Purpose of Classification

The Sustainability Intern will support the City’s sustainability and climate resilience initiatives under the guidance of the Sustainability & Resiliency Administrator. This position offers hands-on experience in municipal environmental planning, program implementation, community engagement, and data analysis. The intern will assist in advancing the goals of the City’s Climate Action Plan, Climate Vulnerability Assessment, and related strategic environmental initiatives. This opportunity is ideal for a student or recent graduate interested in pursuing a career in environmental sustainability, urban planning, or public policy.

The City of Boynton Beach’s paid internship program is offered to recently honorably discharged Veterans and currently enrolled or recently graduated college and graduate-level students. This program offers an opportunity to gain hands-on experience and a realistic preview of what it is like to work in local government. The City of Boynton Beach is committed to administering a successful, efficient, and inclusive program that will allow interns to make a positive contribution to the community while gaining valuable work experience. Interns will be exposed to the following:

Gain professional experience in local government.
Learn about the mission and vision of the City.
Experience networking and professional development opportunities.
Participate in a group project that will be presented to City Management and City Commission.
Attend periodic lunch and learns with the Human Resources and Risk Management Department. These workshops will teach students interviewing skills, workplace etiquette, public speaking, and financial sustainability and student loan payoff advice.

Essential Functions
Assist in data collection and analysis for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventories, sustainability performance metrics, and energy/water usage tracking.
Support the development of reports, presentations, outreach materials, and public communications related to sustainability programs.
Conduct research on best practices, policies, and technologies related to energy efficiency, climate adaptation, green infrastructure, and environmental resilience.
Help organize and facilitate sustainability-related events, workshops, and community engagement efforts.
Contribute to maintaining and updating the City’s sustainability webpages and social media content.
Provide general administrative and technical support for ongoing projects and new initiatives as assigned.
Support the Utilities Department’s efforts to achieve and maintain ISO 14001 Environmental Management System certification, including document review, tracking environmental objectives, and preparing related materials.
Minimum Qualifications
Currently enrolled in an accredited university [two (2) year, four (4) year, or graduate-level degree program] with major coursework in environmental science, sustainability, urban planning, public administration, or a related field; or
Recent graduate [within last three (3) years from an accredited university [two (2) year, four (4) year, or graduate-level degree program] with major coursework in environmental science, sustainability, urban planning, public administration, or a related field.Communication Competencies / KSA's
COMMUNICATION COMPETENCIES

Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with City staff, residents, and community stakeholders.

Capable of creating clear, concise written materials such as reports, social media posts, and educational resources.

Comfortable delivering oral presentations and speaking at public meetings or outreach events.

Active listening skills and openness to feedback and mentorship.

Ability to tailor messaging for diverse audiences, including community members with varying levels of environmental literacy.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):
Knowledge of environmental science, climate change, and sustainability principles.
Local government operations and urban environmental issues.
Social media platforms and outreach tools.
Data analysis, research, and report preparation.
Written and verbal communication.
Use of Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word); familiarity with GIS, Canva, or Adobe tools is a plus.
Time management and organization.
Work independently and take initiative while managing multiple tasks.
Collaborate effectively with a multidisciplinary team.
Learn new tools and concepts quickly and apply them in real-world scenarios.
Support community engagement and public education efforts.

Physical and Sensory Requirements / Environmental Factors
Physical Ability: Tasks require the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (10 pounds). Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or work station.

Sensory Requirements: Tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate colors or shades of colors, sounds, odor, depth, texture, and visual cues or signals. Tasks require the ability to communicate orally.

Environmental Factors: Performance of essential functions may require exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as dirt, dust, pollen, odors, wetness, humidity, rain, fumes, temperature and noise extremes, bright/dim light, machinery, vibrations, electric currents, traffic hazards, toxic agents, violence, disease, or pathogenic substances.

The City of Boynton Beach, Florida, is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S. C. 12101 et. seq.), the City of Boynton Beach will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
A review of this position has excluded the marginal functions of the position that are incidental to the performance of fundamental job duties. All duties and responsibilities are essential job functions and requirements are subject to possible modifications to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbent(s) will possess the abilities and aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat of significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others.
Requirements are representative of the minimum level of knowledge, skills, and ability.

City of Boynton Beach

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Sustainability Intern