Sustainability Intern

Position Closes on Monday, February 5th at 11:59pm

The Town of Erie is currently hiring for a Sustainability Intern to join the team! This is a high priority role and great opportunity to be a part of increasing the sustainability efforts and improve the livelihood of Erie residents. Each internship within the town is unique, intersecting where the individual’s interests and the Town’s priorities and needs meet.  The projects the Sustainability Intern will be responsible for will include but are not limited to:  

• Update Erie’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory for 2023  

• Support current Sustainability Division programming including rebate programs, zero waste efforts and internal and external stakeholder collaboration  

• Identify opportunities and support projects that align with the goals of the Town set forth in the 2019 Sustainability Master Plan, Energy and Water Conservation plan and Sustainability Division overall  

• Research and gather data to apply for available state and federal grants that would support the Town’s mission to increase sustainability  

• Participate in the update of Erie’s Sustainability Plan and Climate Action Plan.   

This internship is expected to start mid-March through May, with a possibility of an extension.  

Our Culture: The Town of Erie is a municipality comprised of over 30,000 people and is one of the quickest growing towns in Colorado. It is located between Denver and Boulder and offers great amenities and quality of life. The intern would be working with the Sustainability Division (along with collaborating with other departments) to advance the Town’s sustainability efforts. The elected Town Council and Erie residents have continuously identified sustainability and economic development as a high priority and have appropriated funds and resources to support the objectives. 

Required Qualifications: 

• Currently enrolled in a Masters program focused on environment and sustainability  
• Professional work/internship experience working with data analysis and tracking 
• Experience within the sustainability field 

Desired Qualifications: 

• Currently enrolled in the Masters of the Environment Program at the University of Colorado Boulder 
• Professional experience collaborating with multiple stakeholders to implement projects 
• Strong communication, community engagement and marketing skills  
• Strong computer skills including preparation of written materials, developing presentations, and operating Microsoft software platforms such as Office, Excel, Word and others.   
• Experience in data research and analysis 
• Creative problem solver 
• Experience supporting municipal sustainability projects including community engagement and education  
• Experience grant writing 
• Knowledge and understanding of government sustainability initiatives 

Environmental Factors: While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to sit for extended periods of time which may total 80-90% of the time worked on a typical work day. The additional 10-20% of time will be spent standing and/or walking.  Time spent performing repetitive tasks such as typing on a computer/keyboard will also account for approximately 80-90% of the time worked.  The employee will be required to bend, kneel, stoop, grasp, lift, push and pull objects weighing up to 30 pounds when helping with special events.  For average workdays, these activities will not be required or will be required rarely, however when helping with special events, they may be required up to 50 times in an hour so there is great variability in the frequency of these movements depending on the activities for the day. Reaching for objects weighing up to 30 pounds above and below the shoulders and knees will also be required when working events. 

Physical Factors: Work will be performed indoors in a general office environment. Occasional tasks will take place outdoors in safe weather conditions. When assisting at the Recycling center, the employee may have to work with electrical equipment and hand tools. Tasks require the frequent use of color discrimination, peripheral vision, near and far visual acuity. Computer use and communication will be frequent and the ability to be able to communicate with and collaborate with team members is required. The employee will occasionally be required to travel on uneven surfaces. Traveling between various Town facilities will be required for in-person meetings. 

EEOC: The Town is dedicated to the principles of equal employment opportunity in any term, condition or privilege of employment. Applicants, employees and former employees are protected from employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age (40 or older), disability and genetic information (including family medical history), veteran status, marital status or any other status protected by federal, state or local law.  This prohibition includes unlawful harassment or discrimination based on any of these protected classes.  Unlawful harassment includes verbal or physical conduct, which has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual’s work performance or creating a severe, intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment. This provision applies to all employees, including directors, supervisors, co-workers, and non-employees such as residents, members of all boards and task force groups, contractors, vendors, consultants, etc.