The purpose of this internship to expose high school students to the day-to-day operations of the City of Ocala Water Resources and Engineering Department and give students opportunities to work alongside professionals as they contribute to daily operations in water operations, engineering, and conservation and outreach.

Each intern will spend the first week of their internship learning about the operations of the Water Resources and Engineering Department, and how the divisions within the department work together to keep the City of Ocala’s water systems operating. Interns will get a tour of the Water Treatment Plant, Water Reclamation Facilities, and the Ocala Wetland Recharge Park. For the remainder of the internship, the intern will report to their chosen division, where they will receive daily tasks assigned by the division head.

Examples of Duties

Water Resources Operations Intern

• Assist in performing routine laboratory tests to ensure operations are compliant.
• Perform daily operations alongside water operators such as inspecting machinery, monitoring system operations, and maintaining facilities.
• Learn the skills and mechanisms necessary to operate a water treatment plant and water reclamation facility.

Engineering Intern

• Utilize AutoCAD and GIS to design and update road, stormwater, water, and sewer plans.
• Conduct field visits to survey sites and collect operational information.

Conservation and Outreach Intern

• Plan and facilitate educational summer programs for families visiting the Ocala Wetland Recharge Park.
• Assist in creating social media posts for the Ocala Wetland Recharge Park Facebook and Instagram page.
• Design informational campaigns on ways to conserve water and reduce fats, oils, and grease entering sink drains.

All interns will be responsible for performing additional tasks and attending events as assigned by the Water Resources Conservation Coordinator such as the City Council Meetings and educational tours.

Minimum Requirements

To participate, interns should be able to:

• Demonstrate through the City’s application process that they are currently a junior or senior attending high school, or recently graduated in 2024
• Have reliable transportation to and from the designated work location
• Work 28 hours a week, approximately 4 days/week, Monday through Thursday, 6 hours/day
• Commit to the entirety of the internship program from Monday, June 3, 2024, through Thursday, July 25, 2024
• Work alone, and be a positive, contributing member in a group setting
• Maintain a professional presence when engaging with City of Ocala employees and the public

 Please be aware that this is a one-time program per intern.

Internship Overview

Water Resources Operations Internship

Two (2) interns will become familiar with water resource operations and will select division(s) to report to throughout their internship. From performing laboratory tests to understanding wetland park operations and maintenance, interns who participate in this internship will have the option to choose a division that best fits their interests and career goals.

 The Water Resources Department consists of the following divisions: Administrative, Central Lines Maintenance, Equipment Maintenance, Water Treatment Plant #1, Water Reclamation Facility #2, Water Reclamation Facility #3, Compliance Monitoring, and Wetlands. Central Lines Maintenance and Equipment Maintenance are ineligible for an intern.

Engineering Internship

Two (2) interns will report to the Engineering Department and will be expected to learn or enhance their skills in the following:

• Geographic Information Systems (G.I.S.)
• Mapping
• AutoCAD
• Survey
• Design
• Project Meetings and Planning

The Engineering Department consists of five (5) divisions: Capital Improvement Projects, Surveying, Stormwater Engineering, Transportation Engineering, and Water Resources Engineering. Each intern will select division(s) to report to throughout their internship.

Conservation and Outreach Internship

One (1) intern will become familiar with the water conservation practices implemented by the City and the educational programs offered by the Water Resources Department. This intern will:

• Plan and facilitate educational programs and tours of city facilities
• Craft a conservation campaign to be implemented by the City
• Strategically design and create social media content
• Become familiar with the Ocala Wetland Recharge Park and its function
• Deliver environmental education programs at the Ocala Wetland Recharge Park
• Perform website maintenance
• Design and produce promotional content

 Application

To apply please visit the City of Ocala Employment webpage. Search for the position titled "Water Resources Intern." Complete and submit the application using the online portal. 

If you have any questions regarding this application or the application process, please contact Gabriela Sullivan at wrcoordinator@ocalafl.gov or 352-351-6772.