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King County Washington home

Internships and career exploration

Learn about our work and the jobs needed to protect water and human health by applying for an internship or attending a career event.

High school internship

Clean Water Ambassadors Internship

What: WTD partners with Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust to offer a paid internship for a cohort of 12 high school youth. Interns will learn about local environmental issues and solutions, and practice educating community members about these topics.

Who: For local high school youth at least 16 years old by July 7, 2026. We strongly encourage applicants who are new to exploring environmental topics, and who are from diverse backgrounds and feel comfortable communicating in English.

When: Generally, Monday to Friday, 9am-3pm. The internship begins on Tuesday, July 7 and ends on Friday, August 7.

Where: Interns meet in downtown Seattle and are strongly encouraged to take public transit, which they can ride for free!

Benefits: Earn $22 per hour.

Skill development

  • Improve communication skills by teaching students and giving a final presentation.
  • Learn about clean water topics, including environmental and social justice issues, through field trips and workshops.
  • Explore environmental careers by interviewing professionals.

How to apply

Applications are closed for the  2026 internship.

Application tips

  • You DO NOT need a cover letter or resume. We will be looking closely at your answers to the supplemental questions.
  • For questions #6-10, please provide detailed responses. Your answers should be more than one sentence so we can get a good sense of your interest and reason for applying.
  • Make it clear in your responses that you read the job description and understand the goals of the program.

Interview process

  • We will be selecting approximately 30 applicants to move on to the interview round. This will give us a chance to get to know each applicant a little better.
  • The interview conversation will be held online, one-on-one, and conducted by an internship staff member.
  • The entire interview will take approximately 30 minutes.
  • There will be two questions that only require very short answers, and eight questions will ask you to elaborate and share your thoughts.

We are here to help you with the application process!

Check out our FAQ for more information. If you have additional questions, contact:

KayLani Siplin, Education & Engagement Program Manager
kasiplin@kingcounty.gov
206-263-6704

Eligibility

Applicants must be at least 16 years old by July 7, 2026 and live within the Seattle Metro area (see map). Applicants are required to have current and valid identification, and proof of eligibility for employment in the U.S. (See full list of documents.)

College internships

We offer internships for fully enrolled undergraduate and graduate students that provide experiences in a number of environmental fields.

Learn more about internship opportunities.

If you have additional questions, contact:

Andrea Clinkscales, Workforce Development Program Manager
Andrea.Clinkscales@kingcounty.gov
206-263-2050

Career events

Each year, we host career events to showcase a variety of careers in clean water. Visit our events page to see what’s available.

King County staff also attend and speak at career-exposure events and career fairs for high school, community college, and university students to increase awareness about the wide variety of jobs in wastewater.

To schedule a staff member for your event, contact:

KayLani Siplin, Education & Engagement Program Manager
kasiplin@kingcounty.gov
206-263-6704

King County Youthworks

King County recently launched YouthWorks, a new web app that connects people ages 16 to 24 with paid internships and volunteer opportunities across King County government.

Through YouthWorks, participants can gain hands-on experience while exploring career pathways, building professional skills, and contributing to their communities. Paid internships and volunteer opportunities are available in a range of fields, including public safety, public health, environmental services, and recreation, with placements located throughout King County. Volunteer opportunities may also qualify for academic credit.

To be eligible for YouthWorks opportunities, applicants must:

  • Live in King County
  • Be between the ages of 16 and 24
  • Be available to participate for the full duration of the internship or volunteer assignment

Application openings and deadlines vary, with new opportunities added on a rolling basis.

Learn more about open opportunities and apply

Related Topics

K-12 Education Programs

King County Wastewater Treatment Division provides education programs that supports teachers, schools and communities.

Treatment Plant Tours

Learn how wastewater can be recycled into reusable water, energy, and nutrients for plants and soil. 

Education Resources

King County provides water education resources that help you learn or teach about our water systems.

How to Protect our Water

Find out how you can play an important role in keeping our water clean and abundant.