Environmental Justice & Toxics Use Reduction Intern

Commonwealth of Massachusetts • Boston, MA

12d

About The Position

The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) seeks to protect, preserve, and enhance Massachusetts’ environmental resources and create a clean energy future for all residents. Through the stewardship of open spaces, the protection of environmental resources, and the advancement of clean energy, EEA works tirelessly to make Massachusetts a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family. Our commitment to environmental justice ensures that every resident, regardless of background or location, can live in a safe, clean environment and shares equally in the benefits of the clean energy transition.
At EEA, we create meaningful, inclusive opportunities that empower our employees to make a real difference in shaping the environmental future of Massachusetts. We foster a workplace culture where diversity is valued, innovation is encouraged, and collaboration thrives. Our employees play a vital role in advancing sustainability, environmental justice, and clean energy solutions, ensuring a positive and lasting impact on Massachusetts and its residents.
The Massachusetts Office of Technical Assistance (OTA) is a statewide agency under the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) that was created by the Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA) to provide free and confidential pollution prevention and toxics use reduction assistance to Massachusetts businesses. OTA is one of three implementing agencies of the Toxics Use Reduction Act Program (TURA program). In addition to OTA, the TURA program consists of MassDEP, which administers the law’s reporting and planning mandates and enforcement of covered businesses, and the Toxics Use Reduction Institute at UMass Lowell (TURI) which provides research, training, and grant opportunities to businesses and communities. Approximately 80%25 of businesses that file under TURA are located within a mile of an environmental justice population and the objective of this position is to develop tools, strategies, and content for enhancing OTA’s outreach to these existing and new manufacturers as outlined below.
Under the supervision and mentorship from the Outreach & Policy Analyst, the intern will engage in the following activities:
Build on existing foundational work and content to implement an Environmental Justice landing page on OTA’s website for TURA program information relevant to environmental justice populations. Activities will include working with OTA staff to finalize written content and visuals and preparing maps and tools in GIS.
Assist with implementing outreach strategies for engaging with different environmental justice stakeholders and businesses. The ultimate goal of the strategy is increasing referrals for OTA site visits and technical assistance to businesses located near environmental justice populations and/or vulnerable to climate change and severe weather events. Work will be aligned with OTA’s Key Agency Actions for Environmental Justice (p.54 of PDF) and OTA’s Chemical Safety and Climate Change Resiliency Program.
Identify outreach opportunities for OTA to market its services statewide to environmental justice organizations, community-based organizations, economic development organizations, and municipal agencies to increase visibility and referrals for OTA's programs and technical services.
Communicate findings and make recommendations to OTA staff throughout the process and at the end of the internship. Activities include:
Making presentations to OTA and TURA program staff
Assist with development and dissemination of written outreach materials
Assist with GIS maintenance
Identify resources that will help OTA better serve and partner with environmental justice organizations and populations
Participate with OTA staff in the Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse (IC2) Low-Income and Disadvantaged Communities (LIDAC) Workgroup.

Requirements

• ArcGIS experience required
• Interest in pollution prevention in the Manufacturing Sector
• Work independently and be accountable to deadlines in regular communication with supervisor
• Strong research, writing, and graphical communication skills
• Facility with MS Excel, PowerPoint, Word
• Data analysis and analytical skills

Nice To Haves

• Spanish and/or Portuguese language skills a plus

Responsibilities

• Build on existing foundational work and content to implement an Environmental Justice landing page on OTA’s website for TURA program information relevant to environmental justice populations.
• Assist with implementing outreach strategies for engaging with different environmental justice stakeholders and businesses.
• Identify outreach opportunities for OTA to market its services statewide to environmental justice organizations, community-based organizations, economic development organizations, and municipal agencies to increase visibility and referrals for OTA's programs and technical services.
• Communicate findings and make recommendations to OTA staff throughout the process and at the end of the internship.
• Making presentations to OTA and TURA program staff
• Assist with development and dissemination of written outreach materials
• Assist with GIS maintenance
• Identify resources that will help OTA better serve and partner with environmental justice organizations and populations
• Participate with OTA staff in the Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse (IC2) Low-Income and Disadvantaged Communities (LIDAC) Workgroup.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Benefits
• When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.
• Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees