Workforce Development

Fresh Coast Works - Career Awareness and Assistance

Regionally, there are approximately 1,400 annual job openings in the water sector. Because the water sector has unique careers, MMSD, with funding from the Department of Labor, is developing career maps and videos of those currently working in the water career. A career navigator at Employ Milwaukee, MMSD’s workforce partner, will help interested career seekers connect to education, training, and employment in the water industry.

Interested career seekers can also participate in a paid work experience. One program by Milwaukee Community Services Corp is a paid work experience focused on land stewardship, green infrastructure installation, and forestry.  The other is On-the-Job Training (OJT), which works with water sector employers who need to train new employees. Please find more information below on additional paid work experiences that MMSD and other partners offer listed below.

If you are interested in learning more, please contact the water sector career navigator with Employ Milwaukee. The career navigator will contact you so you can learn more about career opportunities and related training and educational career programs. 

MMSD Internships

MMSD’s internship program has been in existence for over 25 years. Our goal of the MMSD internship program is to grow awareness of opportunities with MMSD and careers in water-related industries. Exposing students to a hands-on learning experience helps inspire and educate students about future water-related careers. 

MMSD’s intern program operates year-round with the majority of students hired for a summer experience. On average, MMSD hires 30 interns and co-op students for a summer term. The summer intern application period opens in January and closes in February each year. Students can expect a paid work experience in areas such as Water Quality Protection, Laboratory Services, Engineering, Construction, and Sustainability.  To complement the hands-on experience, we offer students activities such as a touring Jones Island and South Shore water reclamation facilities, Green Infrastructure tour, Pelagos Boat Tour, attendance at a Commission Meeting as well as an end of the summer gathering. 

Fresh Coast Ambassador Program

The Fresh Coast Ambassador Program and the collaboration between Cream City Conservation and several local partners, including the Milwaukee County Parks and MMSD’s Fresh Coast Guardians program, is a great example of a high school work experience on green infrastructure.  Cream City Conservation and local partners connect young people to paid work experiences while providing career planning, support services, and culturally competent, social, and emotional learning to ensure the young person can thrive and grow in the program.

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For a summary of MMSD's Workforce Programs.

Milwaukee Water Equity Task Force

The Milwaukee Water Equity Taskforce was convened to explore pathways to a more equitable water future and inclusive workforce in Milwaukee. Its members represent a range of stakeholder interests—utilities, nonprofits, neighborhood associations, workforce development organizations, and educational institutions. The Milwaukee Water Equity Taskforce recommends a call for stronger collaboration among all those in Milwaukee’s water sector and meaningful changes to workplace culture, policies, and practices. The Taskforce believes that advancing these recommendations will help ensure that the economic, environmental, and social benefits resulting from community investments in water are more equitably shared by all. 

Workforce equity requires aligned initiatives and partners to develop a robust talent pipeline from underserved communities. It is critical to increase awareness at the youngest ages through water-related education about how water and wastewater systems play a role in public health and protecting and improving the environment. In so doing we can tell a compelling story about the numerous opportunities for a successful career in the water sector. MMSD is working with a broad array of partners at various levels to spur a more equitable water future for Milwaukee.