Department of Civil Service

Description:

Position Title: Sustainability Intern
Location: Green Lakes State Park - Fayetteville, NY
Division: Executive - Climate Change
Compensation: $17.15 - $22.75 per hour
Duration: June - August 2024 (flexible start & end date)
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm (flexible), with some weekend hours for events

Overview

The Sustainability Intern will support a waste diversion pilot at Green Lakes State Park. The goal of the pilot is to minimize the amount of waste that the park sends to landfill by increasing recycling and composting rates and deploying other waste diversion strategies including reduction and reuse. Actions will include improvements to signage and infrastructure, staff and visitor education, and monitoring. The pilot will inform a plan to increase waste diversion at all 250 state parks and historic sites in New York.
--The intern will report to the OPRHP Climate Change Team based in Albany, work closely with staff at Green Lakes State Park, and engage with external partners.

Job Duties

* Educate park visitors about recycling and composting by conducting visitor surveys, leading programs, staffing event tables, etc.
* Provide training to park staff and vendors on recycling and composting best practices and other waste diversion topics.
* Identify opportunities to decrease waste through reduction, reuse, and purchasing (e.g., choosing products with less packaging).
* Identify opportunities to reduce or eliminate single use plastics.
* Monitor participation in the initiative and compliance with waste signage.
* Plan and lead at least one waste audit with facility staff and volunteers.
* Write a final report with a summary of the pilot, lessons learned, and recommendations for adopting strategies at other facilities.
* Assist with other sustainability initiatives in the park or region as needed.

Qualifications

* Current undergraduate or graduate student, pursuing a degree in environmental policy, conservation, engineering, sustainability, or similar discipline.¿
* Knowledge of waste management, circular economy, composting, and/or recycling.

To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to Jordan.Elliott@parks.ny.gov by March 29, 2024

Skills:

Knowledge of waste management

Circular Economy

Composting and Recycling

Report writing

Analytical skills

Internship Areas: Environmental Conservation, Planning/Analysis/Research, Public Policy, Scientific Research