2027 Sustainability Grant Internship

Pork; Clive (IA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Living stipend $1,500

Job summary

The Sustainability Intern at National Pork Board in Clive, IA will work with the grant team to support reporting and grant administration. The main project is to review how production information is captured across levels and propose a practical reporting structure.

The internship provides hands-on exposure to grant management, record maintenance, and reporting workflows. Ideal candidates are pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in agriculture or sustainability, with strong research,

Qualifications

• Pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in agriculture, sustainability, environmental science, data analytics, or related field.
• Strong research, writing, and organizational skills with attention to detail and comfort using Excel.
• Interest in agricultural sustainability and grant management; ability to work independently and in a team.
• Ability to multitask and communicate effectively.

Responsibilities

• Review research and models for capturing production and sustainability information at multiple levels.
• Compare reporting approaches for data consistency and confidentiality across levels.
• Develop a suggested reporting structure with data elements, definitions, and formats.
• Assist with maintaining grant records, archiving, and file completeness.
• Support grant reporting by compiling information and preparing materials.

Skills

Research skills

Written communication

Organizational skills

Team collaboration

Education

Undergrad or grad in agriculture, sustainability or related field

Tools

Excel

Job description

Description

The Sustainability Intern will work extensively 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 across multiple reporting levels and use those findings to recommend a practical reporting structure. The intern will also learn grant management through record maintenance, archiving, and reporting.

Key Responsibilities

• Review research and existing models for capturing agricultural production and sustainability information at multiple levels, such as farm, operation, state, and industry.
• 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 with recommended data elements, definitions, collection methods, and reporting formats. Prepare a research summary and sample template for team review.
• Assist with maintaining grant records, organizing and archiving documentation, and checking 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.

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 and comfort using Excel and shared document systems.
• Interest in agricultural sustainability and grant management, with the ability to work independently and collaborate with a team.
• Ability to work on 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 the ability to work as a self-starter.
• Travel is expected; all expenses for work-related trips are paid.

Criteria for Applying

• Duration of internship: 12 weeks.
• Preferred timeline: May-August 2027, beginning in mid-May.
• Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week.
• Starting pay: $18/hour for undergraduate students or $20/hour for graduate students.
• All intern positions are based at our office in Clive, IA. Interns must be local or relocate for the internship.
• All interns must secure their own housing for the summer. A $1,500 living stipend is provided to all interns.

Industry Experiences

As a group, interns will participate in a packer tour, a farm tour (to be determined), NPIC, the Young Leaders in Ag Conference, and World Pork Expo.

Application deadline is 11/20/2026.

The National Pork Board has responsibility for Checkoff-funded research, promotion and consumer information projects and for communicating with pork producers and the public. The Pork Checkoff funds national and state programs in advertising, consumer information, retail and foodservice marketing, export market promotion, production improvement, technology, swine health, pork safety and environmental management. Applicants should be able to support the mission of the organization with enthusiasm to serve U.S. pork producers.