Welcome to Discover Valley Water, a pivotal initiative within the Next Gen Career Pathways Program. Our primary focus is on cultivating college internships (year-round & summer internships) that embrace the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are dedicated to shaping the next generation through immersive experiences, personalized 1:1 mentorship, and comprehensive career development learning.
Through the Discover Valley Water initiative, we actively engage with diverse school communities to attract underrepresented groups to our established internship program, helping to promote stable and lucrative careers and increase fairness and equity in hiring outcomes in order to produce a more diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.
Discover Valley Water is more than just a program; it's a community where passion and purpose meet. Here, diversity, equity, and inclusion stand as the foundational pillars of success for students. Discover Valley Water is about establishing an environment where every individual, regardless of their background, feels empowered to contribute their unique strengths. This, in turn, enriches Valley Water with a diverse tapestry of talents and perspectives.
The program incorporates robust diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategies to ensure that education and workforce opportunities are accessible to all residents, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, or physical abilities. To ensure the success of DEI efforts, the program follows best practices such as regular assessment and measurement of progress, fostering a culture of inclusion within educational institutions and workplaces, and collaborating with community organizations and advocates who specialize in DEI.
Goals:
- Actively seek candidates from diverse backgrounds, including underrepresented minorities, to create a more inclusive and equitable internship program.
- Partner with Minority Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Community Colleges, and Tribal Colleges to broaden the candidate pool.
- Expand the Discover Valley Water Internship program by adding more positions and providing more opportunities for local college students.
- Commitment to student diversity, in alignment to furthering Valley Water's Values.
College Summer Internships
The College Summer Internship program for 2025 will be a hybrid internship program with certain days in the office and others from home. Each intern will have a mentor and will be provided professional development training, participate in networking events, and prepare a capstone presentation at the end of the program. Some positions will require the intern to be in the lab, office, or field 100% of their internship and will be clearly labeled as such on the job postings.
Intern compensation is $26.31 per hour.
Eligibility
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Applicants must be a third year or fourth year plus student enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate-level community college or college/university program for Fall 2025.
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Proof of enrollment will be required prior to start of assignment
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Applicants must be able to work full-time (40 hours/week) during the Summer Internship Program.
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Only applicants who have not held a Valley Water Summer Internship Program previously will be considered
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Valley Water requires interns to work within 150 miles of the Valley Water office they are to report to by their start date. The intern must perform their work in the State of California not more than 150 miles from Valley Water’s office (5750 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, CA or 1121 L Street, Suite 1000, Sacramento CA ) for the duration of their internship.
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Selected candidates must pass a pre-employment screening process to include reference and background/criminal checks.
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Effective Monday, January 1, 2024, Valley Water will no longer require proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment for regular employees, temporary staff, student interns, retiree annuitants, and/or contractors.
Summer Internship Start & End Dates:
Semester Students: May 27, 2025 to August 15, 2025 (11 weeks)
Quarter Students: June 16, 2025 to September 5, 2025 (11 weeks)
Application Process
Apply online! Application period will be between: January 27th, 2025 - February 10th, 2025 [COMMING SOON]
Complete the required online Employment Application
- Resume (recommended)
- Provide detailed responses to the Supplemental Questions listed in the online application
Please note: In the work experience section of the online application, school projects, volunteer and extracurricular activities may be included in lieu of work experience.
Timeline
February: Applications close and supplemental questions are reviewed by a diverse team.
March: Mentors review applications and select interview candidates.
March-April: Interviews are conducted via Zoom.
April: Offers extended to the selected candidate and background checks processed.
May: All students will be notified via a phone call if they are selected, so make sure you have your voicemail set up.
The schedule above may be subject to change
Summer Internship Information Sessions
Join us for our very own Intern Information Sessions to help set you up for the best success on your summer internship applications! We will be discussing expert insights on how to maneuver the application, important deadlines, tips to excel, and past internship experiences. Join us to learn what Valley Water is all about!
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Valley Water Intern Information Session - Wednesday, January 22, 2025 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM PST.
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Valley Water Intern Information Session - Tuesday, January 28, 2025 - 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM PST.
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Valley Water Intern Information Session - Wednesday, February 5, 2025 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM PST.
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Valley Water Intern Information Session - Thursday, February 6, 2025 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM PST.
Zoom Meeting Link:
https://valleywater.zoom.us/j/81510996130
Meeting ID: 815 1099 6130
College Year-Round Internships
The College Year-Round Internship is a part-time internship program to provide professional and work experience. Each intern will have a mentor, be provided professional development training, and participate in networking events. Internship positions will a combination of in-office or work-from-home and require the intern to be in a lab, office, or field depending on the requirements detailed in the posting. The availability of a year-round internship will be contingent upon the manager's request of hiring an intern for their respective unit.
Intern compensation is $26.31 per hour.
Eligibility
- Applicants a college student enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate-level community college or college/university program in Fall 2025.
- Proof of enrollment will be required prior to start of assignment
-
Only applicants who have not previously held a Valley Water Summer Internship Program previously will be considered
-
Effective Monday, January 1, 2024, Valley Water will no longer require proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment for regular employees, temporary staff, student interns, retiree annuitants, and/or contractors.
-
Valley Water requires interns to work within 150 miles of the Valley Water office they are to report to by their start date. The intern must perform their work in the State of California not more than 150 miles from Valley Water’s office (5750 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, CA or 1121 L Street, Suite 1000, Sacramento CA ) for the duration of their internship.
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Selected candidates must pass a pre-employment screening process to include reference and background/criminal checks.
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Applicants must be able to work part-time, work schedule will be determined upon the applicant and manager's discussion.
If you are interested in a year-round college internship, please send your resume and preferred career areas to [email protected]. Should an assignment open matching your skill set, qualifications, and preferred career areas, your resume will be sent to the applicable unit manager for consideration.
For more questions regarding a Year-Round College Internship, please contact the Next Gen Career Pathways Program.
Contact us at Next Gen Career Pathways