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Environment & Sustainability

, Filed Under: Internship

Spring 2021 Texas Sustainability Internship

About Texas Sustainability

The Campus Sustainability Policy, adopted in April 2008, requires that policies, practices and curricula at The University of Texas at Austin strive to reduce life cycle costs, restore or maintain functioning natural systems, and enhance human well-being.

UT Austin—one of the first public institutions of higher education in Texas to rigorously focus on sustainability—continues to lead among universities by reducing waste, conserving energy and water resources, constructing green buildings and landscapes, and much more.

Sustainability at The University of Texas at Austin is the work of the Office of Sustainability, established in 2009, and numerous campus partners that work in unison to implement the Sustainability Master Plan.

Internship Description

Summary

The Office of Sustainability undergraduate intern will co-lead efforts to gather student feedback on the Sustainability Master Plan update. The Sustainability Master Plan is the university’s guiding document for campus sustainability efforts. The Office of Sustainability endeavors to solicit broad and diverse feedback from students during the planning process and is working to ensure equity is considered throughout the updated Sustainability Master Plan. The Texas Sustainability Intern may also be asked to provide support for other Office of Sustainability programs, events, and initiatives as needed.

Requirements

Must be proactive and self-motivated. Strong verbal communications skills. Comfortable interacting and communicating with students from diverse backgrounds. Enthusiasm and interest in sustainability concepts and applications. Ability to work both independently and as a team. Strong time-management skills. Scheduling availability during typical workday hours (8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) to meet with office staff.

Preferred Skills/Experience

Experience leading focus groups, meetings, or other groups of peers. Basic sustainability knowledge including an understanding of the intersection of environmental and equity issues. Actively involved in the Multicultural Engagement Center or other similar campus organizations or programs.

Specific Job Functions

  • Organize, recruit for, and host focus groups with students from across campus
  • Reach out to and present on the draft Sustainability Master Plan to student organizations
  • Develop and implement other methods for gathering student feedback throughout the Sustainability Master Plan update process
  • Regularly meet with student co-lead, Office of Sustainability staff, and project faculty advisor
  • Assist with other Office of Sustainability initiatives as needed

Pay: $11/hour

Hours: 5-10hrs/week, flexible scheduling but must have some availability during typical work day (M-F, 8a-5p)

Location: Virtual

Start Date/Duration: Start date of Dec. 2020 preferred for initial on-boarding. Must commit through spring semester.

How to Apply

A resume and cover letter must be submitted to apply. Email application materials to Brianna.duran@austin.utexas.edu Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

The UT Office of Sustainability is an Equal Opportunity Employer and strongly encourages members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including BIPOC, LGBTQ identifying people, gender-nonconforming people, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people who speak a language in addition to English.

, Filed Under: Internship

UT Resource Recovery Internship (Spring 21)

About Resource Recovery

Resource Recovery is hiring Zero Waste Student Assistants for the Spring 2021 semester. Resource Recovery is a department within UT Facilities Services which encompasses both Zero Waste and Surplus Property (the Surplus REuse Store posts separately when hiring). 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, recycling, and composting. As a result, we have the opportunity to partner and observe material processes across campus.

Internship Description:

Employer: UT Resource Recovery
Position Title: Resource Recovery Team Member – Zero Waste
Compensation: $11.00/hour
Supervisor’s Name: Lindsey Hutchison, Senior Zero Waste Coordinator
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. Team Members are not expected to have any sustainability background – only interest in learning! As you might imagine, this year our focus and tasks will remain a bit flexible depending on campus COVID conditions. Currently, you will be a lead on a project done remotely and we are working as a team on campus one day every two weeks. Remote intern projects include staff and student outreach development and tracking campus materials and data, including creating material management visualizations/maps and waste data analyses. On campus, we are rolling out our Zero Waste Workplace program in campus office and classroom buildings adhering to all safety recommendations, focusing on converting restrooms to paper towel composting and landfill trash and recycle bin pairing and labeling. Personal protective equipment and COVID-applicable safety training are provided.
The work schedule will vary based on project needs but all efforts will be made to align with student schedules. Team Meetings may occur after 5pm on a weekday. Some weekend activities may be necessary but will be scheduled in advance.
As a result of this experience, you will:
  • Have a greater knowledge of sustainability considerations with regard to waste decrease and diversion
  • Work with a variety of campus entities to achieve project goals
Qualifications:
  • Access to computer and internet in order to work and meet remotely
  • Effective time management and ability to self-motivate and work remotely/independently
  • Familiarity with Microsoft Excel is a plus
  • Interest and/or experience in sustainability and willingness to learn about the inner workings of recycling, solid waste, and surplus
  • Ability to maintain professionalism and represent the department well when communicating with faculty, staff, and students
  • Timely and effective communication
  • Punctual
  • Ability to produce quality work individually and in teams
  • Organized and adaptable

To Apply

Prepare a cover letter and your resume, and apply through their listing on Handshake here!

, Filed Under: Internship

Internships with Project Schoolhouse – Spring 21

About Project Schoolhouse

Project Schoolhouse is an international nonprofit that focuses on education, clean water and sanitation in rural Nicaraguan communities. With an emphasis on community-building and local volunteer participation, Project Schoolhouse partners with recipient communities to build new schools, provide clean water, improve sanitation, and help students continue their educations.

Internship Opportunities

Grant Writer and Research Internship

We are currently seeking an intern at our Austin office to support our Executive Director with researching funding partners and writing grant applications. This internship offers the opportunity to gain solid, professional experience while supporting a local non-profit that is truly changing lives.

What you will learn:

  • How to utilize foundation databases
  • How to write compelling content
  • An overview of the global WASH industry landscape
  • How to manage deadlines and work collaboratively

What you will do:

  • Write and compile materials required for grant applications.
  •  research funders working in areas of WASH & Education who use implementation partners, like OneDrop Foundation, Mona Foundation, Charity:Water to determine process, deadlines and collateral needed for applications.
  • Create a grant deadline calendar for new applications and compliance reporting
  •  Compile compliance reporting for submission on a timely basis

The Ideal Candidate will be:

  • currently enrolled in research and/or writing-intensive educational programs
  • passionate about global health and equal educational opportunities
  • available for a minimum of 5 and up to 10 hours weekly
  • available for the full semester
  • demonstrate ability to write compelling content

This is an unpaid internship with a minimum commitment of 5 hours per week that could be expanded.

Website Development Internship

We are currently seeking an intern at our Austin office to support our Executive Director and Communications Coordinator with building a new website in WordPress with a Gutenberg Editor. This internship offers the opportunity to gain solid, professional experience while supporting a local non- profit that is truly changing lives.

What you will learn:

  • Real world experience in creating a website utilizing WordPress and Gutenberg Editor
  • Storytelling for impact
  • How to work with a team, manage deadlines and work collaboratively

What you will do:

  • Participate in design sessions with the Project Schoolhouse team
  • Create webpages that communicate the vision and work of the team
  • Research and identify ‘best of class’ websites to help guide the design process
  • Incorporate search engine optimization into the website design

The Ideal Candidate will be:

  • currently enrolled in related coursework
  • available for a minimum of 5 and up to 12 hours weekly
  • available for the full semester

This is an unpaid internship with a minimum commitment of 5 hours per week that could be expanded.

We have a strong, dedicated team of UT interns supporting us by writing grants, communications, social media, performing data analysis and on-the-ground in Nicaragua. Join us!

How to Apply

To apply, send a resume and letter of interest to selina@projectschoolhouse.org.