Stage au chapitre canadien de l'IAH : Groundwater Advocacy and Engagement

Intern: Groundwater Advocacy and Engagement
Position Type: Part-time, up to ~35 hrs/week
Duration: 4-8 months, flexible start date ~April 15, 2025
Wages: Starting at $26.50/hr, supported by IAH-CNC and MITACS
Location: Remote position at a Canadian Postsecondary Institute where an engaged academic supervisor is present, with potential for occasional travel for events and meetings
Application Deadline: March 18, 2025

About IAH-CNC
The International Association of Hydrogeologists – Canadian National Chapter (IAH-CNC) is a branch of the IAH, a global organization promoting the study and knowledge of hydrogeological science for the common good. Representing approximately 400 groundwater professionals across Canada, we engage in scientific discourse, advocacy, and education to promote sustainable groundwater management. Our activities include talks, seminars, webinars, networking opportunities, and conferences.

Project Overview
This role supports a volunteer-led committee, co-led by Cynthia McClain and Brendan Mulligan, that began in 2023 and is focused on strengthening groundwater advocacy and policy engagement in Canada. This committee’s work seeks to advance IAHCNC’s advocacy efforts by facilitating enhanced federal, provincial, and territorial groundwater policy, fostering science-informed decision-making, and building capacity for sustainable groundwater management. Activities to date have included a survey of government hydrogeologists, engagement with provinces and territories, submission of a brief to the House of Commons Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development’s Freshwater Study, invited presentations (e.g., to the National Dialogue on Groundwater, National Conference of the Canadian Water Resources Association, GeoMontreal, BC Groundwater Symposium, Ontario Groundwater Geoscience Open House), and submissions to federal government
engagement opportunities (e.g., National Freshwater Data Strategy, National Freshwater Science Agenda).

We are seeking an organized and proactive student to support the committee’s work in 2025 by providing coordination, project management, administrative and technical support for this initiative.
In 2025, key committee activities this position may support include:

• Providing logistical support for the ongoing groundwater inclusion work of IAHCNC leadership.
• Preparing public communication materials on groundwater.
• Organizing and participating in meetings with federal, territorial, provincial, and local government representatives to promote groundwater priorities.
• Supporting planning and representation at key conferences and events, for example IAH-CNC Conferences, Canadian Science Policy Conference, Canada Water Agency events.
• Coordinating committee members to review documents.
• Collaborating with IAH-CNC members and stakeholders to enhance public and professional awareness of groundwater issues.

Key Responsibilities
As an Intern, your responsibilities will include:

• Project management: including scheduling and preparing materials for meetings (committee and external), note-taking, facilitation, tracking timelines/actions, and supporting oversight of contractors.
• Organization: Formal documentation of committee structure, roles, membership, with the potential for leading recruitment and onboarding of new members.
• Communication: Developing communication and marketing materials (e.g., social media, website, branding) and providing regular updates on status of committee activities (e.g., status reports).
• Writing: Collaborative writing and coordinating reviews (internal and external) of advocacy materials such as briefs, letters, review papers, or op-eds to raise public and professional awareness of groundwater issues.
• Outreach: Regularly discuss the importance of groundwater in Canada with stakeholders.
• Collaboration: Work closely with, and report to, committee co-leads (e.g., weekly basis), committee members (e.g., monthly basis), and other stakeholders as needed.

Qualifications and Competencies
We are seeking an individual with the following qualifications:

• Current student or postdoctoral scholar at a Canadian postsecondary institution registered in a full-time program (i.e., eligible for MITACS Accelerate or Elevate).
• Pursuing a diploma, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, PhD, or postdoctoral fellowship in science, earth science/geoscience, geography, arts, communications, environmental engineering/science, water policy, law and/or a related field.
• Passionate about raising awareness about freshwater–which includes groundwater!–-in Canada.
• Highly organized individual with interest or experience in project management including meeting facilitation and note-taking.
• A self-motivated and proactive approach to work, with an ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple priorities.
• Strong writing and communication skills, with experience drafting reports and collaborative writing.
• Ability to distill technical/complex concepts for diverse audiences. 

Assets also include:

• Demonstrated expertise or interest in water policy analysis and advocacy.
• Familiarity with Canadian federal, territorial, and provincial water policies.
• An ability to engage and collaborate with diverse entities, including Indigenous governments and organizations; local, provincial/territorial, and federal
• governments; private sector groundwater experts; and nonprofits.
• Knowledge or familiarity with groundwater science/management.
• Familiarity with Google Workspace (e.g., Google Docs) for collaboration.

We encourage all interested candidates to apply, even if you don’t meet every qualification—if you’re passionate about our mission and believe you can contribute, we’d love to hear from you!

Why Join Us?

• Impactful Work: Contribute to meaningful policy advancements that promote sustainable groundwater management.
• Professional Growth: Engage in professional development opportunities to enhance skills and knowledge at the intersection of science and policy, which may include attending relevant conferences, workshops, or training sessions.
• Networking: Build connections with key stakeholders within IAH-CNC and across Canada’s water policy landscape.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
IAH-CNC is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse environment. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those from underrepresented groups in hydrogeology and water policy. If you require accommodations during the application process, please let us know.

How to Apply
To apply, please submit:

• Your resume or CV, including your current enrollment status at a Canadian postsecondary institution.
• A short cover letter explaining your interest in the position and your relevant experience, as they pertain to the qualifications and competencies of this intern position.
• Optional: A sample of relevant work (e.g., a policy brief, op-ed, or report).

Send your application to Mike Wei (waterwei@telus.net) by Tuesday March 18, 2025 with the subject line: "IAH-CNC Intern Application."