Sustainability Intern - San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance • San Diego, CA

2d

About The Position

The Sustainability Intern will collaborate with internal teams and external consultants to operationalize and refine tools that support environmental and resource management goals. The intern will help develop, refine, and maintain a centralized Environmental Resource Reporting Dashboard using Microsoft Power BI or a similar platform to map and evaluate energy, water, and waste use across San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance campuses.

The role involves collecting and entering periodic utility data using standardized protocols, segmenting campus data by zones based on existing meters, and analyzing resource-use variances to identify high-priority areas for potential cost savings. The intern will compare current data, historic reporting, and available resources with the new reporting framework to identify gaps and establish baseline metrics. They will research and recommend operational changes, systems, or other resources that support responsible resource stewardship. The internship concludes with a capstone presentation of data insights and a business case for strategies that support operational savings and SDZWA’s sustainability goals.

Requirements

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Must be currently pursuing or planning to pursue an undergraduate degree; applicants who will have completed a bachelor’s degree before the internship ends are not eligible.
• A cover letter is required with the application for consideration.
• Strong familiarity with Microsoft Power BI, Excel, and data visualization tools.
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to conduct research, interpret utility data, and present actionable business insights.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to work effectively with others in a diverse environment and with diverse populations.
• Ability to learn and perform data and sample gathering techniques.
• Experience with qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Familiarity with conservation issues and strategies.
• Training and/or experience demonstrating the essential functions, knowledge, and skills listed.

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience in conservation research, sustainability, or community engagement.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with internal teams and consultants to fine-tune and maintain the Environmental Resource Reporting Dashboard.
• Track progress and extract insights from data to monitor, measure, and improve sustainability programs.
• Collect and enter periodic utility data using the standardized dashboard protocol.
• Segment campus utility data into zones based on existing meters to review resource-use variances and identify potential cost-saving priorities.
• Evaluate current data, historic reporting, and available resources against the reporting framework to identify missing information and establish baseline metrics.
• Research and recommend operational changes, systems, or resources that enhance responsible resource stewardship.
• Deliver a final capstone presentation outlining key data insights and a business case for strategies that support cost savings and sustainability goals.

What This Job Offers

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