Sustainable Landscapes Intern

Hiring Unit: IU Office of Sustainability 

Job Title: Sustainable Landscapes Intern  

Hourly rate: $13 for undergraduate students; $15 for graduate students 
Hours: 10-20 hours/week  

About IU Sustainability 

IU Sustainability is committed to creating a culture of sustainability and advancing sustainability across all campuses of Indiana University. Our vision is to be recognized as a national leader in sustainability while supporting student success and the well-being of citizens of communities near the university’s campuses, the state of Indiana, and beyond. By utilizing our campuses as test beds for sustainability, we are establishing innovative solutions in our own community and developing bold solutions for the classroom, the campus, and host communities through diverse partnerships. 

Position Summary / Purpose:   

The Sustainable Landscapes Interns, in partnership with IU facility operations, landscape services, and outdoor programming staff, will play a direct role in strengthening IU’s commitment to sustainable, beautiful, and functional campus landscapes across IU. Interns perform various field data collection processes, analyze GIS & environmental data, and assist in campus sustainability reporting to support campus tree, soil, water, pollinator, and other human / environmental health focused initiatives. Students regularly connect the IU community to campus green spaces by leading engagement events and highlighting campus greenspace through public recognition programs (Tree Campus Higher Education & Bee Campus USA). Interns will have opportunities to inform IU community members on ways to beautify IU and both inform decision making and implement changes towards sustainable landscape best practices at Indiana University. 

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities include: 

Tree Campus Higher Education and Bee Campus USA programs (40%) 

Manage and/or support the Tree/Bee Campus Committee on each of IU’s campuses: coordinate meetings, agendas, minutes, speakers, and activities 

Coordinate service learning and volunteer events, including campus tree plantings, green space cleanups, education efforts, and others. Examples include: Arbor Day, Campus Sustainability Day/Month, Earth Month, native plantings, invasive removals, etc.  

Responsible, on some campuses, for drafting and submitting IU’s annual Tree Campus Higher Education and Bee Campus USA applications 

Work with facility operations and landscape architects' office staff to review, modify, and update campus tree care plans and/or initiatives 

Assist IU Sustainability with the annual Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS) reporting in the following report categories: (10%) 

Grounds – OP9 Landscape Management & OP10 Biodiversity 

Water – OP22 Water Use & OP23 Rainwater Management  

Sustainable Grounds Practice Implementation & Outreach (40%) 

Assist facility operations staff with developing best sustainable landscape practices for IU, including:  

Update the GIS tree inventory database during inventory years in alignment with statewide data collection protocols – may include soil or other environmental data 

Tracking chemical & pesticide application 

Quantifying equipment and vehicle fuel usage and continuing efforts to electrify the grounds equipment 

Developing a training program for grounds staff for care of native plants: rain gardens, plant identification, best practices, etc.   

Conducting a biodiversity assessment of campus 

Drafting additions to campus interactive maps’ sustainability tabs 

Support data collection and programs related to the Woodland Campus Initiative 

Other Duties as Assigned (10%) 

Assisting with other sustainability programs and initiatives 

Collaborating with student organizations 

Grant writing and seeking other funding sources 

Higher ed / sustainability professional development & training opportunities 

Eligibility and Requirements 

Required Qualifications 

IU undergraduate and graduate students; must maintain student status for the duration of the internship 

Have and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or greater 

Must be reliable and possess strong organizational skills 

Strong desire and ability to learn 

Preferred Qualifications 

Familiarity in principles of sustainability, arboriculture, and/or sustainable landscape practices 

Strong writing and communication skills 

Experience working with large, complex datasets 

Necessary Tools and Equipment: 

Weather appropriate clothing, cell phone, and a laptop computer are required. Measuring tape, a tree caliper, and a tablet will be provided. Hat, sunscreen, and transportation options to navigate campuses are recommended but not required. Training to use and access university fleet vehicles may be available. 

Physical Demands: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee must be able to work outdoors, often exposed to heat and direct sun. They will need to walk, squat, and kneel for intermittent durations of time. The employee must use hands and fingers to feel, handle, or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. 

Work Environment: 

The work is performed primarily outdoors and thus there is exposure to the elements of nature (heat/sun, rain/chill). This student employee will be expected to work at least one day in the office and attend in-person staff meetings. The remainder of their work may be able to be done remotely, on or off campus. The noise level in the work environment is moderate. 

Characteristics of a Strong Candidate/Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:  
The following are essential for this position: initiative, self-motivation, attention to detail, highly organized, skills/familiarity with ArcGIS and Excel or ability to learn the programs, professionalism, ease with working with many different types of people, volunteer experience, a natural ease in new situations, ability and willingness to work in outdoor conditions. In good academic standing. Knowledge about tree identification and sustainable landscape practices preferred but not required. 

Application: 
To apply, upload the following: 

Resume 

A brief, written response to the following questions:  

(1) Why is sustainability important to you?  

(2) Why is sustainable landscape management important for IU?  

(3) What do you hope to learn as a result of this experience?  

(4) How will this internship help you move forward in your academic or professional career?