Sustainability Intern - San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 34,000; Part time

Job summary

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is seeking a Sustainability Intern to help operationalize a centralized dashboard using Power BI, mapping energy, water and waste across our campuses. You will standardize data collection, identify tracking gaps, and propose system improvements or sub-metering solutions to establish a clear baseline and highlight cost-saving opportunities.

Collaborating with internal teams and consultants, you will prepare insights and a capstone presentation that makes a

Qualifications

• Pursuing or planning to pursue an undergraduate degree.
• Must be 18 years or older.
• Experience with data analysis or sustainability projects is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Assist in refining and maintaining the Environmental Resource Reporting Dashboard.
• Collect and input periodic utility data using standardized protocols across campuses (San Diego Zoo, Safari Park, and other sites).
• Identify data gaps, baseline metrics, and propose improvements or sub-metering solutions.

Skills

Analytical skills

Data visualization

Communication skills

Independent work

Team collaboration

Data gathering techniques

Problem solving

Adaptability

Education

Pursuing undergraduate degree

Tools

Power BI

Excel

Job description

HOW YOU WILL IMPACT OUR MISSION

The Sustainability Intern will collaborate with our team and external consultants to operationalize and refine vital tools that support our environmental and resource management goals. By leveraging a newly established reporting framework, this intern will assist in the development, fine-tuning, and maintenance of a centralized dashboard—using Microsoft Power BI or a similar platform—to seamlessly map and evaluate energy, water, and waste use across our campuses. Additionally, they will execute standardized data collection protocols, identify tracking gaps, and recommend innovative systems or sub-metering solutions. Ultimately, this work will help us establish a clear operational baseline, pinpoint cost-saving opportunities, and guide strategies to continuously monitor and enhance SDZWA’s sustainability initiatives.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Collaborates with internal teams and consultants to fine-tune and maintain the Environmental Resource Reporting Dashboard. Assists in tracking progress and extracting insights from the data to continuously monitor, measure, and enhance sustainability programs.
• Executes the standardized Environmental Resource Reporting Dashboard Protocol to collect and input periodic utility data. Segments this data to break down our campuses, including the San Diego Zoo, Safari Park, and auxiliary sites, into distinct zones based on existing meters to review variances in resource use and pinpoint high-priority areas for cost savings.
• Evaluates current data, historic reporting, and existing resources against our new reporting framework to identify missing information and establish key baseline metrics. Researches and recommends operational changes, new systems, or resources to enhance responsible resource stewardship. Culminates in a final capstone presentation that outlines key data insights and presents a compelling business case for strategies that drive operational cost savings while advancing SDZWA’s sustainability goals.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Applicants must be currently pursuing or planning to pursue an undergraduate degree. Candidates who will have completed a bachelor’s degree prior to the end of the internship are not eligible.

JOB EXPERIENCE

• Training and/or experience that would demonstrate the essential functions, knowledge and skills listed.
• Must be 18 years of age or older

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

• Strong familiarity with Microsoft Power BI, Excel, and data visualization tools.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to conduct research, interpret utility data, and present actionable business insights.
• Preferred previous experience in conservation research, sustainability, or community engagement.
• Able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Able to work effectively with others in a diverse environment and with diverse populations.
• Able to learn and perform data and sample gathering techniques.
• Experience with qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Familiarity with conservation issues and strategies.