Physical Plant Sustainability Internship

• CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click "Apply" and complete the application process for external applicants.

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.

POSITION SPECIFICS

Sustainability in Office of Physical Plant Internship Positions

Penn State's Office of Physical Plant is seeking several motivated student interns to contribute to ongoing sustainability efforts in Penn State's operations. If you are interested in engaging people around sustainability, reducing waste on campus and at athletics events, increasing energy efficiency, or tracking sustainability-related data, please apply! The successful candidates will be organized and will work collaboratively with multiple stakeholders. They will be interested in sustainability within the constraints of maintaining operational and financial stability; a team player; organized, dependable, and comfortable speaking to and networking with campus groups; have a GPA above 3.0; a quick learner and be able to work proactively and independently. Excellent oral and written communication skills are required.

During the fall and spring semesters, interns may work up to 20 hours a week. During the summer, interns are expected to work 35-40 hours a week. Compensation is $16 per hour for undergraduates and $17 per hour for graduate students.

This job may require that you operate a motor vehicle as a part of your job duties. A valid US driver's license and successful completion of a motor vehicle records check may be required in addition to standard background checks. Some internships in this program may require US Citizenship.

To apply:Interested candidates are required to submit a cover letter and resume. Cover letter should include a reference to one or more of the positions listed below. Review of candidates will take place weekly and continue until the positions are filled.

Questions: Contact OPP Intern Committee at OPPInternCommittee@psu.edu

Sustainability Positions Available:

Sustainability in the Workplace Intern: This role will support campus-wide sustainability education and engagement initiatives through program development, outreach, and strategic projects. Key responsibilities include assisting with the Sustainable Labs Program, Green Paws Program and other employee training, peer engagement opportunities for staff, and the university-wide Sustainability Employee Resource Group. The intern will help create educational resources, track impact, research best practices at other institutions, and integrate global sustainability goals into Penn State's professional development efforts. This role provides hands-on experience in sustainability strategy, program implementation, and community engagement within a large university setting.

Sustainability Data Intern: This role will support sustainability-related data collection, analysis and reporting. Responsibilities include tracking and documenting carbon emissions, purchasing, water, waste, travel, fleet, procurement, and energy use data; updating public-facing Power BI dashboards; identifying, collecting, analyzing and reporting data for internal and external assessments of sustainability performance; and recommending strategies for data collection and analysis processes. Work for this position will take place remotely with required virtual and in-person meetings. Hands-on experience will be gained in sustainability data collection, reporting, and analysis as well as strategy for community engagement around that data.

Energy Savings Intern: This role will be focused on identifying and tracking energy savings initiatives with a particular focus on energy savings generated from the Sustainable Lab Program. Responsibilities include coordinating with staff and other interns to prioritize energy efficiency investments and outreach; maintaining and reporting data; recommending strategies for energy efficiency investments; tracking and documenting investments and impacts and developing outreach and education materials. Most work for this position will take place remotely with required virtual and in-person meetings. This position will give hands-on experience in analyzing building and equipment energy savings; calculating and prioritizing energy savings investments; and collecting and sharing energy-related data with building occupants.

Waste Reduction and Recycling Intern: This Pepsi-sponsored position supports waste reduction and recycling efforts for the university community in partnership with the Athletics Sustainability Engagement Intern. Key responsibilities will include developing and implementing strategies to improve waste reduction, increase waste diversion from the landfill, increase recycling participation and reduce recycling contamination. This will include creating educational materials for campus stakeholders; generating and implementing weekend football programs; engaging with the campus community through tabling, events and classroom presentations; conducting building waste station audits; and engaging with commonwealth campus recycling efforts. The hands-on experience will build skills in community engagement, event coordination, marketing for behavior change, and data-driven decision-making.

Athletics Sustainability Engagement Intern: This Pepsi-sponsored position is focused on large event sustainability, especially football and other athletics events in partnership with the Waste Reduction & Recycling Intern. The intern will continue building the momentum of the Tailgate Ambassadors program to educate and engage tailgating fans to reduce waste and recycle more. Key responsibilities include selecting and training Tailgate Ambassadors, planning and coordinating gameday Tailgate Ambassador activities and recycling shakers in the stadium, collecting and analyzing athletics-related sustainability data, creating resources for educating about and marketing sustainability, and assisting with public programming as needed. The hands-on experience will build skills in community engagement, event and personnel coordination, marketing for behavior change, and data-driven decision-making.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.

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