Sustainability and Energy Intern

TEAM DESCRIPTION: The Office of Sustainability was established in 2006 as part of the City Manager’s Office at the direction of City Council. The Office guides the city’s efforts to make our community a better place to live. The Office of Sustainability engages City leadership and collaborates across City departments and with the community to implement climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives, supports the Resilient Community Advisory Commission and facilitates other community-led sustainability projects. The Sustainability Intern will be part of the City Manager’s Office and will work closely with the Director of Sustainability, the Climate Action Coordinator, as well as other departments and residents.  

JOB DUTIES:  

The intern will support the City’s sustainability, energy management, and building operations initiatives while gaining practical experience in data management, field research, analysis, and cross-departmental collaboration within a local government environment.

• Assist with collecting, organizing, maintaining, and verifying energy, utility, building, and facility data.
• Enter and update information in databases, spreadsheets, energy management platforms, and other data management systems.
• Research and maintain information related to municipal buildings, including building characteristics, systems, occupancy, operating conditions, and other facility information.
• Review existing records and identify missing, outdated, or inconsistent information.
• Communicate with City departments, facility managers, administrative staff, and other employees to gather and verify information.
• Conduct site visits to municipal facilities to collect and verify building and facility information.
• Perform basic visual observations of building systems, equipment, and facility characteristics.
• Document field observations using spreadsheets, forms, photographs, or other approved data collection tools.
• Compare information collected in the field with existing records and identify discrepancies or information requiring follow-up.
• Assist with analyzing energy use, utility consumption, building performance, and other facility-related data.
• Assist with benchmarking and tracking energy and building performance over time.
• Identify trends, unusual changes, or other information that may warrant additional review.
• Prepare basic tables, charts, summaries, reports, presentations, and other materials to communicate findings.
• Assist with research and evaluation of sustainability, energy efficiency, building operations, and related initiatives.
• Support the identification and evaluation of potential energy efficiency and sustainability opportunities.
• Maintain organized records, documentation, and tracking systems related to assigned projects and activities.
• Coordinate and follow up on information requests and outstanding data needs in a professional and organized manner.
• Work collaboratively with City staff and other stakeholders on sustainability, energy management, building operations, and related projects.
• Assist with special projects, research, presentations, reports, and informational materials.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
  
  

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: 

• Computer Skills: Skill in computer technology, including Microsoft Office and Google products. 

• Dependability & Reliability: Detail-oriented and able to accurately meet and communicate about deadlines, organized, analytical and highly motivated. 

• Administrative Skill: Commitment to provide high-level administrative support in a fast-paced environment. 

• Interpersonal Skills: Diplomatic, comfortable interacting with commissioners, city staff and residents 

• Mission Driven: Mission-driven with a passion for fostering social, economic, or environmental change. 

• Sustainability: Interest in sustainability in local government  

• Initiative: Ability to work independently with initiative 

• Writing Expression and Speech Clarity: Strong oral and written communication skills. 

• Critical Thinking and Complex Problem Solving: Ability to quickly learn organizational policies, procedures and structures that influence the decision-making process; proactively able to identify potential issues and brainstorm solutions.  

• Judgment and Decision Making: Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one. 

• Deductive and Inductive Reasoning: Using rules to solve problems, making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information. 
  
  
  

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  

• Current college or university student pursuing a degree n sustainability, environmental science, environmental studies, energy, engineering, architecture, building science, data analytics, or related field. 

• Experience with Microsoft Excel, spreadsheets, databases, or data analysis. 

• Interest in energy efficiency, climate action, sustainable buildings, or municipal operations.