Sustainability Fellowship

The Sustainability Fellowship at the University of Virginia offers full-time project management roles focused on achieving sustainability goals. The 12-month positions require an undergraduate degree and involve implementing sustainability projects, managing initiatives, and collaborating with team members. Specific roles include Zero Waste Fellow and Sustainable Healthcare Fellow, each with unique responsibilities. The application deadline is May 4, 2025, for a fellowship term from July 14, 2025, to June 26, 2026.
UVA Sustainability Fellowships are full-time, benefitted project management and support positions in UVA’s Office for Sustainability that focus on achievement of the University’s sustainability goals. These positions have a 12-month term limit (not eligible for renewal) and are designed to equip professionals interested in sustainability careers with relevant knowledge, skills, experience, and connections. Multiple Fellows may be appointed dependent on project need.

Fellows must possess an undergraduate degree in any field by the start of their term, but do not need to possess said degree at the time of application. Strong candidates will have experience implementing sustainability-related projects and initiatives, even if not in a professional setting.

UVA Sustainability Fellows will be team players who are also able to work independently using a high level of analytical, process, and people skills. Duties may include:
• Strategizing and implementing a key, longer-term program related to one or more sustainability goals.
• Managing shorter-term special projects as assigned by Fellowship Supervisor.
• Supporting other team members’ initiatives within the Fellow’s area of focus.
• Presenting to high-level collaborators and customers.
• Actively assessing sustainability needs on-Grounds.
• Researching best practices from other institutions and organizations.
• In addition to the above job responsibilities, other duties may be assigned.

Application deadline is May 4, 2025. The fellowship term will be July 14, 2025 through June 26, 2026. Applicants will apply to the Fellowship program broadly then be matched to the most relevant role. For this term, we are seeking to fill two fellowship roles, as follows:

Zero Waste Fellow duties may include:
• Leading zero waste event strategy and execution: including program promotion, trainings, on-site support, volunteer coordination, liaising with UVA Recycling Department, coordinating with area caterers, piloting new resources as needed, and general process/program improvement.
• Supporting waste infrastructure standardization in UVA’s academic facilities.
• Supporting compliance with UVA’s plastic-free requirements.
• Performing waste audits and assist with special collection campaigns including cardboard at move-in, donations at move-out, and Green Games for major athletic events.

Sustainable Healthcare Fellow duties may include:
• Leading clinician and medical student engagement strategy and execution; including presentations, tabling, events, listserv management, communications, possibly facilitating a working group, and general program improvement.
• Supporting and leading new recycling infrastructure site visits, surveys, education, presentations, and rollouts in UVA Medical Center facilities in collaboration with Fellowship Supervisor and Medical Center Environmental Services.
• Researching and sharing best practices from other institutions and Practice Greenhealth.
• Working with Medical Center purchasing stakeholders, clinicians, and others on more sustainable procurement opportunities.
• Supporting award applications related to healthcare sustainability, as needed.
• Performing waste audits, attending Health System Sustainability Committee Meetings, liaising with Practice Greenhealth, and tracking clinician- and medical student-led waste initiatives in progress.

At the conclusion of the 12-month term, UVA Sustainability Fellows will be required to submit a written summary report of accomplishments, including recommendations for current and future initiatives.

Minimum Requirements:
• Education: Bachelor’s degree by start date of position.
• Experience: Some knowledge of sustainability concepts or experience supporting sustainability initiatives

Compensation: $19/hour ($39,520 annually). This is a full-time non-exempt level role with UVA benefits. Employees benefits package highlights include:
• 22 days of paid time off, increasing with service; 15+ paid holidays each year, in addition to paid time off; Community Service Leave
• Health plan with options to meet healthcare and financial needs
• Retirement through the Virginia Retirement System
• Employee wellness program featuring activities to earn up to $500/year

To Apply:

Apply online and search for requisition R0070820. Internal applicants must apply through their UVA Workday profile. Complete the application, and upload the following Required materials; APPLICATION DEADLINE IS MAY 4, 2025:
• CV/Resume (please indicate year/expected year of Bachelor’s degree completion)
• Cover Letter (please indicate if you have a preference over fellowship focus or are interested in both projects.)

Upload all materials into the resume submission field, multiple documents can be submitted into this one field. Alternatively, merge all documents into one PDF for submission. Applications that do not contain all required documents will not receive full consideration.

References will be completed via UVA’s standardized process SkillSurvey. A total of five references will be requested via SkillSurvey during the final phase of the interview process. A total of three references is required.

For questions about the application process, please contact Jessica Speth, at js9rk@virginia.edu.

The University of Virginia, including the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician’s Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person’s perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, and family medical or genetic information.