The Climate Corps program is a partnership between Net Impact and Environmental Defense Fund. The program embeds trained MBA students from top-ranking business schools in leading companies to develop practical, actionable energy efficiency plans. Climate Corps fellows spend up to three months identifying and analyzing savings opportunities. They also develop detailed investment and implementation plans that help businesses cut costs and reduce emissions.

In 2009, 23 companies and 26 fellows participated. Prior host companies include Hewlett-Packard, eBay and Sony Pictures Entertainment among others. The 2009 fellows uncovered efficiencies in lighting, computer equipment, and heating and cooling systems that will help the host companies to:

• Save $54 million in net operational costs over the project lifetimes;
• Cut the equivalent of 160 million kilowatt hours of energy use per year—enough to power 14,000 homes;
• Avoid over 100,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year— equivalent to taking more than 12,000 SUVs off the road.

The plan is to place 50 fellows in companies across the US for Climate Corps 2010.

Qualifications:

• Active Net Impact member; you can join here and scholarships are available
• MBA candidate (preferred)
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Self-starter with strong project management experience
• Strong background in financial analysis and/or engineering
• Corporate advisory or consulting experience
• Familiarity with greenhouse gas management, climate change and energy issues a plus
• Eligibility to work in the United States during the summer of 2010

The application includes the following pieces:

• Resume: Applicants need to submit a customized one page resume highlighting any previous work in energy efficiency, energy or sustainability. The more specific you can be about relevant experience, the easier it is for us to match you.
• Essay Questions: Applicants will be asked to submit short essay responses with their applications.
• Geographic Location Constraints: Host companies can be located anywhere in the United States. Fellows may be offered a position in the program before they are matched with a host company, it is important to indicate how flexible you are on your geographic constraints for summer 2010.

Deadline:

All 2010 application materials are due no later than 5:00pm PST on Monday, January 11, 2010.

If you are a Net Impact member, please find the job description and application on the Net Impact Job Board.  If you are not a Net Impact member, you can join at www.netimpact.org/join. Scholarships are available. You can then visit the Net Impact Job Board.

If you are not ready to submit the final application, you can fill out this interest form to stay updated about the application process.

Additional information:

Read through the FAQs for Climate Corp fellows and visit the Climate Corps home page for additional information.

Contact the Climate Corps program for more information and to get involved in the 2010 program.

Note: Please do not contact the Green Economy Post regarding this opportunity.  We are not affiliated with the sponsoring organizations, and therefore have no additional information. Sometimes the link is changed for the opportunities.  When this happens, go to the home page of the organizers to locate information on the opportunity or contact the organization directly.

© 2009 – 2010, Aysu Katun. All rights reserved. Do not republish.

The National Science Foundation Integrative Graduate Education Research Traineeship on Clean Energy for Green Industry at UCLA (CGI) is a 3 year fellowship. Fellowship is awarded for the first year and third years upon successful progress. Second and fourth years are funded at normal departmental rates.

The fellowship will develop leaders in environmental energy through integrated research and coursework in the science, business and policies of clean technology. Completion of a 1-3 month cross-disciplinary internship with an industrial partner or national laboratory is encouraged.

Each fellow’s participation includes academic, research training and professional development with scientific, business and policy emphasis.

Program features include clean energy lecture, laboratory and seminar-based curriculum, internships or international experience, business development and small company opportunities along with community involvement activities in K-12.

Benefits:

• $30K annual stipend
• Registration fees
• Laboratory fees
• Tuition
• Medical insurance
• Conference travel
• Internship
• Internationl Experience

Eligibility and How to Apply:

The Clean Green IGERT (CGI) is fellowship program for students pursuing a Ph.D. at UCLA. Please be sure to apply to CGI as well as UCLA’s graduate school. Please also remember that only US citizens and permanent residents are eligible to apply. In particular, special consideration is given to enhance the involvement of under-represented students.

Deadline:

The 2010 application deadline is December 15, 2009. Applications need not be complete for submission but please submit the application by the deadline. Submit the remaining materials as soon as possible.

For more detailed information:

More Information can be found at: http://cleanenergy.ucla.edu/apply.html

Note: Please do not contact the Green Economy Post regarding this opportunity.  We re not affiliated with the sponsoring organization, and therefore have no additional information. Sometimes the link is changed for the opportunities.  When this happens, go to the home page of the organizers to locate information on the opportunity or contact the organization directly.

© 2009, peter.garvin. All rights reserved. Do not republish.

Discover the 10 most important factors you should be using to select a green mba program and how to use them to select the right program to put you on a successful career track.

by Chris de Morsella, Green Economy Post

If you are exploring the option of a green MBA program it is important to look beyond simple ranking metrics of a school and the green MBA program(s) that it offers.  This very important life choice is one that warrants a careful and in depth examination.  Here are 10 important factors to consider when evaluating your options.  They will help you narrow your focus to the select schools and green MBA programs that are a good fit for you.

If you want more information or are not sure why a green MBA might be a good option for improving your career prospects,  read our article Thinking About a Green MBA? It delves  into the many benefits,  and some of the key trends indicating that green MBA hiring may be on the rise.

1. Clearly Understand and Define Your Own Objectives and Goals

Before investigating any programs,  begin by carefully defining what it is that you want to accomplish by completing a green MBA program.  For some of you no doubt this is a no brainer, but it is amazing how many often very intelligent people tend to gloss over taking the time to think this through.  Be sure to put these thoughts down in a clearly organized manner.  This will help you bring focus to your  search.

The Types of Questions to Ask:

What are you career objectives? Where are you on your career trajectory? Are you about to graduate or are you already a working professional looking to switch to a green career, or to further green your credentials in order to help you achieve your goals?  What is the area or areas within the green economy and sustainability that you are most interested in?  There are a great number specialty areas to consider. For example, popular specialty areas encompass a wide range including, but not limited to: green supply chain management,  energy efficiency, renewable energy development,  green design and packaging, green building, carbon accounting, carbon footprint management, environmental management, product life cycles, waste management …you get the picture.    Many of the different green MBA programs and certificate programs being offered cater to some quite specialized areas.  For example, Marylhurst University offers four sustainability specializations:

• Energy Policy & Administration- Provides a detailed study of environmental law. It also deals with the policy and issues surrounding water availability and use, land use, waste disposal, and other concerns of sustainability-minded businesses. Students also study and research the historical, economic, business, socio-cultural, and political factors that have affected energy policy in the United States.
• Green Development - The Marylhurst green development concentration addresses what it takes to build sustainable communities and create an environmentally friendly and socially conscious green building business presence. Students explore the environmental factors, government regulations, and laws that influence building plans and construction efforts, as well as the economic and social forces that impact urban planning and development.
• Natural & Organic Resources - The natural and organic resources concentration covers the practices and procedures associated with organic farming and ranching, and the effect these foods have on individuals as well as communities.
• Renewable Energy – This program examines how fuel alternatives and renewable energy sources can positively impact  business planning and marketing efforts, while providing a new perspective on energy consumption. Students learn how to build a strategy for operational management that accounts for energy use, supply chain management, production, inventory and Total Quality Management (TQM).

2. Factoring in The School’s Reputation

It is important to remember that the reputation of a traditional MBA might not necessarily lend itself to the reputation of the school’s green MBA program.  A school may have a well respected traditional MBA program, but this by itself does not mean that its green MBA program is necessarily as well known or respected.  When you are evaluating a sustainable or green MBA program research how that specific program is viewed by the business and professional communities.

Perhaps one of the schools you are looking at may provide an excellent education, but only be regionally recognized.  The wider recognition of the program you choose becomes a more important consideration if you are going to be relying on it to help you to get a new job in another part of the country or the world, where the school may be relatively unknown.

3. How Green Is a Given Green MBA Program?

Be aware that some programs that label themselves as green MBA programs only provide some basic sustainability instruction that has been tacked onto a general business program.  It is crucial that you know what you expect to get from your green MBA before you enroll and what the program actually offers beyond the title.   Try to find out in as fine detail as you can about the programs’ coursework and related real world experience programs offered.  This kind of in depth evaluation can often also help you in defining your own objectives.  (Don’t forget to check out our Directory of Green MBA Programs and Certificate Programs.  There are over 80+ programs listed.)

4. Does the Green MBA (or Certificate) Program Match Your Career Objectives and Strengths?

Make sure the program’s strengths matches what you want to focus on in school.   A few things to do that can help you make this determination are:

• Look at the syllabus to see if it includes topics that are relevant to your career objectives.
• What electives are offered and are they of interest to you.
• Is the course content suited to your particular needs and abilities?
• Does the program offer practical training and real life experiences that will help you as well?

5. Look at the Types of Programs the Schools Offer

How do you plan to complete your program? Most business schools offer a full-time, two-year program.   One variation on this is Harvard University’s MBA program. While the school does not have a sustainability specialty, they integrate sustainability  courses throughout the entire MBA curriculum.  Another unique approach are schools that are established entirely around sustainability  Two examples are Bainbridge Institute and Presidio Graduate School.

Attending full-time for two years may not fit your schedule– particularly if you have a job that you do not want to quit.  You should focus on green MBA (or certificate) programs that are offered on a part-time basis or offered as online programs that will allow you to work and study at the same time. For many people, online Green MBA programs are the best options to pursue, especially when in the middle of a busy career and busy life.  (See our directory of 18 online green MBA programs).

Some traditional programs with sustainability offerings are working to adapt their programs and provide students with additional training by offering specialized certificate programs.  These programs are also excellent tools for people who already have an MBA, who are looking for ways to green their credentials. Look at how these different formats will impact on your lifestyle.

Going for an MBA program that is offered by a top A grade business school, which has the highest ratings may seem like the right course of action, however you will not reap the benefits those institutions offer if their programs do not fit with your lifestyle. If you are unable to stay with the program or complete the course, then even the best of programs will do you little good. Ask yourself how these different formats will affect your ability to balance work and studying, affect your family life and whether you will be forced to give up working full-time.

The following are some examples of the variety of formats provided by many of the schools.

• Argosy University. Argosy University has an extensive online program, but also has campuses in 19 U.S. cities.  Argosy maintains an online student social networking community and students are provided with a student advisor, a faculty mentor and a liaison at career services.  It provides on demand tutoring and networking through their global professional network.
• Goddard College. Goddard College has a low-residency socially responsible business and sustainable communities program and students are offered an optional one-year, 24-credit certificate of graduate study.
• Green Mountain College. Green Mountain College also offers an online MBA in Sustainable Business Practices that requires a brief residency designed to introduce students to faculty and to each other. Following the residency, a series of six-week online courses are taken sequentially, so students can focus on the content of each course as they proceed through the program.  They also offer a certificate option which provides a four-week exploration into the theory and real world implementation of sustainable business.
• Marlboro College. Marlboro College MBA in Managing for Sustainability is taught in person and online, with students and faculty coming together for three days each month. Community Sessions offer students an opportunity to participate in college decisions and offer program evaluations. The learning community created during these face-to-face sessions continues online, using collaborative learning tools.
• Walden University. Walden has an Online MBA with a concentration in sustainable futures designed to be flexible to accommodate working professionals.  While it is an online program, it features internships, practicums, field study and study abroad options. Walden also offers with small study group sessions that communicate via threaded discussions and options for in-person academic residencies, students experience collaboration online and in-Person. Online interactive forums are held regularly and archived for on-demand viewing later for those who have schedule conflicts.  Mentors, advisors and tutors work with students via phone and the Internet.

6. Student Support Within The School

There is a growing trend among MBA programs to have support mechanisms put in place for students.  The support a school provides can make a big difference in what the students get out of a programs and in some cases even determine their degree of success.  So look into this issues to determine the resources and tools each school provides. Find out if journals be accessed online or if will you be forced to trek out late at night after work to gain access to research.

If it is an online program, look into whether they provide on-demand resources or active social media platforms to facilitate online networking.  Find out whether they have internship or mentoring programs to facilitate you applying the knowledge gained to the real world.  Check for the availability of career services, tutoring, and other student assistance programs designed to get students though life changing events.

7. Look at The  Program’s Placement Stats

It is important to pay particular attention to a school’s placement stats.  But keep in mind that since so many of these programs are new, there may not be enough data to make an informed assessment.  When this is the case, pay particular attention to the companies and industry leaders that have alliances and partnering relationships with the school.  Look into their track record with placement in other specialized programs they have created.  You should also pay close attention to where alumni have landed.  In addition to using the schools to conduct this research, don’t forget about using social networks like Linkedin and JustMeans to get these answers.

Part of the evaluation process should include looking at the companies that regularly recruit from the program. For example, if your objective for completing a green MBA is to help you get on a career path in corporate sustainability, but corporate sustainability departments are not recruiting at the school, then don’t expect your post-green MBA job search to be easy.

8. Rankings Can Provide Insight into Green MBA Programs

When investigating green MBA programs, consider looking into their rankings as a means of  finding out more about a program. This will not only give you a way to assess the quality of the MBA programs you area evaluating, but also it will help you get an idea of the schools that recruiters may be paying close attention to. School ranking is also an excellent branding tool for schools.  This serves the interests of its students as well when it comes to how the hiring managers view the program. Unfortunately, green MBA programs have not yet garnered the attention on mainstream lists that their more traditional counterparts enjoy.  In the sustainability arena, it might pay to look at specialized alternative ranking lists. There are two that most people in sustainability look to:

• Netimpact   2009 Business as UNusual: The Student Guide to Graduate Programs -  The guide was established to support prospective students searching for socially/environmentally sustainable business programs.
• Beyond Grey Pinstripes – The biennial survey by the Aspen Institute of survey and and ranking of business schools that integrating issues of social and environmental stewardship into curricula and research.

9. How Much Will the Green MBA Program Cost You?

MBA programs cost a lot of money and green MBA programs are no exception. It is important to keep in mind that half of the return on investment (ROI) equation is the size of investment itself. Will this MBA, which is quite costly, be a justified expense, when all is said and done?  You need to makes sure that the program fees, living expenses, travel costs, and other expenses involved in the particular program do not put an immense financial burden on you. If you take out a loan make sure that you will be able to handle the interest on the loan and factor in how long it will take you to be in a position to repay it.  Most schools maintain departments with dedicated personnel to help you address these issues.  When applying to these programs it is up to you to reach out to these people.

10.  Identifying Alternative Ways to Pay for Your Education

Some other important considerations might be determining what grants may be available or are on offer to you from a given institution, or for some, whether an employer will cover or partially cover the costs of a given program. These factors may tip the scales in one direction or the other.  Along these lines, investigate what grants, scholarships and additional student aid programs are available for green MBA programs you are interested in and are evaluating.  Finding grants, fellowships or scholarships that cover even a portion of the cost of a green MBA program can significantly reduce the long term overall cost of the program when compared with purely loan based financing especially when factoring in the additional burden imposed by compounded interest rates on the loans.

Since sustainability is a relatively new MBA specialty, there are not many scholarships or fellowships designed specifically for this specialty. However, there are plenty of award programs for MBA programs in general.  One of the best ways to find relevant scholarships, fellowships and aid, is to check into the actual schools. Many of these schools have professional staff who will work with prospective students to track the best financial aid options available.  Another approach is to research the scholarships of local business and sustainability organizations.

Of course there are many other factors not mentioned here that will go into your decision making process.  Every person has unique expectations, desires, needs and motivations.  What we have presented here hopefully will help you form the basis of your own personal selection process and help you clarify what some of the important criteria are in selecting a green MBA program that is suited to your needs and circumstances.

Our hope is that we will have helped you become a stronger applicant, and also given you some good advice that prevents you from making a big mistake with an investment as large, in time, effort and money as a green graduate business education.

FEATURED GREEN MBA PROGRAM

Walden University Online MBA Concentration in Sustainable Futures. Students will develop the skills to manage large-scale change that adds value, contributes to a sustainable future, and responds to the needs of both organizations and society. Students will also explore ways to understand and improve relationships among individuals, organizations, and communities. This program teaches how to incorporate global awareness into planning, operations, and decision-making at all levels of an organization. Graduates will be able to develop innovative social responsibility practices as they help organizations respond in sustainable ways to their communities and the world. Click here, for more information about the Walden University Online MBA Concentration in Sustainable Futures.

© 2009, Chris de Morsella. All rights reserved. Do not republish.

This is a round-up of on-the-spot interviews with job seekers who attended the job fair at the Greenbuild Conference that is taking place this week. Attendees were asked what strategies were they using to land a green building job.

by Jessalyn Dingwell, Green Economy Post


On Tuesday, job seekers gathered at the Phoenix Convention Center in search of green jobs in the building industry. The US Green Building Council organized the job fair as a kick-off to the Greenbuild Conference.  Greenbuild is the world’s largest conference and expo dedicated to green building. Companies representing a wide variety of specialties, including, architecture, engineering, LEED consulting, and building waste management welcomed job seekers at the job fair.

The fair attracted job seekers from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, from college students testing the waters, to experienced executives searching for new adventures. All of the job seekers I spoke with emphasized the importance of finding appropriate, targeted groups and associations through which they could network and exchange information. Many people found the job fair provided a forum not just to submit a resume for a potential job, but also to form professional contacts with each other. A number of attendees owned their own small companies and were attending simply to gauge the green building market and get a better sense of the market. The following attendees shared their personal tips on searching for a green job.

John Bugg

John-BuggJohn takes a systematic and proactive approach and treats his job search like the outside sales position he hopes to find in the green building industry. He believes his LEED-NC certification is critical in finding a position but making the right contacts is trickier. Here is John’s tried and true strategy for making great networking contacts:

•    Step one: Identify companies that are working on projects you are interested in regardless of whether or not they appear to be hiring.
•    Step two: Contact someone at the identified companies. John said he rarely has a direct connection to someone in these organizations. Instead, he emails a contact introducing himself, letting them know why he finds the company interesting, and requesting an in-person discussion for more information about the company or industry. He does not ask for a job at this point! His goal is that through these connections he will find an unadvertised position or simply make a positive impression on a professional in his industry.
•   Step three: Stay in touch. If he has a great conversation with someone at a company that doesn’t have any available positions at the time, he maintains contact with them. This way the contact will think of John he hears of a job opening.

Amrit Kaur

Amrit Kaur. As a recent Carnegie Mellon graduate with a degree in Architecture, Amrit is searching for a job that will combine architecture, sustainability and construction. She spends a limited amount of time searching for opportunities online and believes her time is more efficiently spent at job fairs, even those that are more general in scope than the very focused Greenbuild fair. Also, part of her job search strategy was achieving the LEED-AP certification and networking through the American Society of Civil Engineers.

John Regan

John Regan. John is a LEED AP with extensive experience in business development, primarily in the information technology industry. He has received numerous awards and honors for his work. John is truly passionate about green building techniques and he uses this passion to drive his job search. He finds a number of ways to demonstrate both his commitment and experience in green building, for instance, not just joining his local USBGC chapter, but actively contributing and serving on various committees.

Annie Fulton

Annie Fulton Annie is a junior in college who attended the job fair in search of a summer internship related to sustainable development policy.  She has not found online internet searching useful and instead focuses on networking with family, professors, and friends. She thinks it is important to be flexible by searching for unpaid internships and internships that are outside her home state of Arkansas.  Also, she is currently taking a class at the University of Arkansas designed to help students pass LEED accreditation tests.

Steve Watters

Steve Watters. Steve has a background in sales management, with some history working in the construction industry. He limits his online job searching to sites that focuses exclusively on job seekers with a high level of experience such as the TheLadders.com. He is also working with a recruiter. Steve’s primary search strategy is networking through formal groups such as the Executives Network and the Southwest Jobs Network and informal networking through a variety of volunteer organizations

Clea Senneville

Clea Senneville. Clea recently graduated from Arizona State University’s Master’s Program in Sustainability. She has carefully tailored her job search to reflect her thesis in monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of social enterprises. She works with a mentor to network and keeps in touch with professors and students she worked with in school. Recently, Clea contacted someone for an informational interview and she ended up providing valuable information for the interviewee. This rewarding experience helps her think of networking as an exchange of ideas and information on both sides, not simply one person asking for help and giving nothing in return.

Christina Lerner

Christina Lerner. Christina is LEED AP and an experienced small business owner, with a diverse background that includes work as a compliance and project manager in the construction, casino and retail sectors, as well as work as a contractor, painter. She is keeping close tabs on the most valuable certifications in the green building industry. As current rater for Build It Green, Christina uses this experience get a sense of the jobs that might fit with her current skill set. She performs HERS home energy ratings and is gauging the market to determine the tradeoffs between working for herself or joining a company.

Recommended Green Career Resources:

SIX STRATEGIES TO FIND YOUR GREEN CAREER – This free ebook by Carol McClelland PhD is a step-by-step process helping green career seekers use their passions, interests, experience, and training to plug into the green economy.

THE COMPLETE GREEN JOB GUIDE 2009: SECRETS FOR GETTING THE JOB YOUR WANT – Discover How To Unlock The Booming Green Economy For Your Job Search And Future Financial Security with the 10 Breakthrough Steps You Need To Know To Find And Land A Green Job Quickly.

CLEANTECHIES RESUME AND COVER LETTER WRITING SERVICE – Cleantechies help job seekers ease the transition from mainstream to Cleantech. Learn More!

© 2009, Jessalyn Dingwell. All rights reserved. Do not republish.

The University of Missouri, Kansas City Creates New Sustainability Minor. The 18-hour minor integrates a wide range of fields, including geosciences, engineering, ethics, urban planning and design, economics, history, philosophy, political science and public administration. Through in-class lectures and a local environmental sustainability internship, the minor will teach students about the planning and policies involved in creating sustainable changes in an urban setting. To complete the minor, a student must complete an applied project or internship and take one three-hour course in each of the following areas: Earth Systems and Resources, Sustainable Thinking, Sustainable Planning and Policy, Sustainable Design and Analytical Tools.

Northeastern Junior College  Launches Wind Energy Training Program. A wind energy technician training program will begin this August at NJC. It is the first program of its kind to open in Colorado. The program’s curriculum has been approved at the state level. Funding has been secured. Facilities have been identified. A teacher has been hired. Students are being recruited.  the new program is going to be a two-year degree program, not just an accelerated training situation.  The school is looking into developing a we could possibly run an accelerated training program for veterans that would enable them move into wind tower technician jobs within a few months.  The training program will operate from the college’s north campus facility.  The program will take 20 students initially. Area companies, who have farms located here have offered to provide training tools, field locations for students to get hands-on skills, guest presenters and internships.

Eastern Mennonite University Announces Two Sustainability Majors. Eastern Mennonite University in Virginia is introducing two new majors: Peacebuilding and Development and Environmental Sustainability.  The Environmental Sustainability major is  focused on forward-thinking sustainability practices. Students who major in environmental sustainability will choose between two tracks of study: the traditional environmental science track with courses from the disciplines of ecology, chemistry and physiology; and  the new environmental and social sustainability focus, which combines traditional environmental science coursework with revised applied sociology courses emphasizing international and community development and conservation.  “Traditional” environmental science courses have been revised and augmented over recent years with hard looks at local and global sustainability and hands-on research projects.The Peacebuilding and Development major is  a combination of the “justice, peace and conflict studies” major and the “applied sociology” program, with its international development and environmental sustainability emphasis. Peacebuilding and development studies are geared toward intentional social change around issues of conflict, poverty, inequality, sustainability and social justice. The new major offers students the chance to combine the theory of justice and conflict studies with the practice of peacebuilding and sustainable development in communities far and wide.

Chatham University Adds New Environmental Track to Graduate Biology Program. Chatham University will add a track in Environmental Biology to its Master of Science in Biology program this fall, according to the Office of Academic Affairs. The new Environmental Biology track includes classroom, laboratory, and field work experiences designed for students who want to pursue careers in environmental services, research, education, or advocacy. The Environmental Biology track will offer courses on topics such as Plant Development, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Soil Science, Field Ecology, Wetlands Ecology, and Biostatistics. Students will also participate in internships and field seminars.

© 2009, Tracey de Morsella. All rights reserved. Do not republish.

Assist Policy Department staff in researching environmental issues on a local, regional, state, or federal level, tracking environmental issues, assisting in daily administrative duties, as well as writing research summaries and policy position statements.

Responsibilities

Opportunities to plan and develop reports, conferences, and other activities related to community outreach on policy issues, as well as opportunities to participate in relevant meetings of the county and city governments regarding conservation issues of interest. Environmental Lands and Water Policy Interns are supervised by the Natural Resources Policy Manager and the Growth Management Intern is supervised by the Governmental Relations Manager.

Qualifications

Strong commitment to the conservation of biodiversity, environmental quality, and natural resources. B.S. or B.A., preferably in environmental policy or the natural sciences. Working knowledge of spreadsheets and word processing applications. Excellent written and oral communication skills. Ability to work independently and show initiative and professionalism, under rapidly changing situations. Willing to work variable hours and to travel locally as necessary. Valid driver’s license essential. GIS.

Compensation
A learning experience that will provide the Conservation Associate with skills to prepare for a full-time job in the environmental policy field. Stipend of $150 per week will be awarded to the Conservation Associate. Accident insurance and housing with washer and dryer are provided.

To Apply

Application Information: Email to request an online application to include cover letter, resume, 2 letters of reference and unofficial transcript.
Email address: Internships@Conservancy.org.
Web Site: www.Conservancy.org.

Contact Information

Shelley Gleim, Internship Coordinator,
Conservancy of Southwest Florida,
1450 Merrihue Drive, Naples, FL 34102.
Phone: 239-403-4213.
Email address: Internships@Conservancy.org.
Web Site: www.Conservancy.org.

© 2009, Tracey de Morsella. All rights reserved. Do not republish.

Interns can be great hiring resources.  With so many seeking to launch or transition to a green career, green businesses are finding great talent really motivated to work. They can help you recruit new interns through word of mouth and they often ultimately end up as great full-time employees.  They also can help your organization decrease recruitment costs and enable you to add personnel during periods when workload has increased, but you do not want to add another full-time employee.

Amie Vaccaro,  Ecofrenzy’s blogger and Program Manager with Social Venture Technology Group (SVT Group), recently posted four really important tips for green companies seeking to find great interns. Her organization recently brought on five highly motivated and capable interns.   Her suggestions are designed to enhance you5 search process.  See her tips below:

1) Take time to really think through what you’d like an intern to do and lay out the expectations and tasks assigned.
2) Create a recruiting timeline and stick to it.
3) Select strategic places to post your position.    She provides a list of both free and paid places to post your opportunities, including social networking sites.
4. She also recommends selecting  thoughtful interview questions.

Read her specific recommendations over at Ecofrenzy, but before you do, I’d like you to look over my recommendations below.

1.     Take advantage of the resources at school career centers and counselors.  One other another effective tool is the use of.  Some environmental and sustainability schools and departments now have their own career counseling functions
2.    Make sure the assignment is exciting.  You’ll benefit more if you create an internship program that enables them to learn as much as they can about their chosen field, and are included in regular day to day activities and projects.  You will also dramatically increase the odds that they either return or recommend your company to others.
3.    Move quickly to hire.  Employers often lose great potential interns because they take too long to interview and eventually hire.
4.    Assign the intern a mentor. Make sure that the intern is mentored by an employee that will be good in the role and is able to set the needed time aside, so that the student to has a quality internship.
5.    Make the internship position posting as descriptive as possible.  Be as descriptive as possible with your position description so that potential applicants for the internship opportunity will get a realistic picture of what they will be doing and what it is like to work within your organization.
6.    Make sure that there is one person who can provide adequate supervision for the intern or you could have an intern that ends up twiddling their thumbs.  The intern’s assignments should be closely monitored and you should be prepared to have someone closely monitor the intern’s assignments and daily activities, as well as meet with him or her regularly to review goals and provide feedback.
7.    Plan multiple assignments ahead of time so that the intern isn’t left doing busy work.

© 2009, Tracey de Morsella. All rights reserved. Do not republish.

US Department of Energy Career Intern Program is a 2-year career-entry and development program aimed at hiring entry-level employees into scientific, technical and business occupations in GS 5-9 grade levels within the Department of Energy.  Participants receive: a comprehensive individual development plan with features acquiring job-related certifications, formal classroom and online training, and mentorship by renowned government leaders; rotational job assignments with opportunities to travel across the United States and possibly internationally; possible $5,000 to $7,000 Recruitment Signing Bonuses and up to $10,000 per year for student loan repayment; accelerated promotions and the opportunity to advance quickly within the organization and a comprehensive federal benefits package.

Why have a DOE Career Intern Program?

The DOE Career Intern Program (CIP) is a developmental program to rebuild the department’s business and technical workforce by attracting exceptional individuals into a variety of occupations. The program addresses issues associated with an aging workforce (less than 9% of DOE’s Federal Workforce is under the age of 35 – less than 7% in the technical arenas).  It builds a pipeline for the future (DOE has a skills imbalance and the pipeline of future scientist, engineers, contract managers, budget analysis, etc. is depleted).  The program also improves management  – entry-level hiring is economical and helps put resources to DOE’s “front-line”; consistent with the goals of the President Management Agenda.

How Does the Program Work?

Once hired, the employee is given training specific to his/her job as well as “corporate” training that is geared toward DOE’s scientific, technical, and business management missions and programs. Participants receive a minimum of tering) and business (administrative/management) career paths. Use of web-based training through the DOE Online Learning Center.  Additionally, formal training, details, rotational assignments and/or mentors will be made available for participants.  After two years as interns, successful employees can be converted to regular status and continue pursuit of their DOE careers.

Who Should Apply

The Program seeks those who have recently earned, or will you soon be earning, a Bachelors, Masters, and/or Doctoral degree. and is specifically tailored for those transitioning from college to a professional career and is intended to nurture development as a next-generation leader in the Federal government.

Job opportunities are available in a variety of academic fields and professions, including but not limited to:

* All Engineering Disciplines: Nuclear, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, etc
* Business Administration Accounting, Operations Management, Marketing, Finance, Procurement/Contracts
* Information Technology, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Systems
* Physical Sciences, Biology, Chemistry, Math/Statistics
* Social Sciences, Public Administration, Economics, Law, Security

Veterans’ preference applies to the selection of Career Interns. Since Career Interns are appointed to positions in the excepted service, agencies must follow the procedures described in 5 CFR 302. There are many options for applying preference within the excepted service.

Features of the Career Intern Program

*  Appointed in the excepted service;
* Subject to OPM qualifications;
* There is no nominating process for the Career Intern Program – applicants apply directly to Federal agencies;
* There is no public notice requirement for Career Intern appointments;
* Appointments are not subject to Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program requirements;
* Agencies have several options in terms of how they apply veterans’ preference when making Career Intern appointments;
* Initial appointments can be made at any grade level for which the agency has a formal training program in place; the intent of the program is an initial appointment at the GS 5, 7, 9 level;
* May be appointed year round;
* No limitation on promotion potential;
* Has a return right provision for career/career conditional employees within an agency or agency component;
* OPM does not serve as a clearinghouse of available training opportunities;
* Requires a 2 year formal training and development program;
* Does not require participants to go on rotational assignments;
* Administered by the agencies, not OPMQualification Requirements
* U.S. citizenship
* A Bachelors, Masters, and/or Doctoral degree (or due to graduate in that school year) **
* Other education requirements, and/or work experience relevant to the position
* Background check

Entry-Level Salary Ranges

GS-5 Pay Grade = $33,269 to $43,251
GS-7 Pay Grade = $41,210 to $53,574
GS-9 Pay Grade = $48,108 to $65,531

Your salary level and pay grade will be determined by your education level, relevant experience, and job location.

APPLY NOW for positions in Washington, DC metro area & Albuquerque, NM.

Find out more about positions with the National Nuclear Security Administration.

Find out more about positions with the Office of Environmental Management.

* Featured benefits are not automatically awarded to all. Award decisions are made based on budget availability and at the hiring manager’s discretion.

The Federal Career Intern Program was created under Executive Order 13162, and is intended for positions at grade levels GS-5, 7, and 9.  In general, individuals are appointed to a 2-year internship.  Upon successful completion of the internships, the interns may be eligible.

© 2009, Tracey de Morsella. All rights reserved. Do not republish.

The Coastal Wind Initiative at the North Carolina Solar Center provides education and outreach on wind energy technology to communities in coastal North Carolina. The Wind Energy Intern will help with the development and delivery of the program’s outreach campaign, including assisting with public workshops, updating factsheets, and managing website content.

The internship position is unpaid and requires a commitment of 10 hours per week, schedule flexible. It is located at the North Carolina Solar Center, with the opportunity for remote work. The summer internship will be from June 2009 – September 2009

The North Carolina Solar Center’s State Observation of Wind Program is part of an effort to increase the use of wind generated renewable electricity by eastern North Carolina residents by allowing them to scientifically assess their wind resource. Created in 1988, the North Carolina Solar Center serves as a clearinghouse for solar and other renewable energy programs, information, research, technical assistance, and training for the citizens of North Carolina and beyond. Through its programs and services, the Solar Center seeks to stabilize energy costs for consumers, stimulate local economies, reduce dependence on foreign fuels, and mitigate the environmental impacts associated with fossil fuels. By capitalizing on its close ties with the state government of North Carolina, North Carolina State University, the renewable energy industry, and various non-profit organizations, the Solar Center has developed into one of the premier renewable energy centers in the United States.

The Solar Center is sponsored by the N.C. Department of Administration’s State Energy Office, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the North Carolina Solar Center Foundation. The Solar Center is operated by the College of Engineering at North Carolina State University.

To apply, please send cover letter and resume to:
Brian Miles
Wind Energy Extension Specialist
North Carolina Solar Center
http://www.ncsc.ncsu.edu/
brian_miles_AT_ncsu_DOT_edu

© 2009, Chris de Morsella. All rights reserved. Do not republish.

Bright Green Talent is an environmentally-focused recruiting firm based out of London and San Francisco. With a young, bright team, we’re working to reinvent the model of recruiting and channel thousands of people into meaningful, green careers.  Because we believe in the power of talented people to shape the future sustainability of our world, we are just as demanding of our interns as we would be of any team member. To thrive in a Bright Green internship, you need to be hard-working, hugely committed and have a history of excellence in everything you do.

Why an internship at Bright Green might interest you;

-    Because you’re interested in working in a vibrant SME environment. We’re small, young and exceptionally ambitious. The environment is entrepreneurial and you can make a lasting mark on the organisation through your efforts.
-    Because you’re keen to get into the sustainability sector. We have a great overview of employment and skills trends in the sector, so what better place to start than right at the centre of it all? Hone your business skills in an organisation that lives its values.
-    Because you like to make things happen. We’re a small company and growing out in every direction at once. Whatever your skills are, you can put them to work as you take charge of your own projects and see them through to completion.

What you’ll be up to;

This is largely dependent on your skill set and interests, but we’re looking for someone who can help build out a concerted marketing effort – performing market research, coordinating other interns working on marketing projects, and creating a smart strategy to help Bright Green Talent expand. We’re also interested in MBAs who have experience building public-private partnerships and would be interested in helping BGT do the same.

Skills and Qualifications:

* MBA or working on it
* Marketing experience preferable
* Thorough knowledge of the green sector

Bright Green interns are outstanding people who can:

* Use their business ’smarts’ to complete tasks quickly and accurately.
* Work hard and proactively drive and get stuck in to a range of tasks.
* Help our team optimise our performance by providing reliable, ruthlessly high quality support.
* Demonstrate their passion for the sustainability agenda.
* Operate a computer, word, spreadsheets etc with a high degree of competence. We use Macs, in case you were wondering.

Practical details:
Monthly muni pass, fresh fruit, and a chance to build a green business from the ground up are all part of the package. No stipend is currently available. Hours and internship length are somewhat flexible.

To apply online, visit the Bright Green Talent online application center

© 2009, Tracey de Morsella. All rights reserved. Do not republish.

The Lopez Community Land Trust (LCLT), a non-profit, community-based organization that acquires land to hold in trust in order to provide for permanent affordable housing in an environmentally sensitive and socially responsible manner is offering sustainable building internships for the Spring, Summer and Fall of 2009 in Lopez Island, WA.

Straw Bale and Natural Plaster Construction

The sustainable internships will include construction with straw bale and natural plaster construction specifically involving mixing and applying lime plasters and washes over earthen plastered straw-bale walls, building trellises as part of the passive solar element, constructing deer fencing, path construction, cob oven construction, and a host of other tasks connected with completing the Common Ground neighborhood. The Housing Internship Program, which runs when the LCLT develops a new housing project, is a unique opportunity for individuals to gain comprehensive, hands-on experience in home construction.

LCLT is in the completion stage of its fourth neighborhood, Common Ground. This latest project includes 11 single-family homes, two studio rentals and an office/resource room. The goal is to have all the buildings achieve zero-net energy within 5 years through use of sustainable building practices and materials. The project incorporates both passive and active solar systems, rainwater catchment, solar hot water systems, rain gardens and natural building methods. Their north, west and east walls incorporate straw bales for high insulation value, ease of construction and use earthen plasters and clay finishes.

Interns come from many different backgrounds and interests, including college students in architecture and construction management programs, persons with interest and commitment to developing sustainable living models including agriculture, people dedicated to seeking solutions to the affordable housing crisis and food security issues, and aspiring owner-builders seeking skills and experience to apply to their own future project. We have had interns participate from the US and 10 countries around the world. Internships on Lopez bring you into an intimate setting, with many opportunities to enjoy the natural surroundings of the San Juan Islands, and the experience of living in an island community where we depend on and celebrate one another.

Internships require a minimum six-week commitment & four days per week on site. Interns receive $100 per week stipend for food and expenses. Housing and/or tenting are available, and require a day of work-trade in exchange.

How To Apply

1. Please begin the application process by completing the “Intern Construction or Sustainable Agriculture Application”, and returning it to LCLT by email, mail, or fax. No payment is required. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis; we have no fixed deadlines for
applying.

2. Construction interns need to review the “Construction Agreement”. Signing is not necessary until you become an intern with LCLT, but it is important to understand and agree to the terms of our agreement.

3. LCLT will contact you after reviewing your application, usually within three weeks.

Still Have Questions

For more information on this internship see: Lopez Community Land Trust Sustainable Building Internships

If you have questions before you apply, please contact Jan Scilipoti at 360-468-3723 or lcltadmin_AT_rockisland_DOT_com.

© 2009 – 2010, Chris de Morsella. All rights reserved. Do not republish.

The Lopez Community Land Trust (LCLT), a non-profit, community-based organization that acquires land to hold in trust in order to provide for permanent affordable housing in an environmentally sensitive and socially responsible manner.

Internships require a minimum six-week commitment & four days per week on site. Interns
receive $100 per week stipend for food and expenses. Housing and/or tenting are available, and require a day of work-trade in exchange.

Sustainable Agriculture Internships

Spring/Summer/Fall 2009 on Lopez Island in Washington
Sustainable Agriculture internships offer work experience on organic farms and research work for future projects. Opportunities are available for touring permaculture operations and biodynamic farms in the area as well. Work sites include an oxen operated organic farm, an organic vineyard, an organic berry farm, soil building and permaculture for the latest affordable housing project, and some work with the farm-to-school program. Interns will be expected to exhibit initiative and self-motivation, and treat the experience in much the same way as they would employment. Since sustainable agriculture interns are distributed throughout the island farms, at least one evening a week interns are required to meet together with all other sustainable agriculture interns and LCLT staff.

How To Apply

1. Please begin the application process by completing the “Intern Construction or Sustainable Agriculture Application”, and returning it to LCLT by email, mail, or fax. No payment is required. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis; we have no fixed deadlines for
applying.

2. Construction interns need to review the “Construction Agreement”. Signing is not necessary until you become an intern with LCLT, but it is important to understand and agree to the terms of our agreement.

3. LCLT will contact you after reviewing your application, usually within three weeks.

Still Have Questions

For more information on this internship see: Lopez Community Land Trust Sustainable Building Internships

If you have questions before you apply, please contact Jan Scilipoti at 360-468-3723 or lcltadmin_AT_rockisland_DOT_com.

© 2009, Chris de Morsella. All rights reserved. Do not republish.

Justmeans is recruiting a cohort of CSR and Social Media Summer Interns for the summer of 2009. Applicants should be enrolled in, or have just completed an MBA program and have an interest in sustainability, social enterprise, corporate social responsibility and responsible investing.

Application instructions: Applicants will answer one of the following two questions reflecting their philosophy related to sustainability and responsibility. Then, applicants will invite their friends and networks to vote and comment on their idea. Once an idea is submitted, further application instructions will be provided in a confirmation email.

Questions:

1. Is Social Responsibility more or less important in a recession?
2. Why is the Press Release dead?

Internship Description:

The cohort of interns will work in the Justmeans New York City or London offices (three in midtown Manhattan, and two in central London) on the business development of Justmeans as we grow and expand into new markets. Projects include but will not be limited to: the development and implementation of a sales and marketing plan for our awards program being developed in conjunction with The Financial Times, marketing and sales of our Event Connector technology tool, managing client needs, and sales of our communication tools.

Applicant Required Qualifications:

* The entrepreneurial zeal, analytical acumen, humbleness and stamina to engage in the fast-paced and intense nature of the realities of a start-up company in the midst of extraordinary growth.
* Innovative problem solving capabilities with superior interpersonal skills suitable for interacting with a wide range of executives.
* The interpersonal skills to listen to partners, to understand client needs and to seamlessly transform requests into action.
*Superior writing and communication skills.
*An upbeat demeanor along with a sense of humor, a positive can-do attitude, and the humility to regularly incorporate the feedback of others into the work processes.
*A Bachelor’s degree is required; the ideal candidates will be enrolled in or have recently completed an MBA program.

Benefits include:

* Participation in Justmeans strategy sessions
*Monthly thought-leader dinners with key executives from leading companies and social enterprises
*Full resume review and ongoing job search strategizing throughout 2010
*Recommendations and personal introductions to key thought leaders in the social responsibility movement

Submit your idea on the Just Means web site.

© 2009, Tracey de Morsella. All rights reserved. Do not republish.

In the poorest developing countries, indoor air pollution from burning solid fuels is the largest cause of disease and death after malnutrition, unsafe sex, and lack of safe water and adequate sanitation. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that indoor air pollution causes 1.5 million deaths annually in developing countries due to pneumonia, chronic respiratory disease, and lung cancer. This situation is particularly prevalent in Mali and Ghana, where the overwhelming majority of households cook with charcoal and fuelwood.  In addition to health effects, cooking with these fuels causes deforestation and releases large quantities of greenhouse gases.

E+Co’s model leverages the private sector and market forces to promote clean energy sources that address these issues. E+Co has invested in Toyola Energy Limited in Ghana and Katene Kadji in Mali, two companies that manufacture and sell efficient household cookstoves that burn about 40% less charcoal than their inefficient counterparts. These stoves mitigate indoor air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions and curb deforestation. In addition to traditional financing, E+Co is helping Toyola and Katene to develop and sell carbon offsets from the stoves. The offsets will be sold to a major investment bank to offset their climate change impact as part of their corporate social responsibility efforts, while the funds generated from the sale of offsets will subsidize the cost of stoves to end users and to grow these businesses.

The intern should address how Toyola and Katene can completely saturate the efficient stove markets in Ghana and Mali. As is consistent with E+Co’s mission, this will require an analysis of private sector industry growth potential. More specifically, E+Co hopes to leverage Toyola’s and Katene’s organizational strengths and anticipated carbon revenues to quadruple sales over the coming year. Students will be asked to identify barriers to industry growth and propose solutions to overcome those barriers. This could include, but should not be limited to investigations around mechanization, broadened distribution channels, marketing, industry growth bottlenecks, pricing sensitivity analyses, etc.

The final deliverables and recommendations should be similar to those of a management consulting engagement. In addition to a written report outlining the recommendations, students should present recommendations directly to the managers of Toyola in Ghana and Katene in Mali at the conclusion of their fieldwork. Prior management consulting experience is highly desirable and written and oral fluency in French is required (all communication in Mali will be in French). The internship will include fieldwork in Mali and Ghana during the 2009 summer break.

If our partner companies in Ghana and Mali are convinced of its value, the final product will be implemented in those two nations to help expand access to fuel efficient cookstoves nationwide.

E+Co is a non-profit company that couples business training with affordable investment capital to establish and grow sustainable energy companies in the developing world.

Number of Interns Needed: Two (work as a team to assess two companies in Mali and Ghana)
Languages: French and English a must
Compensation: This is an unpaid internship.

Please send letter of interest and resume to:   Erik Wurster, Carbon Finance Manager, erik(dot)wurster(at)eandco(dot)net
Deadline: April 30, 2009

E+Co
383 Franklin Street
Bloomfield, NJ, 07003 USA
Tel: +1.973.680.9100
Fax: +1.973.680.8066
Email: EandCo.USA AT EandCo Dot Net

© 2009, Tracey de Morsella. All rights reserved. Do not republish.

Ceres is seeking a small number of dynamic, committed interns who would find it exciting to be at the center of one of the most effective corporate social responsibility groups in the world.

Ceres interns support program staff working with a wide variety of constituents within the Ceres network: environmental activists, investors, funders, and corporations. While providing some administrative support, interns will primarily work in one of the following areas using skills in research, project coordination, IT and communications.

* Investor Network on Climate Risk (INCR), a $7 trillion network of investors which promotes better understanding and advocacy concerning the risks of climate change among institutional investors
* Industry programs, which seek to create positive change in specific industries such as insurance, oil and gas, and electric power
* Corporate accountability and coalition programs, which build Ceres’ capacity as a force for change through corporate sustainability reporting and stakeholder engagement with companies
* Ceres’ annual conference and other significant programmatic events
* Development, which focuses on working with individual, corporate, and foundation donors
* Communications, which deals with press relations and print, web, and email communications

Internship positions are full time (40 hours) and will last eight (8) weeks; exact start and end dates are flexible, but are generally June 8, 2009 and July 31, 2009.   Ceres provides a $3000 stipend each for six interns and may be able to accommodate additional interns who do not require a stipend.

Ceres (pronounced “series”) is a national network of investors, environmental organizations and other public interest groups working with companies and investors to address sustainability challenges such as global climate change. Ceres’ mission is to integrated sustainability into capital markets for the health of the planet and its people.

How to Apply

* Send a resume and cover letter to careers@ceres.org
* Ceres is an equal opportunity employer and seeks qualified applicants without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation.

Address all correspondence to:

Ceres Intern Program – Summer 2009
99 Chauncy St., 6th Floor
Boston, MA 02111
Email:  careers@ceres.org
For more information, 617-247-0700

© 2009, Tracey de Morsella. All rights reserved. Do not republish.