits , and growth opportunities.

Job Duties

What You Will Be Doing:

• Tracking businesses with incomplete or partially complete surveys to inform them of requirements to complete.
  
• Perform site visits to various businesses to confirm operating status and need for additional follow-up.
  
• Help with tracking and data solutions in Power BI and Excel.
  
• Contacting or visiting dental offices to ensure they complete compliance certification forms.
  
• Various tasks related to the Industrial Waste Programs core work as assigned.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Qualifications You Bring:

• Experience with data management/databases.
• Able to effectively use Microsoft Office software, especially Outlook, Excel, Word.
• Able to meet and communicate clearly by online meeting platforms (e.g. Teams, Zoom, etc.).
• Strong written communication skills.
• Able to work both remotely and in person/on-site.

Competencies You Bring:

• Tech Savvy: Anticipating and adopting innovations in business- building digital and technology applications.
• Plans and Aligns: Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals.
• Optimizes Work Processes: Knowing the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Action Oriented: Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Communicates Effectively: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Nimble Learning: Actively learning through experimentation when tackling new problems, using both successes and failures as learning fodder.

Required Licenses:

• Washington State Driver License

It Would Be Great If You Also Bring:

• Experience with Power BI

Physical Requirements:

• Candidates will document field conditions in an industrial environment, including traveling to elevated, grated, or underground walkways, and working near industrial equipment.

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions:

• Work Location: The ECSS team works in a hybrid model, with days in the office as well as telecommuting. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. The primary onsite location is King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson, Seattle, Washington 98104. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. (For potential site visits, please note that the treatment plants do not have public transit access. Candidates should have the means to get to the plants or sites in a timely manner.)
  

• Requirement: Employees must reside in Washington State and be within a reasonable distance to King County worksites to meet onsite reporting requirements.
  
• Work Schedule: This position may begin as part-time during the current school session and will transition to full-time work during the summer break. This position is covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is overtime eligible.
  
• Union Representation: This position is not represented by a Union.
  

Application instructions and selection process: This opportunity is open to college level students currently enrolled and continuing into the fall of 2026 in full or part-time status at an accredited university/college. Proof of full or part-time enrollment status is required . We welcome applications from all qualified student applicants. We value diversity, diverse perspectives and life experience and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply. Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews.

To apply, submit a:

• Complete Application
• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Responses to the supplemental questions

Note: Additional documents won't be considered during minimum qualification screening.

W ho to Contact: For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Rodney Dungo at rdungo@kingcounty.gov .

Discover More About the Wastewater Treatment Division: Visit our website and check us out at Facebook , X (formerly Twitter) , Instagram , YouTube , and the WTD Blog .

Discover More About DNRP: Visit our DNRP website , explore an interactive map of our recent accomplishments and check us out at Facebook , X (formerly Twitter) , LinkedIn , TikTok , Instagram , YouTube and Keeping King County Green News .

Sign up for Job Alerts to be notified of additional career opportunities with King County. Select the Natural Resources category for DNRP opportunities and explore other categories of interest.

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North" , we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

This position is not eligible for King County leave, holiday, insured, or other benefits. Please contact the recruiter on the posting for any additional questions regarding associated benefits.

Closing Date/Time: 4/6/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• 

• King County Water and Land Resources Division

• 206-477-4800

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