Paid Summer Internships

[Applications are currently closed and typically open during January/February]

Valley Water’s Summer Internship Program is celebrating its thirteenth anniversary in 2024. The popular program is recognized as an industry leader and has around 1,000 applicants each year. This opportunity allows students to gain relevant work experience in the public sector and make an impact on the organization and local community while enhancing academic learning.

Summer 2024 will be a hybrid internship 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.

Get to Know Us Better

Valley Water is run by a Board of Directors, which includes seven elected members representing equally divided districts. Interns will have the valuable opportunity to attend Board meetings during the program.

Valley Water’s CEO, Rick Callender, was appointed to the role in July 2020 after 24 years of employment with the organization, serving most recently as the Chief of External Affairs (CEA). He is the first African-American to serve in the role in Valley Water’s 90-year history. CEO Rick Callender leads the Executive Management Team, comprised of nine executives.

Read about Valley Water’s Mission, Vision, and Values to learn about who we are, what we believe in, and where we want to go.

Eligibility [Applications are currently closed and typically open during January/February]

• Applicants must be a third year or fourth year plus student (as of Fall 2024) enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate-level community college or college/university program in Fall 2024.
  • 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.

• Selected candidates must pass a pre-employment screening process to include reference and background/criminal checks.

• Applicants must be able to work full-time (40 hours/week) during the Summer Internship Program

  • May 28 through August 16, 2024 (Semester Students)

  • June 17 through September 6, 2024 (Quarter Students)

Intern 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!

1. Valley Water Intern Information Session - Tuesday, January 23, 2024 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM PST.
2. Valley Water Intern Information Session - Thursday, February 1, 2024 - 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM PST.
3. Valley Water Intern Information Session - Tuesday, February 6, 2024 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM PST.
4. Valley Water Intern Information Session - Wednesday, February 14, 2024 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM PST.

Zoom Meeting Link:

https://valleywater.zoom.us/j/81510996130
Meeting ID: 815 1099 6130

Come Meet Us - Upcoming Career Fairs:

1. UC Santa Cruz,  2024 Winter Career & Internship Fair - Tuesday, January 30, 2024 - 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM PST.
2. Cal Poly SLO, Virtual Winter Career Fair - Wednesday, January 31, 2024 - 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM PST.
3. Alabama A&M University, 2024 Virtual Career Fair, Tuesday, February 6, 2024 - 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM PST.
4. Santa Clara University, Virtual Winter Career Fair - Thursday, February 8, 2024 - 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM PST.
5. The Tech Interactive, Teen Week - Tuesday, February 13, 2024 - 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM PST.
6. Saint Mary's College of California - Wednesday, February 28, 2024 - 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM PST.
7. Menlo College - Wednesday, March 27, 2024 - 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM PST.
8. Gavilan College - Thursday, April 11, 2024 - 10:30 AM - 1:30 PM PST.
9. Evergreen Valley College - Tuesday, April 16, 2024 - 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM PST.

Application Process

Apply online: February 1 -  February 15, 2024 [CLOSED]
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.

The schedule above may be subject to change

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.

Additional Information

• Participation in the Summer Internship Program does not automatically guarantee full-time employment. 
   
• Valley Water does not provide medical benefits, vacation pay, or holiday pay as part of the intern program.

FAQ

Can I apply for more than one internship position?
Yes, you are welcome to apply for more than one position. Application and supplemental question responses should be tailored to each position applied for accordingly.

I am a Sophomore. Can I apply for the summer internship program?
Our summer internship program is for third years and above based on your college transcript for Fall 2024. A current second year could apply for our summer internship program as long as they would be a third year come Fall 2024. We do check transcripts during your background check so make sure you have one handy.

Do you offer year-round college internships?
Yes, year-round part-time internships are offered at Valley Water for local students. Please send your resume to [email protected] (Subject: Year-Round Internship).

Are interns hired directly by Valley Water?
No, interns are hired by our third-party temporary agency, Tryfacta. Tryfacta is the intern’s employer. They will provide W-2s and verify employment.

Do you sponsor international students?
Valley Water’s third-party temporary agency will only hire individuals who are authorized to be lawfully employed in the United States. They do not sponsor international students.

Could my internship turn into a full-time position?
Yes, each year we have a handful of interns who are successfully hired as full-time employees. Interns interested in full-time positions need to apply and compete for the full-time positions along with other external candidates.

Do you provide housing or relocation expenses?
Valley Water doesn’t provide housing or relocation. Our summer interns often sublet from San Jose State University or Santa Clara University Students. Please note interns must perform their work in the state of California not more than 150 miles from Valley Water office (5750 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, CA for San Jose office or 1121 L Street, Suite 1000, Sacramento, CA for Sacramento office) for the duration of their internship.

Questions?

For more information, please contact the Next Gen Career Pathways Program via email at [email protected] (Subject: Summer Internship).