City of Plano - Sustainablity Intern

Sustainability & Environmental Education Division
Intern Job Description – Irrigation Pilot Study

The Sustainability & Environmental Education Division (SEED) is seeking a part-time, paid intern to conduct the analysis phase of an irrigation pilot study that evaluates changes in residential water use.
Are you curious about the connection between technology and conservation? Are you interested in using data analysis and statistics to determine how a “smart” device affects residents’ water use?

Project Overview & Intern Responsibilities:
The goal of the analysis phase is to gauge changes in water use that can be reasonably associated with the installation of a “smart” sprinkler controller. The intern will:
 Have access to a database of multiple daily meter readings for each pilot study participant’s home during the pre-installation time period and the post-installation time period.
 Use SPSS and/or other statistical applications to determine whether or not trends in the dataset suggest that the “smart” sprinkler controller had a significant effect on overall water use.
 Work under the supervision of the Water Education Coordinator and the SEED Supervisor to finalize the analysis using the dataset, survey data, and other information.
 Complete other related tasks as assigned.

Intern Qualifications:
The ideal candidate will:
 Be comfortable working with a large dataset, using SPSS, Microsoft Excel, and/or related applications.
 Have a solid understanding of statistical analyses and how to apply them to real world situations.

Experience with GIS is a bonus. While graduate and undergraduate applicants will be considered, preference will be given to applicants who have completed intermediate or upper-level coursework in statistics, mathematics, computer science, or a related field. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working somewhat independently in an office setting.

Application Process:
Please submit a cover letter stating your interest and relevant experience along with an unofficial transcript(s) that lists applicable coursework to Katie Masucci at katiem@plano.gov by January 13, 2017.

Internship Dates & Compensation:
The internship is available for the spring 2017 semester – late January through mid-May – with some flexibility depending on the intern’s needs. The intern will work approximately 20 hours per week. Compensation will be $10-$14 per hour dependent on educational background and experience