Utility Urban & Community Forestry Policy & Program Management Graduate Intern
Position Description
Seattle City Light, a department of the City of Seattle, is one of the nation’s largest municipally owned utilities in terms of the number of customers served. Over the years we have worked very hard to keep Seattle's electricity affordable, reliable, and environmentally sound. Today, City Light is a recognized national leader in energy efficiency and environmental stewardship.
This position will join Seattle City Light as a member of the Utility Urban & Community Forestry team that operates as a branch of the larger Vegetation Management & Wildfire Mitigation Group. Our work focuses on delivering safe & reliable power through the management of natural systems that surround our infrastructure. Seattle City Light holds a firm commitment to preserving and growing a sustainable urban forest. The UUCF team focuses on people, trees, and utility. Urban Community Forestry is an intersectional framework that strives to improve environmental and human conditions by focusing on forests in urban communities. SCL's UUCF program works in policy, with community partners, interdepartmentally, and utility professionals to improve electric reliability, sustainably manage forest, and promote healthy vibrant of communities. We use a Race & Social Justice lens in our work and strive to equitably serve communities and prioritizing historically underserved communities that are most vulnerable & impacted by climate change. This position reports to the Utility Urban & Community Forestry Lead.
Job Responsibilities
DELVIERABLES: We are looking to hire two interns that can focus on the following topical areas and support our team by working on a variety of policy and managing both independent and collaborative projects.
Required Qualifications:
Education: Enrolled in an accredited graduate program during their internship.
Driving: You
must hold a current valid state issued driver’s license from any US state to be
verified prior to start date. Out of state license holders will be required to
obtain a WA state license within 30 days of hire.
Graduate students will need to maintain a 3.0 GPA or above throughout the internship.
Preferred Areas of Study: Enrolled in an academic program with focus on environmental science and/or natural resources. Specific discipline or area of emphasis may vary but would ideally include environmental science/policy, including biological, natural resource management, government, business, landscape design ecological, chemical, and/or physical sciences.
Desired Qualifications:
Additional Information
Schedule: Intern will work up-to 20 hours/weeks while school is in session. Up-to 40 hours/week during school breaks. Work hours can be scheduled between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm.
Salary: The full salary range for this position is $27.67 -$27.67 per hour.
Application Process
To complete your application, submit the online form with the following attachments:
Internship Duration and Hours: Year-long: The timeframe of this internship will be one year in duration, with either a May (semester schools) or June (quarter schools) 2026 start date. Working hours are up to 40 per week during the summer, and a max of 20 per week during the academic year.
Hybrid Work: The City has the expectation that interns will be readily available to report to onsite at work in Seattle in accordance with the current Mayoral mandate of a minimum of 3 days per week. Additional in-person work requirements are based on business need and determined by the hiring authority.
Interns must have a Washington State address and live in Washington State at the time of hire and for the duration of their employment.
Benefits: Interns do not receive benefits but can obtain a subsidized ORCA pass and accrue sick time that can be used after 90 days of employment.
Background Check: Job offers are contingent on the verification of credentials and other information required by the employment process, including the completion of a background check. The background check will involve a criminal history check, which includes conviction and arrest records in compliance with the Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17and the City of Seattle Personnel Rule 10.3. A driving history review may be conducted in compliance with SMC 4.79.020. Applicants will be provided an opportunity to explain or correct background information.
Who May Apply: This position is open to all candidates that meet the qualifications. Seattle City Light values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Seattle City Light encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences.
Want to know more about Seattle City Light? Check out our web page: https://www.seattle.gov/city-light/about-us/careers.
Seattle City Light, a department of the City of Seattle, is one of the nation’s largest municipally owned utilities in terms of the number of customers served. Over the years we have worked very hard to keep Seattle's electricity affordable, reliable, and environmentally sound. Today, City Light is a recognized national leader in energy efficiency and environmental stewardship.
This position will join Seattle City Light as a member of the Utility Urban & Community Forestry team that operates as a branch of the larger Vegetation Management & Wildfire Mitigation Group. Our work focuses on delivering safe & reliable power through the management of natural systems that surround our infrastructure. Seattle City Light holds a firm commitment to preserving and growing a sustainable urban forest. The UUCF team focuses on people, trees, and utility. Urban Community Forestry is an intersectional framework that strives to improve environmental and human conditions by focusing on forests in urban communities. SCL's UUCF program works in policy, with community partners, interdepartmentally, and utility professionals to improve electric reliability, sustainably manage forest, and promote healthy vibrant of communities. We use a Race & Social Justice lens in our work and strive to equitably serve communities and prioritizing historically underserved communities that are most vulnerable & impacted by climate change. This position reports to the Utility Urban & Community Forestry Lead.
Job Responsibilities
DELVIERABLES: We are looking to hire two interns that can focus on the following topical areas and support our team by working on a variety of policy and managing both independent and collaborative projects.
- Landscapes: Contribute to recommendation documents that focus on processes improvements, landscape conversion projects, assist in the conceptual development of creative and sustainable public space designs focused on reducing maintenance needs, increasing safety, maintaining species diversity, maintaining sustainable environmental benefits, & promoting economic & aesthetic value. Contribute to drafting Best Management Practices, and guidance documentation, and visual materials to support our landscapes team.
- Site Stewardship & Restoration: Work with UUCF lead to create documents that can be used to support the expanding demand for community lead stewardship and restoration work throughout the transmission Corridor. Work to catalogue existing conditions of sites, collect and create narratives that tell the story and celebrate the work of the program. Assist the program with current & future planning. Community Engagement: Support community groups and stakeholders by assisting with public outreach, organizing community meetings, workshops, and interdepartmental collaboration events focused on enhancing public spaces. Project Coordination & Installation Support: Coordinate with vendors for ordering and installation, contribute to the preparation of public outreach materials, and participate in public engagement activities.
- Transmission, Powerline Clearance, & Arboriculturist Group: We are looking for someone curious about utility operations, laws and regulations, arboriculture, vegetation management, and wildfire mitigation. We are looking for an intern that can contribute to Best Management Practices, updates to Tree & Vegetation Management Plan documents, Wildfire Mitigation Planning, and supporting Utility Arboriculture process documentation. This internship will offer the chance to explore these areas in detail and help shape the future of direction of our work. We have a variety of tools and data at our disposal and are eager to work with someone who values system improvement, spatial and tabular data. If you like the challenge of combining cutting-edge technology with old fashion paper in pen field methods, this should be a fun and exciting project scope.
Required Qualifications:
Education: Enrolled in an accredited graduate program during their internship.
Driving: You
must hold a current valid state issued driver’s license from any US state to be
verified prior to start date. Out of state license holders will be required to
obtain a WA state license within 30 days of hire.
Graduate students will need to maintain a 3.0 GPA or above throughout the internship.
Preferred Areas of Study: Enrolled in an academic program with focus on environmental science and/or natural resources. Specific discipline or area of emphasis may vary but would ideally include environmental science/policy, including biological, natural resource management, government, business, landscape design ecological, chemical, and/or physical sciences.
Desired Qualifications:
- Knowledgeable in the utility industry, arboriculture, forestry, landscaping, natural resource and environmental management, wildfire, public policy, government, field-based operations or willing to quickly learn about these areas.
- Strong Research Skills: Ability to perform independent research using online resources, academic databases, and library tools to support project needs.
- An excellent communicator, able to present complex ideas and findings clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, both in writing and verbally.
- Experience with Public Outreach & Community Engagement: Proven ability to work with community members, stakeholders, and public groups, fostering partnerships and participation in projects.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite: Experience with Microsoft Office tools (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint), particularly for document creation and presentation.
- Experience with design and layout tools such as Adobe Creative Suite to create design presentations, outreach materials, and other visual communications.
- Highly organized and analytical, with a strong systems-thinking approach to problem-solving.
- Strong Problem-Solving Skills: Proactive in identifying challenges and applying creative and effective solutions to issues that arise during project work.
- Proactive and resourceful, with the ability to identify and resolve issues independently while driving solutions forward.
- Independent and Self-Directed: Ability to work autonomously, take initiative, and manage responsibilities without continuous supervision.
- Highly Motivated & Results-Driven: Self-motivated, with a demonstrated ability to take ownership of tasks, manage deadlines, and deliver quality results.
- Collaborative, with strong interpersonal skills to work effectively within cross-functional teams.
Additional Information
Schedule: Intern will work up-to 20 hours/weeks while school is in session. Up-to 40 hours/week during school breaks. Work hours can be scheduled between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm.
Salary: The full salary range for this position is $27.67 -$27.67 per hour.
Application Process
To complete your application, submit the online form with the following attachments:
- Resume
- Cover letter explaining how your coursework, activities, and experience qualify you for this internship.
- Your unofficial transcript - including current coursework, next term registration (if available at the time of application), and cumulative GPA.
- If applicable- for students transitioning from an undergraduate to graduate program, submit admissions offer to the graduate program to confirm intention of fall enrollment.
Internship Duration and Hours: Year-long: The timeframe of this internship will be one year in duration, with either a May (semester schools) or June (quarter schools) 2026 start date. Working hours are up to 40 per week during the summer, and a max of 20 per week during the academic year.
Hybrid Work: The City has the expectation that interns will be readily available to report to onsite at work in Seattle in accordance with the current Mayoral mandate of a minimum of 3 days per week. Additional in-person work requirements are based on business need and determined by the hiring authority.
Interns must have a Washington State address and live in Washington State at the time of hire and for the duration of their employment.
Benefits: Interns do not receive benefits but can obtain a subsidized ORCA pass and accrue sick time that can be used after 90 days of employment.
Background Check: Job offers are contingent on the verification of credentials and other information required by the employment process, including the completion of a background check. The background check will involve a criminal history check, which includes conviction and arrest records in compliance with the Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17and the City of Seattle Personnel Rule 10.3. A driving history review may be conducted in compliance with SMC 4.79.020. Applicants will be provided an opportunity to explain or correct background information.
Who May Apply: This position is open to all candidates that meet the qualifications. Seattle City Light values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Seattle City Light encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences.
Want to know more about Seattle City Light? Check out our web page: https://www.seattle.gov/city-light/about-us/careers.