Development programs
Employee development programs
Apprenticeships
Avista offers a variety of active apprenticeship programs to provide participants an opportunity to advance within their field. Apprenticeships combines classroom studies with on-the-job training from experienced mentors.
To help prepare for apprenticeship, check our careers page for the availability of the following temporary jobs:
- Helper - Electrical or mechanical structural
- Temporary groundman
- Gas crewman
- Pre-apprentice operator
- Tech assistant
- Residential meter utility worker
Aspiring Leaders Program
The Aspiring Leaders Program helps prepare employees for future leadership roles over the course of one year. Aspiring Leaders gain a better perspective of our business by working with an assigned mentor and rotating through five areas of the organization. In addition, they participate in a group project, coursework, reading assignments and discussion groups. Participants commit approximately 25 percent of their work time to the leadership program.
Engineering development program
Avista offers qualified entry-level engineers the opportunity to rotate throughout the company's many areas of engineering to expand their understanding of the energy business and gain valuable work experience.
Student development programs
Energy Pathways
Energy Pathways is a four-week self-discovery program for high school juniors and seniors that lets local students experience the energy delivery business firsthand with facility tours, hands-on activities, job shadowing, and more. Students interested in participating should contact us for more info.
Student engineering development program
College students can spend the summer working at Avista where they participate in meaningful projects, real-world experience, focused mentorship, and prepare for the next steps in their career. The time frame for recruiting engineering students is typically in December and January for the upcoming summer. Engineering student applicants should check for job posting on our careers page.
Student employment programs
Avista’s student employment program is for undergraduate students ages 18 and over who are enrolled full time in a college or university. These positions offer a variety of opportunities for students to enhance their field of study and to gain valuable work experience, critical to their future success in the job market. The majority of student jobs are available in the summer in Spokane, Washington and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The types and number of student jobs will vary from year-to-year. They most often include engineering, meter readers, technical and support positions.
Applications for student employment are typically accepted between January and May. As summer employment jobs become available they will be posted on our careers page.
Utility construction pre-apprentice program
Avista and Spokane Community College have formed a unique partnership with the goal of introducing people to the demanding fields of line and gas work. This introductory course is open to individuals interested in entry level positions leading to careers in line and gas crafts, as well as preparation for other field/technical careers.
Through classroom and field training, participants will be introduced to a variety of knowledge and skills which are essential to the trade. Read more about the program.
Scholarship programs
Avista offers a variety of scholarships at select colleges and universities across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. To learn more, visit Avista Scholars.
Other community career programs
Support of veterans-to-work initiatives
Avista grants military absence and military time off without a break in service time or benefits. In addition, we work
with local organizations like Eastern Washington University Veterans Resources Center to identify opportunities to support veterans-to-work initiatives.Hands-on activity events promoting construction trades to young women
Avista is currently a proud supporter of Pizza, Pop, and Power Tools, a program hosted by Eastern Washington Apprenticeship Coordinators Council and Spokane Community College's Apprenticeship and Journeyman Training Center. This event gives about 200 eighth-grade girls the chance to do hands-on activities that introduce them to a wide array of job opportunities in the construction trades.
STEM program support
Avista supports Spokane STEM to provide experiences and services to increase the number of students pursuing and achieving success in STEM competencies for future careers.