Open Positions

The Office of Sustainability is seeking a student to support development and implementation of an institutional carbon neutrality strategy. Particular focus will be given to tracking scope 3 emissions, including business travel emissions, commuting emissions, purchased goods and services emissions, emissions associated with generated waste, and carbon offset strategy. In regard to air travel and commuting emissions, the student will build on an existing body of research and develop an accurate estimation model. In regard to carbon offsets, the University is currently in the early stages of exploring a potential carbon offset strategy as both a buyer and a seller. The prospective intern will be involved in all parts of the process, including research, strategy, project verification, and project monitoring. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Gather air travel data and calculate emissions for business travel and student travel to and from the University each semester
• Gather commuting data and calculate emissions for daily travel and from the University
• Analyze carbon offset methodologies, including those published by the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) to understand potential applications for WashU
• Communications – Prepare and present carbon offset material to administration and key stakeholders
• Research and synthesis – Follow current trends in the carbon offset space and develop reports and presentations on relevant topics
• Carbon offset documentation – Complete project related forms and excel models 
• Carbon offset monitoring – Prepare monitoring documentation and submit to verifying body 
• Assess potential carbon offset purchases from a quality and cost perspective, and monitor active projects to ensure quality 

Preferred Skills /Knowledge

• Basic working knowledge of carbon offsets and various scopes of carbon emissions
• Basic understanding of markets, supply/demand, and drivers of cost
• Familiarity with Excel and PowerPoint
• Comfortability seeking and synthesizing information from multiple sources
• Comfortability reaching out to and communicating with a range of stakeholders
• Quantitative analysis

The Office of Sustainability seeks to foster a food system that advances environmental and public health while supporting a strong local economy. The Food Associates facilitate this process in partnership with Office of Sustainability staff, WashU Dining Services, and other campus stakeholders.

The Associate will support a variety of food-related initiatives and assist with tracking report metrics that will improve transparency and accountability in the university food system. Duties may include: organizing events; supporting staff training; conducting peer institution research; promoting participation in the Community Supported Agriculture program, available at Danforth, School of Medicine, and West Campuses; and providing support to the Medical Campus Farmers Market. The associates promote the Office’s efforts through tabling, flyers, social media, and e-newsletter stories.

Skills / Qualifications: 

• Proficiency with MS Word and Excel
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including presentation and public speaking skills
• Ability to approach challenges creatively and problem solve
• Experience with event planning and creating promotional materials (PowerPoints, graphics, flyers, etc.)
• Commitment to supporting local and sustainable food options
• Knowledge of and interest in the environmental and public health impacts of food choices
• Ability to interact professionally and confidently with university staff members
• Self-motivated and able to work with limited supervision

The Office of Sustainability plays a lead role developing renewable energy projects for the University. The Renewable Energy Associate will work closely with staff to explore renewable energy project opportunities including on-site solar PV and solar thermal projects, as well as off-site wind projects. Projects will vary in scale from large-scale projects that generate a lot of energy to smaller-scale projects with a strong research component. Tasks will include: gathering information about and assessing the viability of potential sites, researching options for structuring projects, and interaction with professionals in the field.

Skills / Qualifications:

• Proficiency with MS Word and Excel
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; ability to approach challenges creatively and problem solve
• Knowledge of renewable energy technologies, policy, financials, and/or project development
• Ability to interact professionally and confidently with University staff and external consultants
• Self-motivated and able to work with limited supervision
• Project management experience preferred

Student Associates will engage in a broad range of research and analysis for implementing the vision and goals for the university’s sustainability-related strategic plan. Specific areas of interest include energy & emissions, alternative transportation, waste, food & dining, and equity/anti-racism. Associates will work collaboratively in groups on projects with oversight from the Office of Sustainability team. In addition, logistical support of working group committees (meeting scheduling, note taking, meeting follow up, etc.) will be required as needed.

Skills / Qualifications:

• Basic knowledge of and passion for sustainability issues
• Ability to conduct research to evaluate and synthesize different strategies and ideas
• Systems thinker
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Proficiency with MS Word and Excel, design experience with the Adobe Creative Suite is a plus
• Ability to interact professionally and confidently with University staff members
• Self-motivated and able to work with limited supervision
• Works well in a group setting

The Office of Sustainability is seeking a practicum student (or students) to lead efforts to build on the 12-year success of the Share Our Stuff program that collects and recirculates materials from student move out after the close of the academic year. The program coordinator will guide and develop the program, channeling new resources (a physical warehouse space and store) to achieve greater social and environmental impact for the WashU and St. Louis communities. The coordinator will develop standard operating procedures for program operations, evaluation and assessment tools, annual reports for leadership, and marketing materials. In addition, the coordinator will support program operations and logistics, in collaboration with staff from the Office of Sustainability, Campus Mail, the Office of Government and Community Relations, Residential Life, and other program stakeholders.

Successful applicant and supervisor will work out a mutually-agreeable schedule, which could be part-time or full-time in scope. While some work can be done remotely and on a flexible schedule, significant portions of the position may require in-person work during business hours. Work locations include the Circularity Center (warehouse and store on WashU’s North Campus, 700 Rosedale), the Office of Sustainability (Schnuck Pavilion on the Danforth Campus), and various networking meetings with campus and community partners (though these will likely be mostly remote). At least 1 1-hour meeting with supervisor and student will occur weekly through the duration of the engagement, at a mutually agreeable time during the work week.

In addition, the practicum students will be encouraged to participate in the Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change internship program, which provides interdisciplinary professional development and social experiences with undergraduate and graduate students working in internship positions through WashU.

Fully engaged students will gain a broad range of hands-on experience that mirror non-profit and start-up social enterprise contexts with the resources and support of a large institution.

Preferred skills, qualifications, and characteristics

Some combination of coursework and experience in the following areas are desired, though not all are required to apply:

• Self-starter, independently motivated, entrepreneurial spirit
• Working knowledge of sustainability and “circular economies”
• Program evaluation and assessment design
• Basic marketing and communication concepts
• Highly organized and talented at setting up systems
• Networking and stakeholder mapping
• Familiarity with WashU networks and administration and/or environmental or social service organizations active in the St. Louis area
• Retail experience
• Data tracking and reporting

To apply, send a letter of interest and resume to cassandra.hage@wustl.edu. Applications will be reviewed and interviews scheduled on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Washington University in St. Louis is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status.

Dates: Spring semester 2024; Summer 2024; Fall 2024

Positions available: 1-2 positions per semester. Preference towards candidates that are able to stay in the position for multiple semesters.

Compensation: Students fulfilling practicum hours through work at the Office of Sustainability will be compensated up $1000 per credit hour, up to three credit hours per term.

Supervision: Reports to the Assistant Director of the Office of Sustainability

Eligibility: Students pursuing practicum hours for a MSW Concentration, MPH or MSP

Overview: Support student move out collections through the Share Our Stuff (SOS) program, including sorting donated material for community partners, student reuse, and sales; and overseeing sales and donation transactions at events. Retail and organization skills are a bonus! Work will take place at Mudd MPR (S40) and the Circularity Center (North Campus, 700 Rosedale Ave.)

Compensation: $13/hr

Time Commitment: Flexible scheduling May 1 – June 1 and August 16 – Sept 3. Hours and schedule are flexible and will be negotiated with the hired student.

Send a letter of interest to cassandra.hage@wustl.edu by May 10 for early summer dates and by June 30 for late summer dates.

The City of St. Louis was the first jurisdiction in the Midwest and 4th in the nation to pass its Building Energy Awareness Ordinance, its benchmarking law in the year 2017. It requires large buildings over 50,00 square feet to submit energy and water usage to the City’s Office of Building Performance on an annual basis. In 2020, the city adopted the Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) ordinance, following similar policies in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Washington State. This policy outlines BEPS energy targets by building type, which building owners are required to meet. Benchmarking and BEPS policies are aimed to accelerate energy efficiency in the buildings to achieve a city-wide Sustainability plan to decarbonize by the year 2050. The year 2024 is the last year of the first BEPS cycle for most of the buildings, where all benchmarking data will be analyzed in the year 2025.The city continues to be a front-runner in energy efficiency and participates in the Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Challenge to improve energy efficiency in municipal buildings. 

Start & End Date:

January 16, 2025, through May 2025 with the possibility of extending into Summer/Fall 2025.

Hours & Schedule:

Hybrid work, Flexible. But only PART-TIME (130 total hours) during the Spring of 2025.

Specific hourly schedules are determined by each intern and their supervisor. Initial orientation will be at City Hall, 1200 Market St., Room 422. 

Brief Description of Internship Deliverable:

Interns will initially focus on updating the City’s energy benchmarking project as part of the White House’s Better Buildings Challenge through the Office Building Performance and participate in Supporting Equitable Building Performance (SEBP) Standards meetings.  Once this work is complete, the interns may assist the City of St. Louis with the following: reviewing and updating communication materials and procedures, reviewing stlbenchmarking.com and making suggestions to improve user experience, participating in fieldwork and analyzing buildings energy efficiency performance.   

Internship Duties that Will Result in Deliverable Sustainability Action Intern will sequentially work on the type of projects outlined below, as capacity and project progress allow:

• Benchmark City buildings through EPA’s website Energy Star Portfolio Management
• Review and update Office of Building Performance communication materials and procedures where needed.
• Review Office of Building Performance’s website stlbenchmarking.com and recommend changes
• Join SEBP meetings to observe and experience the co-governance design process
• Shadow Office of Building Performance’s staff during meetings with building owners, stakeholders and other government agencies.
• Possible fieldwork measuring gross floor area for selected city buildings.
• Analyze and evaluate buildings’ energy efficiency performance.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Appropriate for environmental sciences, business or engineering undergraduate or graduate student
2. Strong interpersonal skills
3. Strong oral and written communication skills and organization/attention to detail
4. Tech proficiency (Microsoft Office, Google Drive, and video chat software)
5. Creative design skills using (MS Powerpoint, Adobe Acrobat or Canva)
6. Experience with data analysis using Excel or other software.
7. Ability to work professionally in a virtual setting using Zoom or Google Meet technology as a communication tool.

This position will provide the opportunity to work with Ujima, learn more about philanthropy, and become more involved in the St. Louis community. Food justice, environmental stewardship and youth empowerment are Ujima’s foundations. As a non-profit, pay-what-you-can service provider, they provide equitable access to food, education, and employment to marginalized communities. Ujima cultivates community through food justice, environmental stewardship, and youth empowerment.

The intern will provide support to George Washington Carver Farms (Ujima’s urban farm), produce donations, Apprenticeship Program, Be Well Cafe’s Farmer’s Market, Fairground neighborhood clean up efforts and additional programming support. An ideal candidate has some level of experience in grassroots and community philanthropy, urban agriculture, community engagement, social media management, fundraising, and/or data entry. Personal and reliable access to transportation is essential because we will meet at multiple sites.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Access to reliable transportation is required
• Helping Founder with planning and executing special events
• Support staff to plan and manage social media content for Ujima’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts. 
• Support staff with farm and garden maintenance 
• Support staff with neighborhood clean up efforts and other special events
• Lead or co-lead tours and volunteer groups as needed
• Coordinate produce and meal donations as needed
• Developing an evaluation for participants in Ujima’s Sunflower Institute Program.
• Learn about Ujima, and issues in the St. Louis community by attending meetings with staff, board members, and other volunteers as needed
• Support planning and coordination of Apprenticeship Program workshops, field trips, and camping trips
• Ensure implementation of policies and practices during Apprenticeship Program
• Monitor project budgets and track expenditures/transactions
• Keep all members of the team up-to-date with relevant project information
• Bi-Weekly check-ins will Founder to discuss Apprenticeship Program progress
• Keep updated records of attendance and create reports as needed
• Create presentations, summaries and helping materials to ensure better communication for information sessions and board meetings

Skills/Qualifications:

• Efficient – able to complete tasks in a timely and effective manner
• Flexible – able to respond to a variety of tasks and needs; able to work some evenings and to attend community events on occasional weekends (work schedule adjusted to provide equal time off during the work day)
• Ability to work independently and with a team
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong computer skills
• Desire to learn more about philanthropy
• Desire to learn about community development, food justice, cooperative ownership, social enterprise, community wealth-building, and local economic development
• Desire to learn more about effective nonprofit practices, and what makes strong nonprofit and community groups
• Experience working or volunteering with diverse groups.

For more information about Ujima, visit www.ujimastl.org.

The Community Energy Engagement and Policy Intern will support  Cabanne District CDC in promoting and implementing electrification, energy efficiency, and EV charging network initiatives. This role will engage community members in understanding the benefits of electrification, “Solar for All” programs, and other state and federal energy efficiency resources and tools. Additionally, the intern will assist in developing an accessible EV charging network plan for the community. Responsibilities include creating a community newsletter, participating in regional and Midwest energy efficiency and decarbonization initiatives, and helping shape policies and strategies to support local energy transition goals. The intern will also assist with youth energy efficiency education and support faith based energy access initiatives through workshops and outreach.

Key Responsibilities:

• Educate and engage community members on electrification, energy efficiency, and EV charging network resources, including “Solar for All” programs.
• Develop and distribute a community newsletter covering energy efficiency, electrification, and EV charging network updates and resources.
• Participate in regional and Midwest energy efficiency and decarbonization meetings to support Cabanne District CDC’s goals.
• Assist in designing a community focused EV charging network plan in alignment with local and state energy transition priorities.
• Contribute to formulating energy efficiency and electrification policies and strategies for practical application.
• Support youth focused energy efficiency initiatives and faith based workshops, helping increase energy access and understanding across communities.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to align with state and federal energy and sustainability goals.

Qualifications:

• Current enrollment in an environmental studies, public policy, urban planning, or related field.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to engage with diverse community groups.
• Interest in renewable energy, energy efficiency, EV infrastructure, and community development.
• Experience or interest in policy development, outreach, and program implementation.
• Proficient in digital tools for newsletter creation and social media engagement