2027 Sustainability Grant Internship

National Pork Board•Clive, IA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Sustainability Intern will work with the grant team to support sustainability reporting and grant administration. The primary project is to review research on how production information is captured and summarized at multiple reporting levels, then recommend a practical reporting structure. The intern will also gain experience in grant management through record maintenance, archiving, and reporting. The internship lasts 12 weeks, with a preferred timeline of May through August 2027, beginning in mid-May. It is full-time at 40 hours per week and based at the National Pork Board office in Clive, Iowa. Interns must be local or relocate for the internship and secure their own summer housing. Work-related travel is expected, and expenses for work-related trips are paid. A $1,500 living stipend is provided. Starting pay is $18 per hour for undergraduate students and $20 per hour for graduate students. Interns will participate as a group in a packer tour, a farm tour (to be determined), NPIC, the Young Leaders in Ag Conference, and World Pork Expo. The National Pork Board oversees Checkoff-funded research, promotion, and consumer information projects and communicates with pork producers and the public. Applicants should be enthusiastic about supporting the organization’s mission to serve U.S. pork producers.

Requirements

Pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in agriculture, sustainability, environmental science, data analytics, or a related field.
Strong research, writing, and organizational skills, with attention to detail.
Comfort using Excel and shared document systems.
Interest in agricultural sustainability and grant management.
Ability to work independently, collaborate with a team, and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to read, interpret, and summarize scientific documents.
Strong collaboration and people skills.
Strong initiative and ability to work as a self-starter.
Ability to support the National Pork Board’s mission with enthusiasm to serve U.S. pork producers.

Responsibilities

Review research and existing models for capturing agricultural production and sustainability information at the farm, operation, state, and industry levels.
Compare reporting approaches for data consistency, producer ease of use, confidentiality, and the ability to combine information across reporting levels.
Develop a suggested reporting structure, including recommended data elements, definitions, collection methods, and reporting formats.
Prepare a research summary and sample template for team review.
Maintain grant records, organize and archive documentation, and check files for completeness while following established confidentiality and record-keeping procedures.
Support grant reporting by compiling information, updating tracking documents, and preparing materials under staff guidance.