Position Summary
This internship provides a hands-on opportunity in water market transactions and finance, ideal for recent graduates or students graduating in 2026 or 2027. We seek candidates interested in water trading, investments, and risk management; backgrounds in agriculture or water management are advantageous. The role offers experience in water resource valuation, financial consulting, and market transaction advisement, working alongside leading experts. WestWater Research often hires interns as full-time professionals post-graduation.
Who We Are
WestWater Research is the leading water market advisory firm that assists clients throughout the United States on water asset transactions, valuation analysis, and financial structuring. Over the past 20+ years, WestWater has become the leading market intelligence and pricing information provider. Our Waterlitix database is now powering Nasdaq’s NQH2O California Water Price Index, the first of its kind. In addition, WestWater is the primary source of deal flow and investment opportunities for capital markets. We offer clients a national practice through a local presence. With offices located in five major water trading regions in the western United States, our team has over fifty years of experience in the water sector, specializing in a variety of water-focused services, including water marketing, regulatory policy, water valuation techniques, financial investments, commodity trading, resource economics and planning. WestWater maintains a comprehensive database of water right transactions in the Western US to assist in water right appraisals. Learn more on our LinkedIn Page.
What You Do
Summer associates will spend three months at a WestWater office in Phoenix, Fort Collins, San Francisco, Sacramento, or Austin conducting research and supporting client projects. Project topics will align with candidates’ interests within WestWater’s consulting practice. Current research priorities include:
- Groundwater management trading platforms
- Geospatial water supply cost databases for agriculture
- Impact investment strategies in environmental water trading
- Analysis of municipal and private bond markets relating to water supply risks
- Agricultural demand management in the Western US
Associates will collaborate with staff under a senior manager’s mentorship, present internal workshops, and prepare written reports summarizing research findings. Typical tasks include data analysis, financial modeling, and preparing executive reports.
What You Have
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Experience in data management and research
- Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative analysis
- Proficiency in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
- Strongly preferred: Graduate degree in relevant fields with excellent academic performance.
- At minimum: Bachelor’s degree in economics, Finance, Business, Engineering, or related fields with excellent academic performance.
Application Procedure
Applicants must submit:
- Resume
- Cover letter detailing interest in water resource finance, goals, and preferred internship location (please rank your choices 1-5 among Fort Collins, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Francisco, or Austin).
- A presentation consisting of 3 slides or fewer (not including title slide) responding to the following prompt:
- You are the water portfolio director for a water utility in a western state (choose one). You need to acquire long-term supplies for your city to support new growth and manage shortfalls in existing supplies. You are considering three options: 1) Investing in a water recycling or desalination project, 2) purchasing a nearby farm and its water rights, or 3) investing in a new surface water storage reservoir. Please answer the following questions:
- What factors (e.g., social, political, financial, risk management) affect your decision?
- How would you evaluate the opportunities?
- What is the final recommendation to your utility board?
- You are the water portfolio director for a water utility in a western state (choose one). You need to acquire long-term supplies for your city to support new growth and manage shortfalls in existing supplies. You are considering three options: 1) Investing in a water recycling or desalination project, 2) purchasing a nearby farm and its water rights, or 3) investing in a new surface water storage reservoir. Please answer the following questions:
Application Deadline: February 28, 2026.
Location and Compensation
- Term: Full time (40 hours/week) three-month internship occurring between June – September, with flexible start and end date.
- Location: Phoenix, Fort Collins, Sacramento, San Francisco, or Austin.
- Compensation: Starting at $22 per hour
- Future Opportunity: Potential for full-time employment and post-internship research scholarship in water marketing.
For questions about the position or application, contact employment@waterexchange.com.