Business Development Internships
Business development internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on experience running real pipeline and market research projects, mentorship from working business development professionals, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated in Technology & Software, with Travelers, TikTok, and ADT among the employers posting roles now.
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Pattern Energy is a leading renewable energy company that develops, constructs, owns, and operates high-quality wind and solar generation, transmission, and energy storage facilities. Our mission is to transition the world to renewable energy through the sustainable development and responsible operation of facilities with respect for the environment, communities, and cultures where we have a presence.
Our approach begins and ends with establishing trust, accountability, and transparency. Our company values of creative spirit, pride of ownership, follow-through, and a team-first attitude drive us to pursue our mission every day. Our culture supports our values by fostering innovative and critical thinking and a deep belief in living up to our promises.
Internship Purpose
Pattern Energy is seeking a motivated Business Development Intern based in our San Francisco office to support strategic business development initiatives and early-stage land and project prospecting. This internship will provide hands-on exposure to how new renewable energy opportunities are identified, evaluated, and advanced. The intern will work alongside the Business Development team and cross-functional partners to conduct market research, evaluate emerging opportunities, and develop analysis that informs Pattern’s longer-term development strategy.
Internship Accountabilities
- Support research and analysis related to the long-term renewable energy market and development environment.
- Conduct market, industry, competitive, regulatory, and commercial research across the renewable energy markets.
- Analyze market fundamentals and development drivers, including electricity demand, generation trends, transmission considerations, permitting environments, and other factors.
- Assist with early-stage land and project prospecting, including research to identify potential areas for development.
- Assist with commercial and financial analyses, including organizing assumptions, evaluating opportunities, synthesizing findings, and developing recommendations.
- Prepare internal presentations, market assessments, project updates, briefing materials, and decision-support analyses for the Business Development team and company leadership.
- Collaborate with colleagues across Development, Origination, Transmission, Finance, Regulatory, Engineering, Legal, and other functions as appropriate.
- Participate in team meetings and contribute ideas and analysis to help address real-world renewable energy development challenges.
- Complete a meaningful summer project focused on a strategic business development question or opportunity and present findings and recommendations at the conclusion of the internship.
This internship offers the opportunity to:
- Gain exposure to how a renewable energy developer identifies and evaluates the next generation of development opportunities.
- Develop familiarity with the power markets and the regional factors influencing renewable energy investment and development.
- Gain practical exposure to land and project prospecting and early-stage opportunity screening.
- Develop skills in market research, commercial and financial analysis, presentation development, and strategic thinking
- Work alongside experienced professionals across multiple disciplines and participate in Pattern’s broader Early Careers programming
- Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Engineering, Energy, Environmental Studies, Public Policy, Geography/GIS, or a related field.
- Strong analytical, research, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to synthesize complex market and industry information and communicate key findings clearly.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
- Demonstrated intellectual curiosity and interest in renewable energy, electricity markets, energy policy, infrastructure development, or the energy transition.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
The expected starting pay rate for this role is $28.00 - $30.00 USD/Hour. This range is an estimate and pay may be above or below the ranges based on several factors including but not limited to location, work experience, certifications, and education.
Pattern Energy is a leading renewable energy company that develops, constructs, owns, and operates high-quality wind and solar generation, transmission, and energy storage facilities. Our mission is to transition the world to renewable energy through the sustainable development and responsible operation of facilities with respect for the environment, communities, and cultures where we have a presence.
Our approach begins and ends with establishing trust, accountability, and transparency. Our company values of creative spirit, pride of ownership, follow-through, and a team-first attitude drive us to pursue our mission every day. Our culture supports our values by fostering innovative and critical thinking and a deep belief in living up to our promises.
Internship Purpose
Pattern Energy is seeking a motivated Business Development Intern based in our San Francisco office to support strategic business development initiatives and early-stage land and project prospecting. This internship will provide hands-on exposure to how new renewable energy opportunities are identified, evaluated, and advanced. The intern will work alongside the Business Development team and cross-functional partners to conduct market research, evaluate emerging opportunities, and develop analysis that informs Pattern’s longer-term development strategy.
Internship Accountabilities
- Support research and analysis related to the long-term renewable energy market and development environment.
- Conduct market, industry, competitive, regulatory, and commercial research across the renewable energy markets.
- Analyze market fundamentals and development drivers, including electricity demand, generation trends, transmission considerations, permitting environments, and other factors.
- Assist with early-stage land and project prospecting, including research to identify potential areas for development.
- Assist with commercial and financial analyses, including organizing assumptions, evaluating opportunities, synthesizing findings, and developing recommendations.
- Prepare internal presentations, market assessments, project updates, briefing materials, and decision-support analyses for the Business Development team and company leadership.
- Collaborate with colleagues across Development, Origination, Transmission, Finance, Regulatory, Engineering, Legal, and other functions as appropriate.
- Participate in team meetings and contribute ideas and analysis to help address real-world renewable energy development challenges.
- Complete a meaningful summer project focused on a strategic business development question or opportunity and present findings and recommendations at the conclusion of the internship.
This internship offers the opportunity to:
- Gain exposure to how a renewable energy developer identifies and evaluates the next generation of development opportunities.
- Develop familiarity with the power markets and the regional factors influencing renewable energy investment and development.
- Gain practical exposure to land and project prospecting and early-stage opportunity screening.
- Develop skills in market research, commercial and financial analysis, presentation development, and strategic thinking
- Work alongside experienced professionals across multiple disciplines and participate in Pattern’s broader Early Careers programming
- Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Engineering, Energy, Environmental Studies, Public Policy, Geography/GIS, or a related field.
- Strong analytical, research, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to synthesize complex market and industry information and communicate key findings clearly.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
- Demonstrated intellectual curiosity and interest in renewable energy, electricity markets, energy policy, infrastructure development, or the energy transition.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
The expected starting pay rate for this role is $28.00 - $30.00 USD/Hour. This range is an estimate and pay may be above or below the ranges based on several factors including but not limited to location, work experience, certifications, and education.
Business Development Internship Market
Who's Hiring
- Travelers15
- TikTok4
- ADT2
- IDEMIA2
- Maximus2
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
Tips for Your Business Development Internship Search
Apply earlier than you think necessary
Large employers open summer business development internship applications in the fall, often six to nine months before the program starts. Smaller companies and co-op programs post much closer to start dates. Check for new openings regularly so you don't miss a cohort that filled while you were still planning to apply.
Build a project portfolio before you apply
Business development intern hiring teams have no work history to evaluate, so give them something concrete. A documented market analysis, a competitive research deck, or a modeled sales territory plan shows analytical and commercial thinking. Host it somewhere accessible, a personal site or a shared document, and link it directly from your resume.
Work your campus network and apply directly at the same time
Campus career fairs surface structured internship programs tied to your university, and your professors and career center staff often know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to companies running smaller cohorts alongside campus activity widens the pool you reach and catches openings that never appear at university events.
Practice the business development intern interview out loud
Business development intern screens typically involve a case conversation, a market sizing question, a partnership pitch scenario, or a competitive analysis exercise. Practice your answers out loud before your first interview, explaining your reasoning step by step. Interviewers weigh how you structure a problem and communicate your thinking as much as the conclusion you reach.
Target structured rotational and university programs first
Many larger employers run rotational business development internship programs designed specifically for people new to the field. These cohort programs recruit early, fill their first wave quickly, and usually have defined return-offer processes. Identify the programs that match your background and submit applications as soon as they open rather than waiting for a later round.
Set your work-type filter before you start searching
On-site roles are 21% of the business development internships listed here. Decide whether you can relocate or commute before you begin, then filter by location and work type so you're only reviewing roles you can actually accept. Sorting through listings that don't fit your situation wastes application time during a competitive cycle.
Business Development Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a business development internship?
Lead with coursework, independent projects, and a portfolio rather than work history, hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. A case study, market analysis, or competitive research deck gives recruiters something concrete to assess. Pair direct applications with campus career fairs, where business development recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a business development internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What drives it for business development interns is performance on real work, hitting pipeline targets, contributing to live deals, and demonstrating judgment, combined with available headcount when your intern term ends. Position for a return offer by treating every assignment as a sample of your full-time work, without counting on the outcome.
When should I apply for business development internships?
Earlier than most candidates expect. Large employers recruit summer interns the preceding fall, so applications at those companies open months before the program begins. Smaller companies and co-op programs post much closer to start dates. Because openings appear year-round, checking regularly and applying as soon as a role posts gives you the best chance before cohorts fill.
Are business development internships paid?
Most professional business development internships in the U.S. are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, and listings show pay where the employer chooses to disclose it. Unpaid arrangements are uncommon at established companies and are worth scrutinizing before accepting.
What should a business development internship resume include?
Lead with projects rather than work history. Include two or three complete, documented projects showing the tools you used, a market entry analysis, a competitive landscape report, or a sales pipeline model works well for business development candidates. Add relevant coursework, keep everything to one page, and make sure any linked work is publicly accessible so recruiters can open it immediately.
Are there remote business development internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 79% of the business development internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill quickly, so apply early once you decide what arrangement fits your situation. Use the work-type filter to see only the listings that match what you can commit to.
What is a business development rotational internship?
A rotational business development internship places you in two or three functional areas, such as sales, partnerships, and strategy, over a single internship term. These structured programs are designed for people new to the field and are common at larger technology, consulting, and financial services companies. They recruit early, fill fast, and tend to have formal return-offer processes, so apply in the first round of openings.
Can international students get business development internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
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