River Restoration Policy & Planning Apprentice

Hours per week: 10-20 hours per week; 2-4 days per week, including occasional evening and weekend hours
Pay: $20-25 per hour
Benefits: Paid sick leave
Start Date: 1 September, 2026
Supervisor: Catlow Shipek

Position Description

The River Restoration Policy & Planning Apprentice will be part of the team working primarily on WMG’s River Run Network planning, policy, and advocacy efforts that fulfill WMG’s strategic goals, including our 50-year goal of restoring flow and ecological function to Tucson’s rivers and creeks, as well as our long-term efforts to steward watershed health and hydro-local water supplies. WMG’s community engagement work primarily encompasses the urban and rural areas within the greater Tucson area. 

The Apprentice will focus primarily on research and analysis to support a hydro-local approach to restoring groundwater-supported riparian systems, including drought and water shortage response strategies within the Tucson basin. A hydro-local approach is one that responsibly stewards locally-available water resources rather than depleting distant rivers and aquifers. The Apprentice will conduct background research on developing water resource stewardship and conservation policies, provide supporting documentation and GIS mapping of identified opportunities, assist in stakeholder engagement on select strategies, and support the development of guiding plans. The Apprentice will interface with Santa Cruz Watershed Collaborative (SCWC) partners (Tribal nations, state and federal agencies, city and county departments, and organizations) at monthly working group meetings and semi-annual forums. The Apprentice will also support River Run Network program activities, including but not limited to community education and outreach and restoration project efforts.  

WMG’s restoration efforts work to engage limited-income, BIPOC, Latinx, and LGBTQ+ communities, and we seek an apprentice who is part of and/or able to effectively engage with these populations.

The Apprentice will participate in weekly onboarding and development activities with a cohort of other apprentices, interns, and docents. Training often occurs on Friday afternoons, 3-5pm.

Job Requirements

  • Interest in and support of WMG’s mission
  • Ability to engage with diverse communities and build relationships built on trust and understanding
  • 1+ year of experience in writing for natural resources planning or environmental education
  • 1+ year of experience in environmental or social partnership collaboration and advocacy or policy work
  • Ability to work independently
  • Promptness and sound organizational skills
  • Experience in creating maps and editing layers in ESRI ArcGIS Pro and using ArcGIS Online apps
  • Proficiency in Google Docs, Microsoft Office Suite, and social media
  • Cell phone that can be used to make and receive work calls
  • Ability to work evening and weekend hours as needed and work outside in physically demanding environments for field days

Routine Duties & Responsibilities

  • Assist with River Run Network strategic planning and policy initiatives to restore watershed health
    • Conduct background research analysis to inform initiatives. Topics include recycled water for aquifer recharge, drought response planning, mountain front recharge, water rights and allocation, Tucson Active Management Area, and environmental flows
    • Create and update ESRI ArcGIS mapping products to share and visualize geographic information and identified project opportunities and priorities
    • Support key stakeholder engagement, including of city and county department staff, local water utilities, and local elected officials, to inform and solicit feedback
    • Conduct outreach to key stakeholder groups to engage on strategic planning initiatives and solicit feedback
    • Support drafting of strategic plan development for local mountain-front recharge and drought-planning efforts
    • Aid in grant reporting, including gathering metric data and developing qualitative content about the work being done
  • Support Santa Cruz Watershed Collaborative meetings, activities, and events
    • Participate in and support monthly Restoring Flows and Floodplains Working Group meetings (1st Wednesday of each month, 3-5pm)
    • Support the planning and development of semi-annual field forums with SCWC partners and other community members
  • Collaborate with the River Run Network Team to support and plan major WMG events
    • Participate in event planning and preparation, volunteer engagement, and event marketing
    • Conduct in-person education, including designing and leading educational activities with people of all ages

Preferred Experience

  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work experience or training
  • Bilingual speaker and writer, fluent in English and Spanish
  • College or advanced degree in natural resources, environment, policy, environmental law, or planning

How to Apply

Please complete this application form. Note that you should apply for only one apprentice position, your top choice.

Contact person: Catlow Shipek
Applications must be received by: 22 June, 2026

About the Organization

At Watershed Management Group (WMG), we envision a world where the relationship between the Sonoran Desert and its people creates prosperity for all. This includes all people, plants, animals, land, and waters of the United States, Mexico, and Native American nations found in the Sonoran Desert. Our mission is to develop and implement community-based solutions to ensure the long-term prosperity of people and health of the environment. We provide people with the knowledge, skills, and resources for sustainable livelihoods.

At the core of our work is the value and practice of diversity, equity, and inclusion with the goal of advancing care for people and the environment. In recruiting for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation and beliefs.