Sustainability Internship - Active Ownership

Robeco; Rotterdam; On-site; EUR 11,000 - 16,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Office near Rotterdam Central Station

European collaboration

Job summary

Robeco in Rotterdam offers internships in the Active Ownership team to support engagement and voting efforts for sustainable investing. Interns join a baseline research project group, delivering significant research output and taking part in conference calls with investee companies.

The internship lasts 4–6 months, full-time (40 hours/week), and is open to final-stage MSc students across environmental science, sociology, philosophy, biology, or business/finance.

Qualifications

• MSc students from a broad range of studies including environmental science, sociology, philosophy, biology, or business administration and finance.
• Strong research, analysis and writing skills; clear communication in a diverse environment.
• Familiarity with AI-tools, including prompt design, would be an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Support baseline research by defining engagement objectives within the project group.
• Deliver significant research output for clients as part of the project team.
• Participate in conference calls with invested companies to discuss sustainability strategy.
• Contribute to assessments of sustainability performance and engagement preparations.

Skills

Research

Analysis

Writing

Communication

AI Tools

Education

MSc student (environmental science, sociology, philosophy, biology, or business/finance)

Job description

At Robeco, we believe that integrating ESG factors enables us to make better-informed investment decisions. Actively exercising our influence and stewardship responsibilities through engagement and voting is an integral part of Robeco’s approach to sustainable investing.

The Active Ownership team conducts engagement with more than 200 companies in our investment portfolio to encourage them to improve their performance on environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) issues. The objectives of our engagements can range from ensuring companies adopt climate transition plans and conduct due diligence on human rights in their supply chains, to appointing independent directors and safeguarding shareholders’ rights.

What you’ll do

Interns support this process by taking part in the baseline research project group that defines the engagement objectives. The projects typically take 4 to 6 months and the interns are an integral part of the project working group, delivering significant research output for our clients. You will also participate in the conference calls with the companies we invest in to discuss their sustainability strategy.

The projects cover all aspects of the sustainability investing research space. This can range from individual assessments of companies’ sustainability performance, to preparations for engagement through the analysis of peer groups, regulatory developments, and salient issues affecting companies globally.

Examples of previous projects include assessing companies' climate transition plans, developing assessment frameworks for climate physical risk management, researching corporate operations in Conflict Affected and High-Risk Areas (CAHRAs), supporting biodiversity-focused engagements along the supply chains of transition minerals, and assessing companies’ potential contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

What we’re looking for

• We are interested in working with final stage MSc students from a broad range of studies from environmental science, sociology, philosophy, or biology to business administration and finance.
• Research, analysis, and writing skills for company profiling, with an ability to discern broad/vague information; strong and clear communication skills; and an ability to work comfortably within a diverse environment.
• Familiarity with employing AI-tools, including prompt design, would be an advantage.
• Availability to work full time (40h/w) for a period of 4-6 months.
• All the internship vacancies at Robeco in Rotterdam are open only to students enrolled at a university during the entire duration of their internship. Our interns must also be eligible for a residence permit to do an internship in the Netherlands. This means we can recruit EU citizens studying at a global university or non-EU citizens studying at a Dutch university.

What We Offer

• Collaboration with experienced teams across Europe and beyond.
• A modern, spacious office directly opposite Rotterdam Central Station, making sustainable commuting easy.
• A collaborative, diverse and inclusive work environment where innovation is encouraged and your voice genuinely matters.
• An informal, energetic, and highly motivated team that values trust, collaboration, and shared success.

Diversity and Inclusion

At Robeco, we want to grow every day: as a company and as an employer. To do better, we listen to and learn from society, our clients and, first and foremost, our colleagues. We treasure the diversity of our people and the range of perspectives and thinking they bring. Just as we diversify within our investment strategies to be more successful, we know these differences within our own company make us more innovative, flexible and resilient: for ourselves and all our stakeholders. Together, we aim for a culture of connection and create a workplace where colleagues feel safe, included, valued and empowered to be their best, regardless of the way they look, where they come from or who they love. Because when we all thrive, so can Robeco.

Research shows that female candidates only apply if they meet 100% of the requirements, while male candidates already do so at 60%. Are you hesitant about whether you meet all requirements? Please do apply, we’re looking forward to hearing from you.

About Robeco

Robeco is an international pure-play asset manager founded in 1929 in the Netherlands. We help clients achieve their financial and sustainability goals by providing superior investment returns and solutions, with a strong focus on sustainable investing, quantitative strategies, fundamental equity and fixed income investments. With over EUR 406 billion in client assets (as of June 2026), we serve a broad client base - from institutional to private investors - across Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas. Headquartered in Rotterdam with 16 offices worldwide, we combine an entrepreneurial spirit with collaborative, international mindset.

We are actively growing our global market presence and continue to integrate technologies like generative AI and machine learning in our investment processes. These efforts are supported by a strong commitment to operational excellence and to talent development in an inclusive and equitable workplace.