Community Sampling Coordinator

Position Type: Part-time temporary employee, non-exempt, hourly basisLocation: Chicago-based employee. You must be able to work in the United States asCurrent does not yet have visa sponsoring capabilities.Reports to: Technical Program Director & Technical Program ManagerCompensation: $25-$28 per hour depending on experience, plus paid leave and paidsick leave accrualEmployment term: Temporary position starting May 4th, 2026 and ending July 31st,2026, with the possibility to extend.Weekly Hours: Up to 30 hours per week; must be available to work in person, Mondaythrough Thursday from approximately 9am-2pmTo apply: Complete our online application form available by Friday, March27th: https://currentwater.org/about-us/#careersDESCRIPTIONCurrent is seeking a part-time Community Sampling Coordinator to support our sampling team's efforts in Chicago. This temporary role, effective from May 4th, 2026, involves field sampling activities, including driving to sampling sites, collecting wastewater and river water samples, and ensuring appropriate handling and storage of the samples during transportation. The coordinator will work closely with the Technical Program Director, Technical Program Manager, and other Sampling Coordinators to achieve project objectives.As a collaborative organization, we work with a wide range of impact-oriented practitioners. We need a team player who relishes the challenges of working across technical domains, sectors, and issues.RESPONSIBILITIESLearn and execute sampling protocols for the Wastewater Based Epidemiology (WBE) program, which includes working in a two-person team, driving to designated sampling sites throughout Chicago, opening sewer manholes, and collecting wastewater samples.Learn and execute sampling protocols for H2NOW Chicago, a real-time microbial water quality monitoring program, which includes working in a two-person team, driving to designated river monitoring locations along the Chicago and Calumet Rivers, operating a grab sample apparatus, and collecting river water samples from a bridge or riverbank.Ensure adherence to all quality control, quality assurance, and safety procedures are followed by the entire team.Work closely with the Technical Program Director, Technical Program Manager, and other Sampling Coordinators to set and adjust sampling objectives and schedule as needed. Participate in weekly project planning and staff meetings, both in-person and remote, to strategize and troubleshoot potential issues.Work with Current's partners to facilitate equipment installation and/or replacement for both the WBE and H2NOW programs.Identify and address any issues that may arise during sampling activities, demonstrating quick thinking and effective problem-solving skills. Collaborate with team members to resolve challenges and maintain project efficiency.As needed, assist with the setup of educational programming activities and ensure seamless integration of any sampling equipment needed for demonstrations.Support Current's Workforce Development Director in workforce training and development initiatives. Assist in the implementation of training pathways for team members to enhance their skills and knowledge in environmental sampling procedures.As needed, collaborate with other team members to support Current’s initiatives in workforce development, research, translation, and ecosystem services.QUALIFICATIONSHigh school graduate or equivalent (GED) Some level of professional training comparable to an associate degree and/or sufficient work experience.Valid driver's license with a clean driving record.An interest in public health, environmental protection, and public-interest technology is abonus.SKILLSAbility to drive an 18 ft, fully electric passenger van.Ability to lift weights exceeding 50 lbs.Comfortable handling sewage with appropriate safety measures.Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.Familiarity with safety protocols and procedures is preferred.Ability to install and use various apps on your phone such as Google Maps and Slack.Proficiency in using Google calendar and basic understanding of Excel is a bonus.BENEFITS OF THE ROLECollaboration with renowned institutions and experts in the field.Competitive hourly compensation with paid-time off and paid sick leave accrual.Paid professional development and training opportunities.WHO WE ARECurrent is a water innovation hub working to grow a circular blue economy, accelerate water innovation, and solve pressing water challenges. Chicago is our freshwater home but our cross-sector partnerships stretch across Illinois, the Great Lakes region, and the world. We want to export our home-grown solutions to help solve the world’s water challenges and bring the best ideas from around the world to solve ours.In early 2024, Current led the successful launch of Great Lakes RENEW, a regional, cross-sector coalition that was announced as one of nine inaugural National Science Foundation (NSF) Regional Innovation Engines nationwide. Great Lakes RENEW (Recovery of Energy, Nutrients, critical Elements, and Water) is addressing a critical challenge: conventional wastewater treatment systems weren’t designed to recover valuable resources or remove dangerous contaminants from our water. To solve this challenge, RENEW is leading the transition to a circular blue economy by driving innovation, economic growth, and workforce development in the Great Lakes region.What do Current’s team members love about working at Current? Working on high-impact projects and knowing that our work is contributing solutions to major environmental and economic challenges Opportunities to connect with high-level leaders across multiple industries. Valuable network building and learning Collaborating with others who share a passion for water, the environment, and creating economic opportunity Flexible working hours and environment and respect for life-work balance A culture that is open, collaborative, collegial, and committed to continous improvement The startup energy of our organization, fluid and dynamic and evolving with significant opportunity to advance and grow from within.OUR VALUESOur values build the foundation of our organizational culture; our values ground and support us and our efforts to deliver on Current’s mission. Collaboration. Current knows that reaching consensus and building trust are key aspects of maintaining and improving our access to clean water. This requires diplomacy and communication to gain the needed insights from a wide variety of project partners. Our work is powered by partnerships. Collaboration begins with listening and setting tables where diverse views, perspectives, and needs can be shared safely in the spirit of developing common solutions.Creativity and Innovation. Creativity and innovation require environments where diverse perspectives and ideas can be freely shared and debated. Everyone on our team should feel the freedom to question, to learn, to experiment, and to fail.Inclusion. To solve persistent water challenges and build a stronger blue economy, we need diverse perspectives on both problems and solutions. We value diversity in our team and among our partners, at our tables and in our audiences. We strive to ensure that our work benefits our community.Expertise: Current maintains a sophisticated understanding of the state of the art in water technology. This field of study changes every day, requiring both deep knowledge and a willingness to adjust our understanding based on new discoveries.Independence: Current is a nonprofit that is not beholden to any stakeholders but rather has established a mission of advocating for sustainable water solutions that help the public at large.Justice. We acknowledge that justice – racial justice, social justice, economic justice, gender justice – is fundamental to our work of building a healthier economy and environment. We aim to identify the injustices that create barriers to our work, and to make diligent strides to remedy them.Risk-seeking: Current is not an advocate for the status quo. It’s an advocate for the wise use of water to sustain the Earth’s population — a mission that requires us to think big and act aggressively to see what works and what doesn’t. If we’re waiting for guarantees that a new approach will work, we’ll never try anything different. Rational risk-taking is part of our ethos.Sustainability. Through our work and in our daily practices, we strive to conserve and reuse our natural resources, to meet present needs with minimal cost to future generations.Learn more about Current: currentwater.org