Job Description

A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.

As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What we offer

• Impact - The work you do here matters to millions. 
• Growth  - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it? 
• Diversity & Inclusion  - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
• Benefits  - We care about your well-being.

Agency Description

The Monitoring, Analysis, and Research Support (MARS) group is responsible for monitoring the Philadelphia Water Department’s growing green infrastructure portfolio. The 25-year, multi-billion-dollar Green City, Clean Waters program seeks to modernize Philadelphia’s approach to stormwater management and manage runoff by creating acres of new green, vegetated space in the city’s combined sewer area. For more information, please see

Job Description

Position Summary

This co-op position will give you first-hand experience in implementing and monitoring a billion-dollar sustainable engineering initiative. You’ll be hands on in collecting and interpreting the largest green infrastructure data set in the world. You’ll have the opportunity to grow your technical understanding of hydrologic principles by testing Philadelphia’s green infrastructure. You’ll be exposed to the many complex phenomena in the urban ecosystem and learn a variety of technical skills that will assist you in a future STEM career.

Essential Functions

Co-op duties are split roughly 50-50 between office work and field operations. Field operations involve collecting data and deploying/testing monitoring instruments. Fieldwork will require repeated lifting of objects weighing up to 50 pounds. Office work involves analyzing and interpreting the data (from MARS and other groups within PWD) to provide reports and analysis products for PWD.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Typical tasks include:

• Collecting and analyzing raw data from Philadelphia’s green infrastructure monitoring network.

• Interpreting design documents for better understanding of green stormwater infrastructure performance.

• Testing and measuring stormwater management practices in controlled experiments.

• Analyzing large environmental data sets on stormwater management, water quality, precipitation, and more.

• Writing reports on monitoring tests and techniques.

• Making maps of green infrastructure data.

Applicants should have proficiency with Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, etc) and experience with technical writing (memos, lab reports, etc). Additionally, familiarity with the following software packages is helpful (on the job training will be provided):

• ArcGIS

• R, Matlab, or another similar programming language

• Microsoft Access or another SQL database

Qualifications

Preferred Majors:

Arts & Sci. - Environmental Studies,

Eng. - Chemical Engineering,

Eng. - Civil Engineering,

Eng. - Environmental Engineering,

Eng. - Materials Engineering,

Eng. – Mechanical Engineering,

Eng. - Engineering Technology,

Eng. - Construction Management,

Arts & Sci. - Biological Sciences,

Arts & Sci. - Environmental Science,

Arts & Sci. – Geosciences

Level(s) of Experience Sought:

Beginner - Limited or no previous work experience/first Co-op

Intermediate - Some related work or volunteer experience/second Co-op

Advanced - Previous related work experience/final Co-op

Additional Information

TO APPLY:   Interested candidates must submit a cover letter and resume.

Hourly Rate: $18.00 - $20.00 per hour

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:

• Transportation : City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses, subways, trolleys, and regional rail for their daily commute and more.
• Parental Benefits: The City offers its employees 8 weeks of paid parental leave.
• We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options are available
• Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.
• Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too!

Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!

*The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to faqpchr@phila.gov.

For more information, go to: Human Relations Website:

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