Field Services Student Intern

170 Century Boulevard
Bartow, FL 33830, USA

Help protect one of Florida’s most vital resources — water — with a career at the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District).

The District is a government agency whose mission is to protect water resources, minimize flood risks, and ensure the public’s water needs are met. We serve a population of nearly 6 million people in west-central Florida as directed by state law.

Support the District’s Regulatory Support Bureau and gain hands‑on experience supporting essential regulatory, permitting, and compliance functions. In this role, you will assist with drafting professional correspondence, compiling and analyzing data from established resources, and comparing construction activities against approved plans to identify and summarize any deviations. You’ll also participate in meetings on regulatory matters, help route citizen inquiries, support environmental compliance inspections, and contribute to research that advances permitting and compliance efforts.

This internship offers an excellent opportunity to develop practical skills, deepen your understanding of environmental resource programs, and collaborate with staff to achieve meaningful team goals. This internship is not eligible for remote work.

• Training and Development: The District helps staff develop additional skill sets such as emotional intelligence, time management, customer service, conflict resolution, and communications. Interns are eligible to attend on‑site training.
• Employee Assistance Program: Provides confidential assistance and support in areas important to well‑being, including work/life balance, stress management, family issues, financial advice, legal and workplace problems, addictions, student loan assistance, and other personal issues.
• Wellness Program: "Your Health Matters" includes classes on health and fitness topics, campus walking routes, a fitness challenge, tobacco‑cessation resources, an ergonomics program, discount programs, incentives, and other resources. Participation is voluntary.

High School Intern: $13.00 hourly. College Intern: $16.00 hourly.

• Draft letters and reports requesting submittal of permit conditions requirements; compliance correspondence and internal memorandum.
• Compile and review data from established files, databases, maps and publications.
• Compare construction activity to construction plans and permit conditions, note deviations, prepare a summary report and recommendations.
• Attend meetings and participate in discussions related to regulatory matters and corrective actions needed to resolve noncompliance issues.
• Respond to, or route, citizen questions to applicable staff related to permitting and compliance matters.
• Assist with compliance inspections for the Environmental Resource Permitting, Water Use Protection & Well Construction Programs.
• Research and compile permitting and compliance files, assisting staff with the research and coordination of assignments necessary to achieve team goals.

Work is divided between the field and office. Fieldwork is frequently conducted under adverse weather conditions, and may involve remote, undeveloped, and/or isolated sites. Work may be conducted on or around open water, wetlands or marshes. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Work environments vary by assigned business unit.

• Be at least part‑time and currently enrolled in high school, an accredited college, university, or other recognized educational or vocational program.
• Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 for undergraduate students or 3.0 for graduate students.
• Valid driver’s license.

• Experience with GIS.
• Have at least one year remaining in their respective program.
• Have availability to work near the maximum allowable hours weekly.
• Preferred Degrees: Engineering, Geology, Environmental Science, or other related Physical Science degree.
• Preferred Degree Level: Undergraduate.

This position is scheduled to work no more than 25…