Sustainability Internships
Sustainability internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience working alongside working sustainability practitioners, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Roles across Manufacturing are active now, with Aramark, Coke Florida, and Lincoln Electric among the employers posting roles now.
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Supply chain sustainability and human rights due diligence have never been more critical to our organization. As a Supply Chain Sustainability Analyst, you'll play a key role in connecting sustainability initiatives to business objectives, helping strengthen our market position and industry leadership. You will be a part of collaborating with cross-functional teams—including supply chain, procurement, product, and sustainability—to drive efficiency and responsible sourcing across the business. You will contribute to the definition, planning, management, and delivery of various sustainability and human rights-focused projects.
Your Impact 
Demonstrating strong communication and collaboration skills, along with a genuine passion for problem-solving—especially in responsible business—this individual brings excellent organizational and time management abilities. With a process-oriented approach and a continuous drive to simplify and improve, they effectively prioritize assignments and adapt to the demands of a dynamic environment. 
What You'll Do:
- Data Analysis& Impact Assessment: Implement business analysis methodologies to identify and drive long-term supply chain improvements that advance environmental goals, worker well-being, and responsible sourcing standards.
- Project Management& Risk Identification: Assist in all project management, including quantitative and qualitative data analysis, supplier survey campaigns, industry benchmarking, and supply chain risk identification to support regulatory compliance and business value.
- Process Optimization: Identify gaps in processes, contributing to actionable implementation plans.
- Change Management& Supplier Enablement: Support change management initiatives and help develop resources to increase the adoption of responsible sourcing best practices across internal teams and supplier partners.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with stakeholders across supply chain operations, legal, and commodity management to build creative solutions that optimize policies, tools, and reporting—enabling cost efficiency, quality, delivery, human rights accountability, and environmental responsibility.
- Currently enrolled in one of the following:
- An undergraduate degree program (Associate's or Bachelor's); or
- An educational or workforce development program (e.g., Apprenticeship, Boot camp, or Certification).
- Qualifying education and work experience should be in Business, Supply Chain, Sustainability, Environmental studies, or a related program.
- Expected to continue enrollment in a degree or qualifying educational or workforce development program following completion of the internship.
- Solid understanding and experience with project management and coordination.
- Demonstrated interest in the intersection of sustainability, human rights, and business.
At Cisco, we’re revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era – and beyond. We’ve been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds. These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint.
Fueled by the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions. Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you’ll see that the opportunities to grow and build are limitless. We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make really big things happen on a global scale. Because our solutions are everywhere, our impact is everywhere.
We are Cisco, and our power starts with you.
Message to applicants applying to work in the U.S. and/or Canada:
The starting salary range posted for this position is $44,000.00 to $130,000.00 and reflects the projected salary range for new hires in this position in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including incentive compensation*, equity, or benefits.
Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location, market conditions, job-related skillset, experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and/or training. The full salary range for certain locations is listed below. For locations not listed below, the recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process.
U.S. employees are offered benefits, subject to Cisco’s plan eligibility rules, which include medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability coverage, and basic life insurance. Please see the Cisco careers site to discover more benefits and perks. Employees may be eligible to receive grants of Cisco restricted stock units, which vest following continued employment with Cisco for defined periods of time.
U.S. employees are eligible for paid time away as described below, subject to Cisco’s policies:
- 10 paid holidays per full calendar year, plus 1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees
- 1 paid day off for employee’s birthday, paid year-end holiday shutdown, and 4 paid days off for personal wellness determined by Cisco
- Non-exempt employees** receive 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year, accrued at rate of 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time employees
- Exempt employees participate in Cisco’s flexible vacation time off program, which has no defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use (subject to availability and some business limitations)
- 80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter, and up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward from one calendar year to the next
- Additional paid time away may be requested to deal with critical or emergency issues for family members
- Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer
Employees on sales plans earn performance-based incentive pay on top of their base salary, which is split between quota and non-quota components, subject to the applicable Cisco plan. For quota-based incentive pay, Cisco typically pays as follows:
- .75% of incentive target for each 1% of revenue attainment up to 50% of quota;
- 1.5% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 50% and 75%;
- 1% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 75% and 100%; and
- Once performance exceeds 100% attainment, incentive rates are at or above 1% for each 1% of attainment with no cap on incentive compensation.
The applicable full salary ranges for this position, by specific state, are listed below:
New York City Metro Area:
$44,000.00 - $185,000.00
Non-Metro New York state& Washington state:
$44,000.00 - $185,000.00
- For quota-based sales roles on Cisco’s sales plan, the ranges provided in this posting include base pay and sales target incentive compensation combined.
Supply chain sustainability and human rights due diligence have never been more critical to our organization. As a Supply Chain Sustainability Analyst, you'll play a key role in connecting sustainability initiatives to business objectives, helping strengthen our market position and industry leadership. You will be a part of collaborating with cross-functional teams—including supply chain, procurement, product, and sustainability—to drive efficiency and responsible sourcing across the business. You will contribute to the definition, planning, management, and delivery of various sustainability and human rights-focused projects.
Your Impact 
Demonstrating strong communication and collaboration skills, along with a genuine passion for problem-solving—especially in responsible business—this individual brings excellent organizational and time management abilities. With a process-oriented approach and a continuous drive to simplify and improve, they effectively prioritize assignments and adapt to the demands of a dynamic environment. 
What You'll Do:
- Data Analysis& Impact Assessment: Implement business analysis methodologies to identify and drive long-term supply chain improvements that advance environmental goals, worker well-being, and responsible sourcing standards.
- Project Management& Risk Identification: Assist in all project management, including quantitative and qualitative data analysis, supplier survey campaigns, industry benchmarking, and supply chain risk identification to support regulatory compliance and business value.
- Process Optimization: Identify gaps in processes, contributing to actionable implementation plans.
- Change Management& Supplier Enablement: Support change management initiatives and help develop resources to increase the adoption of responsible sourcing best practices across internal teams and supplier partners.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with stakeholders across supply chain operations, legal, and commodity management to build creative solutions that optimize policies, tools, and reporting—enabling cost efficiency, quality, delivery, human rights accountability, and environmental responsibility.
- Currently enrolled in one of the following:
- An undergraduate degree program (Associate's or Bachelor's); or
- An educational or workforce development program (e.g., Apprenticeship, Boot camp, or Certification).
- Qualifying education and work experience should be in Business, Supply Chain, Sustainability, Environmental studies, or a related program.
- Expected to continue enrollment in a degree or qualifying educational or workforce development program following completion of the internship.
- Solid understanding and experience with project management and coordination.
- Demonstrated interest in the intersection of sustainability, human rights, and business.
At Cisco, we’re revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era – and beyond. We’ve been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds. These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint.
Fueled by the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions. Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you’ll see that the opportunities to grow and build are limitless. We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make really big things happen on a global scale. Because our solutions are everywhere, our impact is everywhere.
We are Cisco, and our power starts with you.
Message to applicants applying to work in the U.S. and/or Canada:
The starting salary range posted for this position is $44,000.00 to $130,000.00 and reflects the projected salary range for new hires in this position in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including incentive compensation*, equity, or benefits.
Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location, market conditions, job-related skillset, experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and/or training. The full salary range for certain locations is listed below. For locations not listed below, the recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process.
U.S. employees are offered benefits, subject to Cisco’s plan eligibility rules, which include medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability coverage, and basic life insurance. Please see the Cisco careers site to discover more benefits and perks. Employees may be eligible to receive grants of Cisco restricted stock units, which vest following continued employment with Cisco for defined periods of time.
U.S. employees are eligible for paid time away as described below, subject to Cisco’s policies:
- 10 paid holidays per full calendar year, plus 1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees
- 1 paid day off for employee’s birthday, paid year-end holiday shutdown, and 4 paid days off for personal wellness determined by Cisco
- Non-exempt employees** receive 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year, accrued at rate of 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time employees
- Exempt employees participate in Cisco’s flexible vacation time off program, which has no defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use (subject to availability and some business limitations)
- 80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter, and up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward from one calendar year to the next
- Additional paid time away may be requested to deal with critical or emergency issues for family members
- Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer
Employees on sales plans earn performance-based incentive pay on top of their base salary, which is split between quota and non-quota components, subject to the applicable Cisco plan. For quota-based incentive pay, Cisco typically pays as follows:
- .75% of incentive target for each 1% of revenue attainment up to 50% of quota;
- 1.5% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 50% and 75%;
- 1% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 75% and 100%; and
- Once performance exceeds 100% attainment, incentive rates are at or above 1% for each 1% of attainment with no cap on incentive compensation.
The applicable full salary ranges for this position, by specific state, are listed below:
New York City Metro Area:
$44,000.00 - $185,000.00
Non-Metro New York state& Washington state:
$44,000.00 - $185,000.00
- For quota-based sales roles on Cisco’s sales plan, the ranges provided in this posting include base pay and sales target incentive compensation combined.
Sustainability Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Manufacturing
Tips for Your Sustainability Internship Search
Apply in the fall for summer roles
Large employers with structured sustainability cohorts open applications the preceding fall and close them well before the new year. Smaller companies and co-ops post closer to their start dates. Map out your target timeline in September and submit to structured programs first, then work through rolling openings as they appear.
Build project evidence before you apply
Hiring teams reviewing sustainability interns expect limited work history and look for documented projects instead. Publish an environmental analysis, complete a lifecycle assessment case study, or build a sustainability dashboard with real data. Name the tools you used, GIS software, emissions calculators, Excel models, and link the work so reviewers can assess it directly.
Work your campus network and apply directly
Campus career fairs surface structured programs tied to your university, and professors or career center staff often know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Apply directly to companies running smaller cohorts alongside campus activity, that combination widens the pool you reach and puts you in front of recruiters through more than one channel.
Practice the sustainability intern screen out loud
Many sustainability intern interviews include a case scenario on environmental trade-offs, a data interpretation exercise, or a policy analysis prompt. Practice answering out loud, explaining your reasoning as you go, interviewers weigh how you think through ambiguous problems as much as the final answer you land on. Run through two or three practice scenarios before your first real screen.
Target structured rotational programs early
Large companies in energy, manufacturing, and consumer goods run rotational sustainability internship programs designed to train people new to the field. These programs recruit in the fall, fill faster than individual team openings, and give broader exposure than a single-placement role. Identify the programs that fit your background and apply in the first wave.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 19% of the sustainability internships listed here. Decide what you can commit to before you start searching, then filter by location and work type on Migrate Mate so you are not sorting through roles you cannot take. Applying only to realistic matches saves time and keeps your focus on the openings worth pursuing.
Sustainability Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a sustainability internship?
Lead with coursework, personal projects, and a portfolio rather than work history, hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. For sustainability candidates, the concrete artifact that gives recruiters something to assess is a documented project showing environmental analysis, lifecycle assessments, or sustainability reporting work. Combine direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a sustainability internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What actually drives it is performance on real project work, the team's open headcount at the end of the summer, and how early you signal interest in returning. Position yourself by delivering on your assigned scope and asking about full-time timelines before your internship ends, without treating the offer as a given.
When should I apply for sustainability internships?
Earlier than most students expect. Large employers with structured cohort programs recruit summer interns the preceding fall, often closing applications before the new year. Smaller companies, nonprofits, and co-op programs post closer to their start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings consistently and applying as soon as a role fits your profile gives you the best chance across both timelines.
Are sustainability internships paid?
Most professional sustainability internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, and listings show it where the employer discloses it. Nonprofit and government internships are more likely to be unpaid or stipend-based than private-sector roles. Reviewing each listing for compensation details before applying helps you prioritize accordingly.
What should a sustainability internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three complete, documented projects that show the tools you used and where the work can be reviewed, for sustainability candidates, that means published environmental analyses, case studies, sustainability audit reports, or linked data visualization work. Add relevant coursework in environmental science, policy, or data analysis. Keep the resume to one page.
Are there remote sustainability internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 81% of the sustainability internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast because they attract applicants from across the country, so apply early and filter by work type to see them before positions close.
What is a sustainability rotational internship?
A sustainability rotational internship places you across two or more teams, often covering areas like corporate environmental reporting, supply chain sustainability, and energy management, within a single program cycle. These programs are designed for people new to the field and give broader exposure than a single-team placement. They recruit early, competition is high, and most programs run application windows in the fall for summer starts.
Can international students get sustainability 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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