Sustainable Landscapes Intern

Indiana University is hiring a Sustainable Landscapes Intern in Bloomington, IN, to support sustainability initiatives on campus. The intern will collect and analyze environmental data, assist in sustainability reporting, lead community engagement events, coordinate volunteer activities, and collaborate with facility operations. Responsibilities include managing tree and bee campus programs, updating GIS databases, and developing sustainable landscape practices. This position involves hands-on work on campus and is not remote.
Department

CAPITAL PLANNING & FACILITIES (UA-VPAD-IUBLA)

Department Information

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.

Job Summary

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

Department Specific Responsibilities
• Perform various field data collection processes, analyze GIS and environmental data.
• Assists in campus sustainability reporting to support campus tree, soil, water, pollinator, and other human / environmental health focused initiatives.
• Regularly connects the IU community to campus green spaces by leading engagement events and highlighting campus greenspace through public recognition programs (Tree Campus Higher Education and Bee Campus USA).
• 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.
• Tree Campus Higher Education and Bee Campus USA programs
• Manages and/or supports the Tree/Bee Campus Committee on each of IU's campuses: coordinates meetings, agendas, minutes, speakers, and activities.
• Coordinates 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.
• Works with facility operations and landscape architects' office staff to review, modify, and update campus tree care plans and/or initiatives.
• Assists IU Sustainability with the annual Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS) reporting in the following report categories: Grounds, OP9 Landscape Management, and OP10 Biodiversity, Water, OP22 Water Use and OP23 Rainwater Management.
• Sustainable Grounds Practice Implementation and Outreach.
• Assists facility operations staff with developing best sustainable landscape practices for IU.
• Updates the GIS tree inventory database during inventory years in alignment with statewide data collection protocols, may include soil or other environmental data.
• Tracks chemical and pesticide application.
• Quantifies equipment and vehicle fuel usage and continuing efforts to electrify the grounds equipment.
• Develops a training program for grounds staff for care of native plants: rain gardens, plant identification, best practices, etc.
• Conducts a Biodiversity assessment of campus.
• Drafts additions to campus interactive maps' sustainability tabs.
• Supports data collection and programs related to the Woodland Campus Initiative.
• Other Duties as Assigned.
• Assists with other sustainability programs and initiatives.
• Collaborates with student organizations.
• Grant writes and seeks other funding sources.
• Higher ed /sustainability professional development and training opportunities.

Qualifications

EDUCATION

Required
• 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

SKILLS

Required
• Reliable and possesses strong organizational skills
• Strong desire and ability to learn

Preferred
• Familiarity in principles of sustainability, arboriculture, and/or sustainable landscape practices
• Strong writing and communication skills
• Experience working with large, complex datasets
• Ability to take initiative
• Ability to have self-motivation, attention to detail
• Familiarity with ArcGIS and Excel
• 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
• Knowledge about tree identification and sustainable landscape practices

Working Conditions / 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 position oneself at lower levels for intermittent durations of time. Must be able to operate objects, tools, or controls and obtain items or perform work from low or high levels." The employee must occasionally move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

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.

Work Location

Bloomington, Indiana

This position is eligible to work a hybrid schedule (mix between 4 remote work days and 1 in-person workday), subject to change in the future based on university policy and business needs.

Job Classification

Career Level: Part Time Employee

FLSA: Nonexempt

Job Function: Part Time Employee

Job Family: Part Time Student Employee
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Posting Disclaimer

This posting is scheduled to close at 11:59 pm EST on the advertised Close Date. This posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University, but will remain open for a minimum of 5 business days. To guarantee full consideration, please submit your application within 5 business days of the Posted Date.

If you wish to include a cover letter, you may include it with your resume when uploading attachments.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and provider of ADA services and prohibits discrimination in hiring. See Indiana University Notice of Non-Discrimination here which includes contact information.

Campus Safety and Security

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, containing policy statements, crime and fire statistics for all Indiana University campuses, is available online. You may also request a physical copy by emailing IU Public Safety at iups@iu.edu or by visiting IUPD.

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