
Calling all students pursuing a trade or attending a university in the PNW region! This event is for you!
NWHA’s Annual Conference – NORTHWEST HYDROELECTRIC ASSOCIATION
Click here to check out event details!
Click here for the Hiring for Hydro™ Agenda!
Student Testimonials
“While at the event, I learned about how hydropower positively impacts our communities. I also learned about the role of engineers in hydropower, the types of problems engineers work on, and the values hydropower companies hold highest. The environment of hydropower was attractive to me and something that I would be very interested in being involved with in the future.“
Alex Junge, Civil/Energy Engineer WSP
“Thank you! Again, I really want to express how grateful I am for the Hydro Foundation and how Hiring for Hydro™ helped me get introduced to working in hydro. Keep up the good work!”
– Annika Kallstrom, Business Technology Analyst, Chelan County PUD
“Being able to further explore the hydropower industry and receive feedback on my senior hydropower project is what drove me to participate in the event. But as I listened to the Hydro 101 session and listened to the spokespeople for PG&E and SMUD, I was more than glad to be able to attend. Their presentations alone were welcoming, motivating me to consider going into hydropower for my career!”
-Julian Medrano, Electrical Engineer – California State University-Sacramento – Participant of Hiring for Hydro 2022 in Sacramento, CA
About Hiring for Hydro™ + Event Details

- The Original Renewable Energy is Creating Jobs!
Technological advances and the need to grow our renewable resources are helping the industry grow. However, an aging workforce means there are tremendous career opportunities across the entire hydropower spectrum. The Hydropower Foundation established the event to address the industry’s hiring needs, build academic interest at the college level and create a strong conduit between the hydro industry and regional schools.
Click here to read more about Hiring for Hydro’s history.
- When? February 22, 2023, 9:00 am – 4:30 pm
- What is it?
- Students participate in a jam-packed day that includes an opening introduction to hydropower (Hydro-101); a focused resume-building activity; an opportunity to learn about hydropower careers directly from industry organizations, and most importantly, the chance to meet and network with hydropower industry professionals and potential employers.
The program is working, and students are getting hired! Are you next?
- Students participate in a jam-packed day that includes an opening introduction to hydropower (Hydro-101); a focused resume-building activity; an opportunity to learn about hydropower careers directly from industry organizations, and most importantly, the chance to meet and network with hydropower industry professionals and potential employers.
- Who should attend Hiring for Hydro?
- The Hydropower Foundation is seeking students or recent graduates interested in a potential career in hydropower or a related field.
- Have you taken coursework related to energy, environmental sciences, water resources, or engineering?
- Are you looking for job opportunities in the crafts and trade profession, including welding, machining, operations, power electronics, and mechanical/electrical disciplines?
- If you answer yes to either question, you are an ideal candidate to attend.
- How much does it cost to participate?
- This is a free event and includes a complimentary lunch provided by NWHA; registration is required.
- Financial assistance will be considered for students traveling more than 3 hours to the event.
- How do students participate?
- To register, students will complete the registration form and share a cover letter for why they are interested in a career in hydropower and a resume.
- When should students register?
- Deadline to register and receive a complimentary resume review – January 27, 2023
- Deadline to register to participate – February 15, 2023
- Questions?
- Contact Bree Mendlin at Bree@hydrofoundation.org
Hiring for Hydro™ Agenda
Agenda is subject to change
9:00 am – 10:00 am – Why Hydro?
10:00 am – 11:00 am – Hiring for Hydro Workshop and Hydro 101
11:00 am – 12:00 pm – Career Opportunities: Federal, Private & Consulting
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm – Complimentary Industry Networking Lunch
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm – Hydro Resource Center – Elevator Speech, Interview Tips, and Networking 101
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm – Hiring for Hydro Career Fair
4:30 pm – Thank you and Keep in touch!









HIRING COMPANIES

Canyon Hydro
Chelan County PUD
Grant County PUD
JR Merit
Kleinschmidt
McMillen
Mesa Associates
Northwest Energy
Northwest Hydroelectric Association
RIE Consultants
Rye Development
Tacoma Power
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
AND MORE!!!
SPONSORS
Thank you to our Exclusive Member Association Sponsor, Northwest Hydro Electric Association, and our Workforce Partner, the Bureau of Reclamation, for their Sponsorship of the 2024 Hiring for Hydro Event.


Become a sponsor: Sponsors who are NWHA members receive a complimentary table at the career fair, a copy of the student resume book, and networking opportunities with students and attendees. Table Sponsorships are available until sold out. Non-NWHA members can register to sponsor a table for $1000.00 until sold out. Can’t attend NHWA’s conference or the Hiring for Hydro™ event but still want a resume book and to network with participating students? Purchase the $500 sponsorship, which provides you with your company’s logo on all event promotional materials, access to the student resume book, and the opportunity to share your jobs/internships with participating students.
You can purchase sponsorships when registering for the NWHA Annual Conference or by clicking below.
Hiring for Hydro™ History
- Recent surveys predict up to 700,000 new well-paying jobs will need to be filled by 2025. Produced by the Hydropower Foundation, Hiring for Hydro™ brings together students from colleges throughout the region to participate in an educational workshop focused on career opportunities in hydropower, followed by a unique recruiting session.
- Since its inception in 2017, Hiring for Hydro™ has reached over 200 students from over 14 colleges in the Pacific Northwest who have participated in an educational workshop about careers in hydropower and recruiting sessions.
- Hiring for Hydro™ is a one-day event co-located alongside an industry conference. It has traditionally been held at the Northwest Hydro Electric Association’s annual meeting and continues to expand to other regions.
- For more information on employment in hydro, check out the STEM for Hydropower Portal and this article Confronting the Challenge of the Silver Tsunami.