CRWA’s prestigious Rita Barron Fellowship is named in honor of CRWA’s first Executive Director, who worked for fifteen years as a pioneering leader in river and watershed protection. The Fellowship provides an opportunity for a qualified early-career/career-change candidate to work in an exciting organization under the direction of some of the country’s leading water scientists and advocates. Previous Fellows have transitioned to permanent roles at CRWA or gone on to pursue a range of careers in water resources, including working with the state and federal government, environmental non-profits, consulting, or pursuing further education.

Position summary

CRWA is committed to training the next generation of environmental leaders. The one-year Fellowship provides an opportunity for an individual starting in their career in watershed protection to gain significant skills in areas such as water quality sampling, volunteer coordination, invasive plant management, maintaining field equipment, managing and analyzing data, writing scientific reports, and working with the public. The position is designed to launch the Fellow into a successful career in environmental science, management, and advocacy. The Fellow will receive on-the-job training in all required tasks and activities, and will also have opportunities to shadow senior staff across the organization. This position is based in Boston, Massachusetts, and requires travel throughout the Charles River watershed to conduct fieldwork. The Fellow will primarily support the River Science and River Restoration program areas and report to the Volunteer & Outreach Manager. 

Job Responsibilities

• Conducting water quality sampling in variable weather conditions

• Conducting habitat or similar site assessments 

• Processing bacteria and cyanobacteria samples

• Maintaining sampling equipment

• Managing and analyzing water quality data to communicate trends to the public

• Writing and editing scientific reports

• Working with and training volunteers

• Conducting GIS analysis and preparing presentation-ready maps

• Assisting in managing volunteers for our Earth Day cleanup and herring count 

• Representing CRWA at community events or presenting CRWA’s work to various audiences

• Provide support for CRWA program areas and the development team as needed

• Additional administrative support as needed

Who we are looking for

At CRWA, we recognize that someone may excel in this role even if they don’t have every attribute listed below. We also recognize that the skills needed in this position may be gained from a variety of personal, educational, employment, and volunteer experiences. We take all of this into account when reviewing applications and if you think you’d be a great fit for this role, we encourage you to apply!

The successful candidate will have:

• Master's degree in one of the following areas: environmental science, biology, chemistry, water resources, natural resource management, or a related field; or a Bachelor’s degree with equivalent experience

• Access to a reliable vehicle for field work

• Experience working as or with volunteers

• Experience working with large datasets and numbers (R or Excel proficiency preferred)

• Availability to work occasional weekend and evening hours

• GIS skills

• Proficiency with GSuite, Microsoft Office, and Canva

• Language proficiency in a non-English language commonly spoken across the watershed (Spanish, Haitian Creole, Chinese, Vietnamese, Portuguese and/or Cape Verdean Creole) is a plus! 

CRWA strives to attract and retain staff from a wide range of backgrounds, expertise, and perspectives and to foster a culture of belonging in which all feel valued and respected. If you need accommodation(s) to make the interview process more accessible, please let us know by emailing hiring@crwa.org.

CRWA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, protected veteran status, disability, pregnancy (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, medical conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth, and breastfeeding), genetic information, or other bases protected by law. 

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. CRWA is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

What we offer

This is a full-time, 12-month position based in Boston. The salary for this position is $55,000 annually. CRWA-sponsored benefits include generous paid time off, employer contributions to health insurance premiums and retirement plan, transit stipend, paid family and medical leave, Employee Assistance Program, and professional development opportunities. CRWA’s office operates on a hybrid remote/in-person schedule (3 days per week in the Boston office); fully remote candidates will not be considered for this role. The Fellowship will run from approximately February 2026 to January 2027.

Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

CRWA is committed to the ongoing work of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within our organization and in our external relationships. 

Internally, CRWA seeks to embed these principles in staff hiring, professional development, and retention practices as well as in Board recruitment, onboarding, and governance. CRWA strives to attract and retain staff and Board members from a wide range of backgrounds, expertise, and perspectives and to foster a culture of belonging in which all feel valued and respected.

Externally, we are engaged in outreach and relationship development to connect with a broader set of constituents in the watershed, including people and communities that have historically been marginalized. CRWA acknowledges the historic disinvestment and past harm in some watershed communities and is committed to advocating for equitable investments in climate resilience and river health. 

CRWA condemns racism, sexism, bigotry, and discrimination in any form.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume by email no later than December 22nd, 2025, to hiring@crwa.org and include “Rita Barron Fellowship” in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and candidates are encouraged to apply early–the position will remain open until filled. Candidates will be interviewed and selected based on criteria such as prior experience and skills relevant to this position. 

About Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA)

CRWA is an internationally-recognized environmental advocacy nonprofit based in Boston, MA. Our mission is to protect, restore, and enhance the Charles River and its watershed through science, advocacy, and the law. We develop science-based strategies to increase resilience, protect public health, and promote environmental equity as we confront a changing climate.