Independent Contractor Environmental Studies Jobs in Riverside, CA

Description
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is seeking to hire a student assistant, in a learning capacity, to work under the close supervision of a Senior Environmental Scientist - Supervisor. In a learning capacity, the student assistant (SA) will assist with and support various staff with technical tasks related to the compliance for California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for transportation projects. The SA is responsible for providing timely and professional assistance to staff within the department by phone, email, and in person. Daily proficient utilization of office equipment and the Microsoft Office Suite software is required. Proficiency with ArcGIS Pro is not required but highly encouraged.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
This is a part-time, temporary, non-benefited, student position. Employment in all positions with University Enterprises, Inc. is dependent upon the mutual consent of University Enterprises, Inc. and the employee. This means that either University Enterprises, Inc. or the employee can, at any time, terminate the employment relationship at will, with or without cause.
Depending on the type of position you are applying for, a pre-employment background check consisting of one or more of the following may be conducted: employment history, professional references, criminal check: educational verification (degree, license, or official transcript) or DMV clearance. Applicants will be required to pass required pre-employment checks to the satisfaction of University Enterprises, Inc. (UEI) and the hiring Agency or Department.
UEI does not allow students to hold more than one UEI Job at a time, or work in more than one account per pay period. UEI employees who are considering leaving their current UEI student assistant position for a different UEI student assistant position should inform their supervisor in writing and provide at least a week's notice.
UEI is not a multi-state employer. UEI only employs candidates who live and work in the state of California. If selected for the position you must reside in California and all work must be performed in the state of California throughout the course of employment.
Prerequisites
Must be a college student attending classes during the regular term (Fall, Spring and Winter, if applicable), at one of the accredited colleges or universities on our affiliation list.
To view our current affiliation list please paste the following URL into your browser: http://www.calinterns.org/wp-content/uploads/Affiliation_List.pdf
Students must be enrolled in at least six-semester units or nine quarter units for undergraduate students; four-semester units or six quarter units for graduate students.
Students declared major must match the major(s) listed in the job posting.
Majors/Fields of Study
Environmental Science, Geography or any related field.
Work Schedule
Flexible workdays and work hours, Monday - Friday, between 8 AM - 5 PM. The final work schedule will be determined by the supervisor.
Additional Work Schedule
Student Assistant and Graduate Assistant employees generally work up to 24 hours per workweek (Sunday - Saturday) during the academic year and up to 40 hours per workweek during breaks; (winter, spring, summer).
Compensation
$18.27 - $24.62 per hour.
Minimum Qualifications

• Must maintain a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA.
• Must complete each term with minimum unit requirements for Undergraduate and Graduate student classifications. Proof will be collected at the end of each Spring and Fall term.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to research, gather, and organize information.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint).
• Ability to manage multiple assignments and meet deadlines.
• Willingness to learn and support environmental planning and project development activities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Under the amendment to Government Code Section 18220, state agencies shall give preference to a qualified applicant (up to 26 years of age) who is, or has been, a dependent child in foster care, a homeless youth, a formerly incarcerated youth, or a victim of human trafficking.

Duties and Responsibilities

• In a learning capacity, the student assistant will assist with and support various staff with technical tasks related to the compliance for CEQA and NEPA for transportation projects.
• In a learning capacity, the student assistant will assist Caltrans staff with daily tasks including but not limited to document reviews, distributing emails, digital map creation, and data entry.
• In a learning capacity, the student assistant will assist Caltrans staff within the department by phone, email, or in person.
• In a learning capacity, the student assistant will assist through the proficient utilization of office equipment and the Microsoft Office suite software.

Physical Requirements
Sit for extended periods; frequently stand and walk; manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination; corrected hearing and vision to normal range; verbal communication; use of office equipment including computer workstations, telephones, calculators, copiers, printers and scanners with or without a reasonable accommodation.
Working Conditions
Work is performed in an office environment.
Application Instructions
Please complete all fields of the employment application. Include your educational history in the "Educational Experience" section and any employment history in the "Employment Experience" section of our application.
In addition to your resume, please upload your most recent transcripts.
Apply by: July 30, 2026