Electric Vehicle Industry Analysis Intern

World Resources Institute • Washington, DC

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

About the Program: The U.S. Electric School Bus Initiative is working to accelerate the transition of the nation’s 480,000 school buses to electric power by 2030. This work sits at the intersection of transportation, energy systems, public policy, and community engagement. WRI’s strategy focuses on three interconnected “Levers” of change: Lever 1: Market activation and aggregated procurement Lever 2: Vehicle-grid integration, managed charging, and battery circularity Lever 3: Deployment success, mobilizing market incentives and financing The intern will each be embedded within Lever 2 while collaborating across teams to help advance implementation at scale. Internship Summary WRI is seeking an Electric Vehicle Industry Analysis Intern to support strategic implementation and research activities within the Electric School Bus Initiative. The Electric Vehicle Industry Analysis Intern will contribute directly to program delivery, stakeholder engagement, and knowledge development while gaining exposure to real-world climate program execution. Unlike traditional research internships, this position emphasizes applied problem-solving, cross-functional collaboration, and participation in Agile project delivery. The Electric Vehicle Industry Analysis Intern will work alongside program managers, researchers, and external partners to advance high-impact initiatives across the electric school bus ecosystem. The Electric Vehicle Industry Analysis Intern may also support cross-cutting fundraising and program development activities, including background research, coordination support, and preparation of materials for philanthropic partners. This is a hybrid position which requires 8 days per month in the office. You can be based in our office in Washington DC. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission as WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position. To be eligible for this position, you must be a resident of DC, Maryland or Virginia at the start of employment.

Requirements

• Pursuing or completed a master’s degree in transportation planning, public policy, environmental/sustainability topics, urban/city studies, clean energy, transportation, engineering, statistics, business, or a related field
• Fluency in English
• Analytical, research, and written communication skills
• Demonstrated familiarity with and interest in centering equity across environmental and climate initiatives.
• Experience in creating original projects, products, or research activities
• Familiarity or interest in electric vehicles and climate change
• Experience with statistical analysis or visualization software a plus
• Experience with transportation electrification, grid planning, climate policy, or clean energy markets
• Familiarity with project management tools (e.g., Asana) or Agile working environments
• Experience supporting research teams, implementation projects, or stakeholder engagement initiatives
• Interest in nonprofit strategy, fundraising, or program operations
• Experience working with public sector agencies, utilities, community organizations, or environmental justice initiatives, and applying equity principles in practice.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Research & Analysis (30%): Conduct applied research on transportation electrification, grid integration, policy, financing mechanisms, or deployment practices Organize and synthesize data and technical and policy information into concise insights for program teams and partners Track emerging trends, funding opportunities, and stakeholder developments
• Program Implementation & Agile Project Delivery (15%): Support sprint planning, backlog development, and collaborative project tracking processes Assist with coordination of workstream activities and preparation of internal planning materials Contribute to development of pilot designs, stakeholder engagement strategies, or implementation tools
• Stakeholder Engagement & Convenings (10%): Assist with planning and execution of workshops, working groups, and partner meetings Prepare briefing materials, summaries, and follow-up documentation Support cross-sector collaboration with school districts, utilities, nonprofits, industry partners, and government agencies
• Fundraising & Program Development Support (Partial Role) (Up to 25%): Conduct background research on prospective funders and strategic partnerships Assist with preparation of concept notes, presentations, and proposal materials Provide administrative support such as scheduling meetings and tracking action items
• Communications & Knowledge Products (20%): Draft content for presentations, reports, and internal memos Help translate complex technical topics into accessible language for diverse audiences Contribute to visual or written materials that support program storytelling

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern