Role Description
Supervisor’s Name: Morgan Laner, Zero Waste Program Coordinator
To Apply: Submit resume & cover letter (as PDFs) specifying semester or year-long desired employment and project team(s) of interest
Description:
Resource Recovery is a department within UT Facilities Services that encompasses both Zero Waste and Surplus Property. Resource Recovery is tasked with improving sustainability at UT, specifically with regards to reaching our Zero Waste goal to divert 90% of all materials from the landfill. Major diversion strategies include source reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting.
You would be a member of Resource Recovery’s Student Internship Program. All of our student interns meet weekly as a team to share and learn and create synergy across our work. In addition to assisting with outreach and education events, each Team Member will participate in hands-on waste audits, gaining opportunity to assess campus buildings’ trash and recycling to identify opportunities to improve outreach and education programming. Additionally, Team Members will join a specific Project Team within Resource Recovery’s umbrella of work. See what our project teams have been up to on our Instagram (@utzerowaste). Team members are not expected to have any sustainability background – only interest in learning!
Potential Project Teams for 2022-2023 include:
- Zero Waste Workplace: Learn best practices behind implementing successful behavior-change programs, modify infrastructure, and work with building occupants to achieve zero waste goals. Assist with the rollout of composting collection programs.
- Zero Waste Events: Learn best practices and develop resources for reducing the amount of trash created at campus events. Consult with faculty or staff event planners before the event to provide guidance and attend events to provide support.
- Social Media & Outreach: Learn best practices in community engagement by planning outreach events, developing content for Resource Recovery’s Instagram and Facebook accounts, and supporting our Zero Waste Hero certification program.
Typical employment term is the academic year (fall and spring) although single semester opportunities are available. The work schedule will vary based on Project Team, but all efforts will be made to align with student schedules. Team Meetings may occur after 5pm on a weekday and some weekend activities may be necessary but will be scheduled in advance. Projects and meetings are a combination of on-campus and remote work. Interns are expected to work approximately 10 hours/week.
Qualifications:
- Interest and/or experience in sustainability and willingness to learn about the inner workings of recycling, composting, solid waste, and surplus
- Ability to maintain professionalism and represent the department well when communicating with faculty, staff, and students
- Comfortable with independent work
- Timely and effective communicator
- Punctual
- Ability to collaborate with small teams to produce quality work
- Organized and adaptable
- Must be able to lift 50 pounds and be comfortable working outdoors and in crowds
Learning Outcomes & Career-Readiness Competencies:
- Have a greater knowledge of sustainability considerations with regard to waste decrease and diversion
- Practice project management activities including planning, coordination, and implementation
- Enhance collaboration skills with other team members
- Work with a variety of campus entities to achieve project goals
- Engage and educate peers and staff to motivate behavior change, such as proper recycling techniques
- Improve professional communication skills, including Office365 email and calendar management
- Experience and strengthen oral communication skills through tasks such as giving trainings, presentations, and consultations
To Apply
Please visit the job posting on Handshake by May 31st to apply.
