JOB DESCRIPTION: Environmental Sustainability Intern

Temporary Position

Reports to: Executive Director

Job Overview: 

The Environmental Sustainability Intern supports an impactful climate change mitigation project under a Transform Howard Innovation Grant.  Over the next year, this project will aid EcoWorks in optimizing the addition of climate change mitigation to its existing stormwater mitigation and workforce development efforts. We believe that we can pave the way for the next generation of green jobs programming that will implicitly need to address climate while simultaneously addressing water pollution.  In addition, EcoWorks will use the project to determine the company’s own carbon footprint and the carbon offsets associated with its environmental restoration activities, both as is and as proposed with the full utilization of biochar.

The Environmental Sustainability Intern will conduct research to estimate the carbon footprint of EcoWorks’ operations and restoration activities. The effort will specifically target the following best management practice installations: rain gardens, conservation landscapes, tree planting and woodland restoration.   The Environmental Sustainability intern will utilize existing data and conduct research to identify the nutrient and sediment removal efficiencies of these same practices. The research and analysis will include comparisons of pollutant removal efficiencies and carbon footprint with and without biochar and using kiln-produce biochar vs commercial biochar.  An in-field research component is included in the overall project and will be run by the University of Delaware (UD). This data will not be available for integration until after the internship ends however, the Environmental Sustainability Intern will provide support to UD for this portion of the project.  The Environmental Sustainability intern will also support the communication and outreach components of the project.

Responsibilities & Duties:

  • Conduct research and synthesize data as described above

  • Model EcoWorks operational carbon footprint and restoration activities as described above

  • Support field trials of biochar research and support coordination of activities  with UD

  • Support communication and outreach efforts related to the project including drafting blogs, developing social media content, and supporting a public biochar burn

  • Deliverables of the internship include:

    • The annual estimated carbon footprint of Howard EcoWorks operations

    • Carbon footprint modeling of four best management practices – rain gardens, conservation landscapes, tree planting and woodland restoration – with kiln-produced biochar, commercial biochar, and no biochar at all;

    • A white paper summarizing results of the above bullets

    • Two blogs and three pieces of social media content communicating the project, processes, and results

 

Qualifications:

  • An under-graduate or graduate degree in environmental science, restoration, and/or conservation or pursuing a degree in these fields

  • Proficiency with office software such as Google Suite, Microsoft Office, Adobe Suite, Excel, and email

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills

  • Ability to conduct research and synthesize data

  • Ability to communicate complicated information to a lay audience

  • Passion for environmental conservation and restoration and climate mitigation

  • Self-starter and able to work independently

  • Organized with attention to detail

  • Graphic design skills

  • Valid driver’s license

 

Hours and Compensation:

  • A stipend of $4,200 based on completion of deliverables identified above

  • Expected duration of 6-8 weeks

  • Start and end dates are flexible but the internship should begin before 6/1/2022.

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Equal Opportunity Employer:

Howard EcoWorks is committed to building a culturally diverse workplace and strongly encourages applications from minority candidates.

Recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce is a high priority at Howard EcoWorks. HEW does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, military, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, age, citizenship, or any other basis prohibited by law in any of its policies or programs.

 

​To apply, email a cover letter and resume to Lori Lilly, Executive Director, at llilly@howardecoworks.org.