How to Apply

A cover letter and resume are required for consideration for this position. The cover letter should address the specific skills that make you a strong candidate and why you decided to apply for the internship position.

Who We Are

The Planet Blue Ambassador program was established at the Ann Arbor campus back in 2011. As a result of U-M's tri-campus commitment to carbon neutrality, the program was expanded to the Dearborn and Flint campuses in 2022. The PBA program is the entry point to sustainability at UM-Dearborn and beyond. The goal is to empower individuals with the information and resources needed to live, work, and learn sustainably at UM-Dearborn.

This position is part of the UM-Dearborn Facilities Operations team, reporting to the Assistant Sustainability Programs Manager and collaborating with sustainability staff from the University of Michigan's two other campuses in Flint and Ann Arbor. 

Job Description:

The student selected for this position will help improve sustainable operations for the University of Michigan-Dearborn and ensure these measures are accurately tracked and communicated to the campus community through the Planet Blue Ambassador (PBA) program. The term for this position is April 2025 - August 2025, with the potential to extend.

The selected candidate must be reliable, enthusiastic about environmental stewardship, and have strong communications and analytical skills.

Responsibilities:

The position requires a 10-20 hour per week commitment, with flexibility during final exams. The list below highlights the responsibilities for this position. 

• Assist with the development and implementation of a Sustainable Labs Program.
• Co-manage our Zero Waste Events program.
• Work to improve campus recycling rates.
• Conduct recycling and trash volume surveys to establish and monitor waste diversion rates. These surveys require occasional evening and early morning working hours.
• Help recruit and coordinate volunteers for waste audits, tree plantings, zero waste events, and other sustainable operation engagement events.
• Help develop and implement targeted recycling education training for custodial personnel, kitchen staff, and others.
• Track and aggregate various sustainable operation statistics such as waste diversion, water bottle refill stations, energy consumption, etc.
• Translate complex sustainable operations statistics into educational information that is understandable to the general public. 
• Identify and map sustainable campus infrastructure and collaborate with multiple individuals and Facilities Operations teams to develop a Sustainability Walking Tour.
• Attend Student Sustainability Coalition meetings to report on current sustainable operations projects and explore opportunities for collaboration.
• Attend weekly Sustainability Intern Team meetings.
• Other duties outside of this list as necessary for the successful implementation of the PBA program. 

Required Qualifications

• Current UM-Dearborn student.
• Experienced in aggregating and analyzing data using Excel and Google Sheets.
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs.
• Willingness to sort waste at zero waste events.
• Strong organizational skills with a keen eye for detail.
• Understands links between sustainability, well-being, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Collaborative spirit - experience working successfully in a team environment.
• Demonstrate passion for and knowledge about sustainability and carbon neutrality. 
• Consistently professional with regard to communication, punctuality, and reliability.

Desired Qualifications

• Completed the Planet Blue Ambassador training course.
• Background in sustainability, environmental studies, or environmental science.
• Dedicated work ethic with the initiative to lead a project and see it through to completion.