Job Description
Our Student Associate Program offers college students the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on work experience while supporting key business functions during the summer months.
Student Associates play an important role in contributing to day-to-day operations, assisting with projects, and learning how their academic studies connect to real-world applications.
The program is designed to provide meaningful work experience in a professional environment without the structure of a formal internship, while still allowing participants to build skills, expand networks, and make a tangible impact.
Project Focus: Stormwater Drain Vulnerability & Spill Prevention Position Overview The Student Associate will support the Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) team on a focused environmental compliance and risk-reduction project related to stormwater management and chemical spill prevention. This role provides hands-on experience evaluating stormwater infrastructure near chemical offloading areas, identifying potential vulnerabilities, and developing practical, compliance-driven solutions to prevent releases to the stormwater system.
The Student Associate will conduct field assessments, analyze risks, engage with site stakeholders, and deliver a final written report and presentation summarizing findings and recommendations.
Key Objectives - Identify stormwater drains located near chemical offloading areas.
- Evaluate vulnerabilities where chemical spills could enter the stormwater system.
- Assess environmental risk levels and regulatory implications.
- Develop and recommend feasible corrective and preventive measures.
- Present findings and recommendations to EHS leadership.
Primary Responsibilities - Review facility environmental programs, including the SPCC Plan, SWPPP, and chemical offloading procedures.
- Research applicable EPA, NPDES, and local stormwater regulatory requirements.
- Conduct site walkthroughs of chemical offloading areas to identify and document stormwater drains.
- Map storm drain locations and conditions using facility diagrams and photographic documentation.
- Evaluate potential spill scenarios and pathways to stormwater.
- Assess existing engineering and administrative controls (e.g., curbing, berms, drain covers, spill kits).
- Rank stormwater drains based on risk (high/medium/low) and regulatory exposure.
- Develop and compare spill prevention and stormwater protection solutions based on effectiveness, cost, and ease of implementation.
- Interview operations, maintenance, and EHS personnel to incorporate practical insights.
- Review historical spill and near-miss data to inform recommendations.
Deliverables - Comprehensive written report including:
- Stormwater drain maps and inventory
- Risk ranking matrix
- Photo log of observations
- Recommended corrective and preventive measures
- Regulatory and compliance references
- PowerPoint presentation summarizing project findings and proposed solutions for the EHS team.
Qualifications - Currently pursuing a degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Occupational Safety, or a related field.
- Interest in environmental compliance, stormwater management, and spill prevention.
- Ability to conduct fieldwork and document observations accurately.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and technical writing skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); familiarity with mapping or diagram tools is a plus.
- Strong communication skills and ability to work cross-functionally with operations and EHS teams.
Learning Opportunities - Hands-on experience with real-world environmental compliance programs.
- Exposure to EPA and NPDES stormwater regulations.
- Practical application of spill prevention and best management practices (BMPs).
- Professional presentation experience to EHS leadership.
Work Environment: - Work is generally performed within a business professional office environment, with standard office equipment available.
- Work conditions are typical of an office environment
- This role does not require any domestic travel
- Position may require the physical agility of lifting up to 15 pounds
- Position may require frequent and/or infrequent of bending, squatting, pushing, pulling, stretching/reaching, use hands or fingers, talk, hear, feel objects, tools, controls and standing/walking on concrete flooring.
- Position may require the physical ability to stand/walk for Less than 4 hours.
Job Tags
Permanent employment, Work experience placement, Summer work, Work at office, Local area,