Pollution Policy and Research Associate

Launch your Sustainability Career with the Climate Corps Fellowship program!

SEI’s Climate Corps Fellowship program offers the chance to lead impactful climate and community resilience projects while gaining paid, hands-on experience. This full-time, bridge-to-career opportunity pairs fellows with host organizations, from local governments to nonprofits and businesses, to drive real-world change.

About the Opportunity 

Start Date: March 2nd, 2026

Length of Fellowship: 10 months

Location Type: Hybrid

Clean drinking water is a fundamental right, yet for three decades, rural communities in Northeast Oregon have faced a widespread groundwater crisis. As a Pollution Policy and Research Associate in the Climate Corps Fellowship, you will join Oregon Rural Action (ORA) to advance the “Safe Rural Water” campaign. This is a hybrid position with the expectation of onsite work 3-4 days & remote work 1-2 days per week.

The Pollution Policy and Research Associate will help expand Oregon Rural Action’s capacity for data accessibility, policy research, and environmental education, strengthening community-led responses to urgent environmental threats in Oregon and building long-term solutions rooted in rural leadership and equity. Specifically, the Fellow will work to advance Oregon Rural Action’s “Safe Rural Water” campaign to address one of Oregon’s most pressing environmental justice issues, a three-decade-long drinking water pollution problem. This includes supporting ORA’s policy and organizing teams to advance local and state-level priorities to address widespread groundwater contamination in northeast Oregon through a combination of watchdog research, technical analysis, policy advocacy, public education, and good old-fashioned grit and determination. The Associate may also have the opportunity to participate in community organizing events, statewide or national coalition work, and strategy retreats with allied organizations. The campaign is entering its fourth year, with significant successes in building community power and expertise to drive systemic change.

Join us to develop your professional expertise while building a future where rural leadership and equity ensure safe water for all.

About Our Partner: Oregon Rural Action

Oregon Rural Action (ORA) is a grassroots, culturally diverse, community-led nonprofit organization in eastern Oregon.  They are rural communities working together to promote social and environmental justice, agricultural and economic sustainability, and stewardship of the region’s land, air, and water. They achieve this through community organizing that fosters leadership and collective agency, informed by data and policy research, to drive systemic change. The organization has a small staff of people who grew up in the region; they build community leadership teams and collaborate with other community-based and state-wide organizations to solve problems, including developing innovative ways to meet needs. 

ORA works with rural Latinx, Meso-American Indigenous, and white working-class communities in northeast Oregon, which are disproportionately exposed to groundwater nitrate contamination and industrial air pollution from industrialized agriculture, power plants, and data centers in Morrow and Umatilla counties, also known as the Lower Umatilla Basin. These communities face systemic barriers to health, information access, and participation in decision-making processes. The two key programs in 2026 include safe drinking water for rural communities in northeastern Oregon and immigrant justice, working with the people who labor in the region’s industrial agricultural economy. 

What You’ll Do

• Conduct watchdog research on sources of pollution in the Lower Umatilla Basin, including Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), industrialized agriculture, processed food factories, data centers, power plants, and more.
• Monitor and engage with key county, state, and federal natural resource agencies on issues related to Lower Umatilla Basin pollution.
• Develop environmental educational materials based on the Policy Team’s research and analysis, and potentially conduct public education activities.
• Attend regular coalition meetings with allied organizations to advance policy priorities and build strong statewide relationships.
• Attend virtual meetings and take detailed notes on issues relevant to ORA’s priorities.
• Some travel to the Lower Umatilla Basin, the Oregon State Capitol, or other parts of the state may be required.

What We’re Looking For

• Strong technical literacy, including the ability to use technology and understand technical documents; (GIS, data mapping, ability to review agency data reports, find and research data).
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Motivated to solve problems.
• Committed to environmental justice for rural communities.
• Highly organized and able to stay on-task.
• Coursework or a degree and/or commensurate experience in pollution and/or policy is preferred.
• Ability to travel to rural sites; must have a valid driver’s license and reliable vehicle access.
• The ability to work on a hybrid basis (3-4 days onsite, 1-2 days remote). This position requires the employee to be physically located within commuting distance of the site location at the time of hire. Only candidates currently residing within commuting distance of the site address will be considered.
• Commitment to a fair workplace that honors the experiences, voices, viewpoints, and values of all individuals.
• Authorization to work in the United States for the duration of the fellowship (SEI is unable to sponsor visas).
• May require occasional moving about to accomplish tasks, moving from one worksite to another, or adjusting or moving objects under 25-50 pounds in all directions.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience living or working in rural communities, in agriculture or related industries, and/or on water quality issues.
• Enjoys learning and helping others learn.
• Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Experience writing for public audiences (i.e., journalism, content creation, etc.).
• Strategic, goal-oriented thinker.
• Bilingual, English and Spanish.
• Understands, or is willing to learn, Oregon’s complex political landscape.

We encourage everyone interested in this position to apply, even if you don’t meet every qualification. We value all perspectives and believe that a unique background can bring significant strengths to this role, even if some qualifications are not fully met.

What We Provide

• A fixed, monthly stipend of $3450.
• $1000 end-of-program financial award.​
• Health care coverage with 100% of health care insurance premiums covered by SEI.
• Climate Corps Fellows receive 20 personal days for a standard 10-month fellowship (equivalent to about 2 days per month), which may be used for vacation, holidays, or sick time. Fellowships longer than 10 months include additional days, prorated accordingly.
• Comprehensive career-readiness training, including interview prep, salary negotiation, and resume building.
• Panels, workshops, and networking with climate resilience industry professionals.
• Professional networking and learning opportunities.
• The University of California Climate Stewards Certification equips you to lead community and ecosystem resilience initiatives.

Climate Corps Fellowships are classified under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) as temporary, educational internships that emphasize training and career development, and thus no employment relationship exists, nor compensation is required. However, while not considered traditional employment, Fellows receive a living stipend and professional development support throughout the program.

Join the Climate Corps Movement

Climate Corps, a program of SEI, is an award-winning fellowship designed to prepare the next generation of leaders in sustainability and climate action. Our fellows work on cutting-edge sustainability and resiliency projects with local governments, nonprofits, and businesses, building essential skills and creating real-world impact. Since 2010, Climate Corps has empowered over 800 Fellows to work with 500+ partners on 1,350 transformative projects. With nearly 99% of Fellows continuing careers in sustainability, you could be the next environmental leader shaping a better future!

Our Hiring Values

SEI is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to uplifting the experiences, voices, viewpoints, and values of all individuals. We believe that a wide array of perspectives contributes to creative climate solutions where all communities can thrive. We strive for a workforce that reflects the communities we partner with and serve, especially those most impacted by climate change and environmental, social, and economic injustice. We welcome candidates who share SEI’s commitment to cultivating a people-centered work environment. Individuals from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.