Sustainability Fellowships

Supplier Experience Manager

Bristol Seafood, LLC 

Portland, Maine
Position is in person 

About the Host Organization: 
We're on a mission to make seafood your favorite protein. 

Eating more seafood improves your health, reverses trends contributing to climate change, and preserves our freshwater resources. We make it simple for you to eat it more often by sourcing from quality, sustainable fisheries and responsibly producing seafood you love at our facilities on the waterfront in Portland, Maine.  

Bristol Seafood is a certified B Corp, joining a growing movement of business as a force for good. We think nice companies finish first and built our entire model around that idea. It’s not the easy way, but it’s the Bristol way. And that’s the only way we know how to be. 

About the Fellowship position: 
The Supplier Onboarding project aims to revolutionize the way Bristol Seafood manages supplier onboarding by creating a digital experience that integrates food safety, accounting, and B Corp requirements. The current process involves extensive paperwork, which is often duplicative and cumbersome for suppliers. This project will streamline the onboarding process, making it more efficient and user-friendly. The digital system will be dynamic, adapting to the specific needs of each supplier based on their responses.

Outcomes: 

• Develop a comprehensive digital onboarding system for suppliers. 
• Aggregate necessary questions for food safety, accounting, and B Corp requirements. 
• Identify dependent questions and create various response paths. 
• Select and implement a software provider for the onboarding system. 
• Test the system with a subset of suppliers, debug, and modify as needed. 
• Deliver a ready-to-rollout digital onboarding system. 

Desired Qualifications: 

• Experience in project management, process improvement. 
• Passion for sustainability, interest in digital transformation and process optimization. 
• Experience with the B Impact Assessment 
• Organized, communicative, self-starter, positive, enjoys their work. 
• Technical / Specialized Skills: Office365, B Impact Assessment 
• Interests: Seafood, B Corps, Portland, Maine 

Location:  
5 Portland Fish Pier, Portland, Maine 04101 

Work will be performed fully in-person or hybrid. 

Mentor:  
Peter Handy, President & CEO 

Scope 3 Footprint Data & Lifecycle Assessment

Lindt & Sprüngli (USA) Inc.  

Stratham, NH
Position is in person

About the Host Organization: 
Lindt & Sprüngli (USA) is a premium bean-to-bar chocolate manufacturing company, located in Stratham NH. Lindt USA is part of the Lindt & Sprüngli group, a fortune 500 company, which operates factories in over 11 countries (North America and Europe). US based brands include Lindor truffles, Lindt Excellence bars, Ghirardelli chocolate squares, and Russel Stover Chocolates.  

In 2023, the Lindt & Sprüngli group announced their Science Based Targets (approved by SBTi), with long term (2050) net-zero targets. This announcement was paired with a high-level roadmap to achieving targets. The organization is now working on emissions reductions actions and refining scope 3 emissions data. The UNH sustainability fellow project will focus on this effort – to improve scope 3 emissions data quality and develop a Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) of its key franchise products.

About the Fellowship position: 
The main objectives of the project are to a) improve scope 3 data quality, and b) conduct a PCF of Lindt USA’s key franchise products. Both may require collaboration with head office and exchanges with other brands sustainability teams. 

• A scope 3 baseline was established in 2020, however the data quality  needs continuous improvement. The project  is a critical step to developing a detailed subsidiary-specific scope 3 data inventory. Results of the project will be shared with other brands to enhance internal knowledge on the topic, and to develop company specific carbon accounting methodology (note that all carbon accounting must be in accordance to the GHG Protocol per SBTi requirements).  
• As for the PCF, the goal will be to develop product level foot-printing for our top 3 product lines, including detailing the methodology (must be according to the GHG Protocol).  

Outcomes: 

• Scope 3 footprint: updated 2024 scope 3 corporate footprint for Lindt USA and detailed scope 3 calculations methodology, with all assumption and data sources clearly documented (for applicable scope 3 categories only) 
• 1 (or more) Product Carbon Footprint for a key franchise product (ex. chocolate truffle), including detailed documentation on methodology, data sources and assumptions. 

Desired Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree in environmental science, sustainability, engineering, industrial engineering, chemical engineering, or a related field 
• Master's degree preferred  
• Experience performing scope 3 inventories and emissions calculations as part of carbon foot-printing, preferably for food or agricultural products 
• Experience in performing Product Carbon Foot-printing, preferably for food or agricultural products 
• Familiarity with the GHG Protocol, and SBTi requirements 
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with great attention to detail 
• Ability to develop and maintain well organized documentation systems 
• Ability to work collaboratively within cross-functional teams 
• Self-motivated with a proactive approach to learning new tools and methodologies 

Location:  
Lindt & Sprüngli (USA) Inc., One fine chocolate place, Stratham, NH, 03885 

Work will be performed fully in office.  

Mentor:
Elise Ringgenberg, Environment Manager (EHS)

Thermal Energy Networks Suitability Analysis & Outreach

Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission  

Philadelphia, PA 
Position is in person or hybrid

About the Host Organization: 
The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) is the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Greater Philadelphia region, which is the 9-county bi-state region in Pennsylvania and New Jersey that includes the Cities of Philadelphia, Chester, Camden and Trenton. The Greater Philadelphia region comprises 350 municipalities, the majority of which are small or midsize, creating a unique challenge for approaching energy projects. The Sustainability Fellow will be housed under DVRPC’s Community Planning Division in the Office of Sustainable Energy (OSE). The OSE is a small but mighty office that develops energy efficiency and clean energy programs to overcome common barriers and take advantage of regional cooperation. The OSE also provides energy and climate expertise to local governments in the region, convenes with sustainability staff from local governments, and develops strategies to meet local climate and renewable energy goals. Pennsylvania has a very different environmental and renewable energy context than that of New Jersey, particularly regarding state-level capacity, regulations, and renewable energy markets. For this reason, the OSE primarily focuses its efforts on supporting communities and local governments in the collar counties of southeastern Pennsylvania. 

About the Fellowship position: 
This project will be a mix of research and data analysis (including GIS), and outreach and engagement activities, focused on new strategies and policies for creating more efficient, low carbon building energy systems with Thermal Energy Networks (TENs). 

DVRPC has a vision for an equitable, resilient, and sustainable region and the goal to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 across the Philadelphia MSA region, as outlined in our Priority Climate Action Plan and DVRPC’s Long Range Plan, Connections 2050.  In order to meet this goal, we will need to pursue ambitious sustainability initiatives and programs that reduce emissions, prioritize progress in environmental justice communities, and transition the region to a cleaner and more resilient electricity grid. Enhancing opportunities for improving building energy use, which is a primary driver of greenhouse gas emissions in the region, is an essential aspect of a just and sustainable energy transition.  

Thermal Energy Networks (TENs) are a solution that can support an equitable clean energy transition within the building sector. Thermal Energy Networks are neighborhood-scale systems that leverage an existing thermal energy resource, such as geothermal or waste heat from an existing building or facility, to supplement the heating and cooling loads provided to multiple buildings. TENs use a single underground pipe system to connect buildings to a thermal resource and include individual heat pumps at each building in the network. TENs legislation and pilot projects are being implemented or explored in a handful of states across the country as these innovative projects continue to emerge. TENs are one tool in the toolkit for ensuring an equitable clean energy transition for several reasons including 1) the ability to connect a variety of building types, 2) the increased efficiency and cost effectiveness of these systems relative to stand-alone heat pumps, and 3) the ability for these systems to be strategically deployed in underserved communities that otherwise may be the last to transition away from on-site combustion technologies. 

The OSE team is currently conducting research on TENs, including national trends, siting requirements, and implementation best practices. The Fellow will build off of this existing work and analyze data to understand the feasibility of TENs pilot projects within southeastern Pennsylvania (specifically Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties). For this phase of the project, the Fellow will conduct additional research and data analysis, which may include spatial analysis with GIS, using available environmental, socioeconomic, equity, and building data. The Fellow will map locations of potential thermal energy resources and optimal sites for TENs projects, giving priority to sites located in Low Income and Disadvantaged Communities (LIDACs). The Fellow will create a presentation and final report to summarize the results of their site suitability analysis. The Fellow can utilize the support of the Creative Services and GIS teams at DVRPC to help with the graphic design and digital mapping for the presentations, documents, and online resources if needed. 

The Fellow will also develop outreach materials for educating local governments and communities on this topic. Thermal Energy Networks have recently gained momentum in the U.S. with a growing number of states providing legislative and programmatic support. At this time, Pennsylvania state legislation does not specify that gas utilities can sell thermal energy, so DVRPC and its planning partners will need to evaluate the policy and regulatory pathways that will support utility-scale TENs. This research on TENs will support DVRPC’s ability to continue to explore and evaluate the regulatory and implementation pathways for this critical strategy. It will enhance our efforts to communicate to our planning partners the value of TENs as part of a just and equitable clean energy transition for the region.  

In addition to the TENs research, the Fellow will be exposed to and may assist the OSE on tasks related to our other projects as time permits, including the Clean Energy to Communities in-depth partnership, the Comprehensive Climate Action Plan, and the Energy Transition Framework. 

Outcomes: 

The Fellow’s final deliverables will include: 

• A final report that describes the findings of the site suitability analysis for potential Thermal Energy Networks (TENs) pilot projects, which includes maps, charts, and visuals that illustrate optimal sites for TENs, as well as methodologies, data, and site recommendations for potential utility-owned TEN pilot projects.  
• A final presentation to communicate these findings to DVRPC’s partners and potentially individual municipalities with suitable sites.  
• Educational materials (e.g. fact sheets, presentations) to raise awareness about TENs among local governments and communities.  
• If time allows, the Fellow may create digital resources like a webpage on the OSE (DVRPC) website or an ArcGIS StoryMap to highlight key data and recommendations, and/or host meetings or webinars to present their research and suitability analysis findings to a wide audience of stakeholders.  
• The Fellow may assist in drafting language for municipalities and counties to integrate TENs into their local climate action and sustainability plans, helping to pave the way for broader adoption of this emerging technology across the southeastern Pennsylvania region.  

This will be an exciting opportunity to learn about a cutting-edge policy and technical solution that can advance equitable climate solutions regionally. The Fellow will benefit from seeing how regional planning agencies like DVRPC work with a wide range of local governments and other stakeholders to support and advance sustainability.  The Fellow will also further their research, communications and technical skills, with engaged mentorship from the OSE team. 

Desired Qualifications: 

• Academic Background: Graduate students, undergraduate students, and recent graduates with majors in the following subjects or related fields: environmental science, urban planning, public policy, geography, sustainable energy, and/or engineering.  
• Experience:  
  • Coursework, training, experience, and/or interest in renewable energy, energy management, sustainability, climate change, public policy, land use, healthy communities, environmental justice, smart growth or similar topics. 
  • Demonstrated ability to complete technical analyses, and to effectively communicate results to a general audience, is desirable.  
  • Familiarity with energy systems, technologies, and policies. 
  • Coursework, training, and/or experience working with local governments is a plus.  
• Technical Skills:  
  • Experience in spatial data analysis using GIS or a willingness to learn how to use ArcGIS software.  
  • Data analysis, coding, and/or research experience is ideal.  
  • Familiarity with Google Suite and Microsoft Office. 
• General Skills:  
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills. 
  • Comfort with or openness to public speaking.  
  • Stakeholder engagement and outreach. 
  • Problem solving, teamwork, and time management skills.  
  • Curiosity and an eagerness to learn. 

Location:  
Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, 190 N Independence Mall West, Philadelphia, PA

Work will be performed either fully in-person or hybrid with at least two days in the office per week. Our DVRPC office operates on a hybrid working schedule and will provide an on-site workstation to the Fellow at DVRPC. Working in person or in a hybrid format will allow the Fellow to make stronger connections to the DVRPC staff and interns.  

Mentors:  
Lauren Pawlowski, Program Coordinator, Office of Sustainable Energy (Supervisor)
Liz Compitello, Manager, Office of Sustainable Energy is available to provide additional mentorship support. 

Climate Action Business & Innovation Network

ClimateWork Maine  

Portland, Maine 
Position is hybrid 

About the Host Organization: 
CLIMATEWORK MAINE is a network of businesses that are taking action on climate change, to meet its challenges and to seize the opportunities it presents to build a more sustainable economy for the future. It is an organization that is set up to give businesses the information and support that they need, and to connect them with others who share their willingness to take action. We believe that the future success of our businesses – and the success of the state overall – is directly tied to our ability to reduce and adapt to climate change and to embrace new ideas, new companies, and new technologies that help preserve the character and quality of Maine and attract and retain new talent and investments across all of Maine. 

About the Fellowship position: 
In 2025, ClimateWork Maine (CWM) will create, implement, manage, and in future years, expand and enhance the Maine CABIN, a Statewide climate support service system. CWM was created for this very purpose – to help Maine businesses grow and succeed in a carbon-constrained economy. This is a bold, comprehensive, effective, and inclusive project that will engage and connect small businesses, entrepreneurs, and communities with resources needed to grow and succeed and strengthen partnerships within Maine’s environmental ecosystem while confronting the climate crisis head-on.  

The UNHSI Fellow will be a critical team member to help launch the statewide program, and will assist our new Program Manager in outreach and communications related to the Maine CABIN, including development of an online resource to help connect users to information, experts, and resources that will help them grow and succeed in a carbon-constrained economy. 

Outcomes: 
The UNHSI Fellow will assist ClimateWork Maine with developing an online resource library for its member companies, including the following: 

• A catalog of immediate and tangible actions businesses can take to reduce carbon in their buildings, vehicles and purchasing. 
• Resources on how climate change relates to their business and how to measure their climate emissions. 
• Financing opportunities for new equipment, emission-reducing technologies, development of low-carbon solutions (e.g., electricity, heating, electric vehicles, efficient machinery). 
• Accessible information on state & federal rebates or incentives. 
• Practical examples – from within and outside of Maine - of how businesses are implementing low-carbon technologies and reducing emissions across their supply chains. 

The UNHSI Fellow will assist ClimateWork Maine in developing an online and electronic distributable newsletter with information, news articles, and other resources and updates to its member companies. The UNH Fellow will support the Program Manager to develop a communications plan for regular communications, including newsletters, social media marketing, and interactions with the media, seminars, regional meetings, and/or large summits toward the goal of engaging a larger audience of businesses to work on climate change. 

Desired Qualifications: 

• Strong research, communications, and computer skills and an interest in working with the business community on climate-related issues. 
• Excellent verbal, interpersonal and written communications skills, with the ability to present information clearly and effectively.  
• Self-motivated with an ability to work independently and with teams and an ability to organize and prioritize multiple projects and seek direction when needed.  
• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel and PowerPoint) experience is essential. Experience with web site management is also desired. 
• A strong entrepreneurial drive, outstanding communication skills, and good planning and organizational skills.  
• Background or interest in the areas of climate change, energy, sustainability, and/or environmental issues is desired, with a comfort level with applying data analysis.  
• Ability to work collaboratively both internally and with organizational partners. 
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and preference for working in a fast- paced environment. 
• Exceptional written and verbal communications skills, commitment to quality, and ability to manage sensitive materials in a confidential manner. 
• A deep commitment to and enthusiasm for the mission of ClimateWork Maine. 

Location:
ClimateWork Maine, 44 Quebec Street, #3, Portland, Maine 04101 

Work will be performed mostly remote, with a physical location to go to when necessary. The role will also include networking, information, and other events.  

Mentors:  
Jeff Marks, Executive Director  
Sophie Piette, Program Manager 

Economic Mobility Research & Grant Funding 

Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce 

Hampton, NH 
Position is hybrid 

About the Host Organization: 
The Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce serves the Seacoast towns of Seabrook, Hampton Falls, Hampton, Hampton Beach, North Hampton and Rye, New Hampshire. The Chamber represents its members, businesses, and works with the various communities that they represent to support their activities and programs throughout the year. The purpose of this organization is to perform the services needed to the membership and promote the economic growth of its communities. 

About the Fellowship position: 
The Career Pathways Trades Awareness Program, launched in 2020, introduces high school students from Seacoast and Manchester, New Hampshire, to careers in Plumbing, Electrical, HVAC, and Gas/Oil Heat through the NH School of Mechanical Trades. Over the past four years, the program has engaged nearly 200 students, providing them with foundational knowledge about trade careers. Of these participants, 40 have pursued advanced training, and 20 are now employed or actively seeking work in trade-related fields. While not every student finds their calling in the trades, the program has been a transformative steppingstone for many, particularly those who might not otherwise have had access to these career opportunities. Funded by various grants, the current cycle is set to expire in June 2025, putting the program’s future in question despite its demonstrated success in addressing a critical workforce gap in a field with rising unemployment rates. 

The Fellowship project aims to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the program’s impact to date and identify sustainable funding opportunities to ensure its continuation. By securing new grants or partnerships, the project seeks to extend the program’s lifespan and further its mission of connecting students to trade careers while strengthening the local workforce. Additionally, this initiative has the potential to serve as a replicable model for other communities facing similar workforce challenges, highlighting the power of targeted educational programs to catalyze change and drive meaningful, long-term outcomes. 

Outcomes:
The project will deliver a comprehensive analysis report of the Career Pathways Trades Awareness Program, highlighting its impact, successes, and areas for growth since its inception in 2020. A comprehensive list of all program participants to date, including detailed records of their progress toward securing employment in the trades has already been compiled. This list will serve as a foundational resource for tracking individual and collective outcomes, challenges, and successes within the program. This baseline data will be instrumental in guiding future program initiatives and measuring long-term impact. 

Additionally, this project will produce a plan with recommended strategies to secure new funding through grant applications and partnerships, ensuring the program’s continuation beyond June 2025. Then, a framework for scalability and replication can be created based on the current structure of the program, enabling other communities to adopt similar workforce development initiatives. The project’s findings and recommendations will be presented to key stakeholders, providing a clear path forward to sustain and expand this impactful program. Key stakeholders include members of the Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce, the Winnacunnet ELO program, and directors of the NH School of Mechanical Trades, who initially created the Trades Awareness program and want to see it continue to help students find careers in the trades.  

Desired Qualifications: 

• Academic background in data analytics, finance, and/or economics 
• Experience with volunteering and community involvement 
• Personable and outgoing with a strong work ethic 
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office products, Google Drive, Docs, etc. 
• Experience or interest in data analysis and technical writing 
• Interest in campus and community involvement 
• Participation in campus and community groups/clubs with leadership roles/opportunities a plus 

Location:  
Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce, 47 Winnacunnet Road, Hampton, NH, 03842

This position follows a hybrid work model. While many tasks can be completed remotely, regular in-person attendance is required for essential meetings, mentor check-ins, and collaborative activities essential to the role. Candidates should be prepared to work both on-site and remotely, as needed, to meet established outcomes. 

Mentors:  
John Nyhan, President 
Amanda Heintzelman, Project/Program Technical Advisor 

Sustainable Systems Stewardship

Hurricane Island Center for Science & Leadership  

Rockland, Maine
Position is in person

About the Host Organization: 
The Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership is a transformative learning community on Hurricane Island in Penobscot Bay, Maine. Our mission is to integrate scientific research and education to develop leaders prepared to address environmental issues through year-round educational programs and a seasonal, environmentally sustainable island community. Through experiential education programs and research opportunities in STEM disciplines we aim to excite people about doing science and becoming leaders in the next wave of scientific discovery and environmental conservation. Being based on a remote, coastal Maine island, provides both challenges and opportunities to develop specialized sustainable energy, waste, water, and food systems (agriculture and aquaculture), which offer unique and engaging hands-on education opportunities focused on sustainability. 

About the Fellowship position:  
The Sustainability Steward will have the opportunity to engage with Hurricane Island’s summer science programs for middle and high school students and Hurricane Island’s sustainable energy, water, waste, and food systems. Global sustainability is engrained in all of Hurricane Island’s education programs, from the marine and terrestrial ecosystems, sustainable innovations, and the infrastructure that keeps the island running. The Sustainability Steward will engage with program participants on multiple levels with a focus on learning, teaching, and critical thinking around the sustainability of the marine ecosystem and the sustainable innovations that are supporting critical marine industries.  

The 12-week Fellowship program will be structured to accomplish the threefold-objectives of 1) develop curriculum surrounding the sustainability of the marine ecosystem, with special consideration for ecosystem and coastal resiliency, climate driven oceanographic shifts, and sustainable aquaculture and fishing gear development; 2) serving as a co-educator for multiple week-long marine ecology educational programs for middle and high school students, delivering lessons about the marine ecosystem, climate change, and sustainability; 3) collaborate with Hurricane Island’s research team, Aquaculture Manager, and Assistant Education Director to develop on-going data collection projects for student engagement surrounding the sustainable aquaculture gear being tested on Hurricane Island’s 3.2 acre aquaculture farm.  

This position requires living and working on Hurricane Island. Rustic housing is provided for the duration of the 12-week program, and meals are provided when on Hurricane Island. It is expected that the Sustainability Steward will participate as a full member of Hurricane’s intentional community, including following campus policies and community expectations, welcoming visitors and students, participating in community tasks including daily and weekly chores, and performing other duties relating to the organization’s goals and mission. 

Outcomes: 
The first part of the Fellowship will be spent learning about the sustainable systems and the marine ecosystem surrounding Hurricane Island. The Fellow will work closely with the Assistant Director of Education to gain a baseline knowledge of the rocky intertidal zone flora and fauna, local fisheries, planktonic communities, the significance of the rapidly warming Gulf of Maine, and trophic shifts due to climate change. The Fellow will also work with our Facilities Manager to understand the systems which keep the island running. On a smaller scale early on, the Fellow will also work with our research team to understand our aquaculture systems and engage students in the harvest and consumption preparation of sustainable shellfish and sea vegetables. As the Fellow becomes familiar with the systems on the island, they can begin to engage in hands-on science communication practices along with our education team, educating visitors to the island about marine ecosystem sustainability and operating off the grid through informal learning opportunities like intertidal invasive species management, sustainability walks, coastal resiliency lessons, volunteer days, and short workshops.  

The Fellow will work with the Assistant Director of Education and education team to develop new and engaging lessons about the Gulf of Maine and global marine ecosystem through a lens of sustainability. Hurricane Island’s many marine ecology and sustainability lesson plans that have been developed by pervious educators will serve as a starting point for the Fellow as they develop their own curriculum. The goal of this new curriculum is for the students to gain a deeper understanding of the climate driven changes happening in the Gulf of Maine, and the economic impacts and political issues surrounding these topics. Students should walk away from these lessons feeling more prepared as leaders to communicate about these local and global issues. Working alongside the Assistant Director of Education, the Fellow will be given the tools to create engaging and experiential lesson plans and provided with resources to further research such topics. The fellow will serve as an educator on summer science education programs and deliver these lessons to middle and high school students with the support from a co-educator.  

To become familiar with Hurricane Island’s 3.2 acre aquaculture farm and associated research projects, the Fellow will work with the research team to gain a better understanding of the ongoing research projects, especially related to testing new innovations in sustainable aquaculture gear. The Fellow will shadow the research team as they lead students through lessons on juvenile scallops and assist the students in data collection. They will also shadow the research team in data collection for the experimental sustainable gear being tested on the farm. Once they have a foundational understanding of the ongoing projects, the fellow will work to increase integration of science and education on Hurricane Island by developing lesson plans highlighting the testing of innovative gear in collaboration with the Aquaculture Manager and Assistant Director of Education. The Fellow will decide which direction this curriculum can take; it may include data collection for the gear testing, students designing and engineering new ideas, identifying needs for sustainable products within the industry, or taking a deep dive into the manufacturing and problem solving of such products.  

Desired Qualifications:  

• Academic Background 
  • Current undergraduate student 
• Experience 
  • Familiarity with the marine ecosystem 
  • Familiarity with environmental sustainability 
  • Involvement in community service projects, leadership, and social and environmental justice 
  • General familiarity with aquaculture 
  • Interest in working with racial and ethnic minority groups, English language learners, urban youth, low-income communities, immigrant communities, LGBTQ communities, people with special needs, and other groups that are underrepresented in the field of environmental education 
• General / Soft Skills 
  • General comfort leading formal and informal learning experiences with middle and high school students 
  • Demonstrated enthusiasm for teaching 
  • Demonstrated initiative to identify and complete projects and work independently or as part of a team with minimal supervision 
  • Comfort in coordinating and facilitating meetings 
  • Effective communication and interpersonal skills  
  • A growth mindset including a willingness to be coached and openness to feedback 
  • Commitment to equity and inclusion within our community and participation in a culture of continual learning around equity and inclusion work. 
• Technical / Specialized Skills 
  • Experience with environmental data collection and management would be a plus 
  • Capable of safely lifting 50lbs or weight and working on unstable surfaces 
• Interests  
  • General interest in informal learning, place-based education approaches and science communication.  
  • Ability and willingness to work and live in a remote island community with rustic and off-the-grid accommodations where all staff share living and work spaces 

Location: 
The Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership’s mainland office is at 19 Commercial St., Rockland, Maine. Work will be performed on Hurricane Island, which is 12 miles off the coast of Rockland. Housing and meals are provided on Hurricane Island. Hurricane island will provide transportation for all work-related events, and two round-trip ferry tickets each month for personal use. 

Work will be performed fully in-person. 

Mentors:  
Kyle Amergian, Assistant Director of Education & Programs 
Crickett Warner, Island Coordinator 
Will Galloway, Director of Education & Programs  

Minimizing Plastics at a Mission-driven Manufacturer

Hypertherm Associates

Lebanon, NH
Position is in person

About the Host Organization: 
Hypertherm engineers and manufactures industrial cutting products used by companies around the world to build ships, airplanes, and railcars, construct steel buildings, manufacture heavy equipment, and more. Our products include cutting systems, CNCs, and software trusted for performance and reliability that result in increased productivity and profitability for hundreds of thousands of businesses. Founded in 1968 and based in New Hampshire, Hypertherm is a 100 percent Associate owned company, employing more than 1,800 Associates, with operations and partner representation worldwide.  We are a values driven company with a triple bottom-line mission. Hypertherm is committed to carbon neutrality by 2030 as one of its aggressive 2030 sustainability goals.  Learn more at www.hypertherm.com/csr. 

About the Fellowship position:
Hypertherm uses plastics in its products and in its outbound packaging.  While our products are over 98% recyclable by weight, and our packaging is 100% recyclable for our plasma (NH-based) business, we know that we can and must do better.  

The Fellow will research existing, upcoming, and future plastics policy and regulations, and assess Hypertherm’s packaging and products for improvement opportunities, reduction in environmental impact and risk, and alignment with global reporting frameworks such as CDP.   The Fellow will gather data on packaging materials, weights, and dimensions in order to quantify and target improvement opportunities.  

The purpose of the project is to understand our current state, including risks and opportunities, and to create a roadmap of possible best practices to transition us away from some plastics, and toward more circular solutions for the plastics we continue to use.  These efforts are in the context of a 2030 goal of increasing our circular practices and products.  Unlike consumer-packaged goods, industrial goods and their packaging have not received the same scrutiny for their use of durable or single use plastics, so this project could serve as a model for other companies in the industrial space.  The Fellow will work with our Director of Environmental Stewardship, our packaging engineer, and a circular product team.  

Outcomes: 

• Research and summarize current and upcoming plastic packaging and plastic product component regulation and best practices applicable to our use-cases. 
• Create a standardized repeatable process for gathering plastic packaging data using existing life-cycle-management (PLM) software 
• Create a standard process for documenting the plastic resin in product components using existing PLM or CAD software 
• Provide recommendations based on above research to the PowerMax circular product team 
• With sufficient data gathering and knowledge of plastics regulations, recommend the priority opportunities or risks that should be addressed pertaining to plastic packaging or products 
• Create a general roadmap of plastic improvements to target over time. 
• Begin detailed development of a plastics reduction/elimination/change solution to a top priority problem on the roadmap 

Desired Qualifications: 

• Academic Background in sustainability, chemistry, engineering, design, or data science 
• Experience with research, synthesis of complex information, data gathering 
• Ability to self-start, track down information;  communicate face to face;  problem solve 
• Intermediate Excel skills, willingness and ability to learn to use a product lifecycle management software and to view and navigate CAD 
• Interest in environmental impact reduction and creative problem solving 

Location:  
Hypertherm Associates, 71 Heater Road, Lebanon, NH 

Work will be performed fully in-person.

Mentors:  
Robin Tindall, Director of Environmental Stewardship, Corporate Social Responsibility team 
Mike Atneoson, Packaging Engineer, Central Sustaining Engineering  
Stephen Fortin, Staff Engineer, Light Industrial Business Team 

Northern Forest Outdoor Recreation Planning Toolkit

Northern Forest Center 

Concord, NH
Position is hybrid

About the Host Organization: 
The Northern Forest Center is a regional innovation and investment partner working to strengthen rural economies across the Northern Forest region of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York. We believe vibrant communities attract people and businesses that will invest in the future of their community and help steward the forest for future generations. The Center has 25 staff members, about half of whom work out of the central office in Concord, NH and half who work from home offices across the region. The Center puts a high priority on organizational culture and team relationships.  

About the Fellowship position: 
The Center co-hosted the Northern Forest Outdoor Recreation Symposium in May 2024, bringing together more than 150 people invested in a sustainable outdoor recreation economy for this region. One of the primary suggestions that arose from this convening was the need for a toolkit for regional municipalities and non-profits to utilize with specific steps for planning, fundraising, and executing outdoor recreation projects, combined with regional success stories and some initial one-on-one toolkit training. 

Center staff are eager to work with a Sustainability Fellow to create this toolkit. We will help the Fellow identify eight of the most successful outdoor recreation projects in the region and assist in making connections for the Fellow to conduct interviews with key stakeholders. Throughout that process, the Fellow will be working to determine if any replicable commonalities exist among the projects. Those stories will become the basis for case studies and other communication pieces that will be both shared independently and incorporated into the toolkit. Depending on the Fellow’s skills, photography and/or videography may accompany these stories. 

Outcomes: 
In addition to the creation of eight case studies on successful outdoor recreation projects in the region the Center will share via various media outlets- which on their own may spark inspiration for other organizations and municipalities to explore how outdoor recreation may enhance their communities- the Fellow will create a useful and inspiring tool for practitioners in our region who may have great ideas but are unsure exactly how to make their dreams reality. The Center and its partners across the region will use this toolkit to implement real projects on the ground in the years ahead. 

Desired Qualifications: 

• Academic Background 
  This project is suitable for students from a variety of academic backgrounds; no single discipline or area of study is necessary. That said, the project is better suited for a student working toward a BA than a BS. 
• Experience 
  |Applicant should be familiar with multiple form(s) of outdoor recreation – especially trail-based outdoor recreation such as hiking, mountain biking, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing – as a participant and/or volunteer.  
• General / Soft Skills 
  The successful applicant should be comfortable working independently within the context of an integrated and communicative team. They should be naturally inquisitive and confident in reaching out to, conversing with, and asking questions of people they don’t know.
• They must be reliable and motivated, as they will have significant autonomy over their schedule and methods of working as well as prepared to occasionally travel throughout the large Northern Forest region, sometimes on their own, for interviews and documentation. 
• Technical / Specialized Skills 
  This position is well-suited to a skilled writer who can convey stories and ideas in compelling ways (as opposed to scientific writing). The position allows ample opportunities for creativity, and experience with graphic design, Story Mapping, photography, and video editing may all be useful. 
• Interests  
  In addition to personal interest in outdoor recreation, as noted above, the student should be interested in relevant topics such as sustainable tourism, climate resiliency, non-profit leadership, and municipal government. 

Location:  
Northern Forest Center, 18 North Main St., Suite 204, Concord, NH 03301

Work will be performed largely remotely, with frequent regional travel for in-person interviews with project participants. In-person collaboration with the project mentor is possible at our Concord, NH office and at other locations in the Northern Forest as appropriate. Office space is also available in the Concord office for the Fellow to work from and potentially interview and/or meet with project participants. 

Mentor:  
Joe Fox, Outdoor Recreation Manager for the Center

Mission-Aligned Data Analysis Fellow

Prime Buchholz LLC 

Portsmouth, NH  
Position is hybrid

About the Host Organization: 
Prime Buchholz LLC was established in 1988 and has grown to become a leading, uniquely independent investment advisory firm providing comprehensive investment solutions for roughly 250 clients. Headquartered in Portsmouth, NH—with offices in Boston and Atlanta—Prime Buchholz was one of the first investment advisors to develop in-depth expertise in alternative investments such as hedge funds, private equity, and real assets. 

Our clients include educational endowments, private and public foundations, cultural and faith-based organizations, healthcare and insurance organizations, pension plans, and high-net-worth families.  We work closely with our clients to create, implement, and monitor investment policies and asset allocation strategies to meet their unique investment goals. 

Throughout our history, Prime Buchholz has partnered with clients who have sought to align their investments with their missions.  We have been helping clients—from endowments divesting from fossil fuels to foundations proactively investing in solution-oriented products, to organizations seeking to address inequality and promote diversity, to clients seeking managers that integrate sustainability factors into their investment process—create portfolios that reflect their values for three decades. 

About the Fellowship position: 
Our Fellow will assist the Mission-Aligned team in extracting, analyzing, and organizing sustainability and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) data, scoring investment managers on their Mission-Aligned practices, helping the Firm enhance impact reporting to clients such as the University of New Hampshire, and identify ways to augment sustainability efforts at the Firm. 

Under the supervision of the Firm’s Mission-Aligned team, our Sustainability Fellow will: 

• Work with existing data and information systems/research professionals to score investment managers with respect to sustainability and DEI implementation  
• Update information in our central data repository. 
• Utilize artificial intelligence in sourcing mission-aligned related content from existing manager documentation and identify gaps in data 
• Continue building upon the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) tracker 
• Actively make recommendations to improve upon the survey, scoring rubric, and reporting, as well as recommendations to maximize impact of the Firm’s sustainability initiatives. 
• Partner with the Firm’s other interns on a cross-functional project to be presented to senior management. 

Outcomes: 
We aim to have the Fellow establish a process for the use of artificial intelligence in extracting, storing, and scoring investment manager data. In addition to updating our internal database with the responses received from investment managers, the Fellow will produce a report for clients and present the findings to the Firm including senior leadership. The Fellow will also work on a collaborative project alongside the Firm’s other summer interns bringing the lens of sustainability to the effort. 

Desired Qualifications:
We welcome students from a wide range of academic disciplines. Although there is greater emphasis on the use of artificial intelligence this year, only a general interest/understanding is required. Academic training or practical experience in finance and investment management is not a pre-requisite.  We look for students who have:  

• Ability to engage meaningfully and professionally with internal and external parties. 
• Strong communication (verbal and written) skills. 
• Critical thinker and strong analytical skills 
• Attention to detail. 
• Demonstrated success working independently/self-starter. 
• Flexibility.  
• Intellectual curiosity. 
• Comfortable with technology/systems. 

Location:  
Prime Buchholz LLC, 273 Corporate Drive, Portsmouth, NH  
Work will be performed onsite in Portsmouth and online.  

Mentor:
Rachel Rymaszewski, Research, Senior Mission Aligned Investment Analyst 

Eat Local Always Public Engagement  

Sustainable Business Network of MA

Cambridge, MA
Position is hybrid

About the Host Organization:
SBN came into being over thirty years ago with the mission of supporting small businesses as agents of change. Fifteen years ago, the Local Food Program was initiated to support local food businesses and the local food system. SBN’s Local Food Program is the Greater Boston-area Buy Local organization, nonprofits across the state that are tasked by the state to support local farms, fishing, and food makers. We do it through focusing on the demand side of the local food economy. We support local food through wholesale and public engagement programming. Our public engagement programming focuses on elevating the awareness of, demand for, and discourse around local food all year round through the Boston Local Food Festival in September, the Eat Local MA mobile app, and our Eat Local Always campaigns, one month each season. The ELA campaigns support individual farms, fisheries, and food makers through collaborative communications and opportunity events.  

About the Fellowship position: 
We are looking for a creative individual to take the existing library of connections and materials and create a month-long engagement campaign for Eat Local Always, August 2025, including collaborative social media content, public library materials, and in-person events. The individual will have the opportunity to develop new ideas and connections, build on the team’s previous experiences and materials, and explore new ways of connecting to the audience(s). Important priorities in this campaign include uplifting MA/regional fishing and seafood, farms, farmers markets, and food access. 

Through creating buzz around local food happenings and businesses, sharing the joy and abundance of New England’s local food system during high harvest season, this communication campaign elevates the discourse and increases demand for (and appreciation of) local food, and the farms and fisheries that make it possible. We plan to integrate promotion of the Eat Local MA app into the ELA campaign, and connect with other Buy Locals across the state to expand the reach of both efforts. Through connecting the discourse with in-person experiences and an app that can connect people with local-to-them resources and businesses, we expect to have a significant impact on local food interactions. 

Outcomes: 
The Fellow will create the social media and in-person engagement calendar of posts and events, as well as producing the communications and events. They will collaborate with our network (and add to that network) to create engaging deliverables. Deliverables will vary depending on what the fellow develops, and should include: 

• Social media calendar 
• Collaborative posts and reels for social media communications 
• Library materials and engagement 
• Documentary screening with discussion 
• Farm and/or facility tour 
• Other in-person and/or virtual events and engagement 

They will utilize social media platforms’ and the app’s analytics, as well as event attendance to measure reach and impact. We also value the connections and collaborations across businesses, organizations, and government agencies as another metric of success. 

Desired Qualifications: 

• Ability to create visual and/or video content 
• Conversant with social media platforms and communications 
• Capable of reaching out to existing and new partners 
• Capable of learning how to coordinate an in-person event (experience in this would be lovely, but not required) 

Location:  
Sustainable Business Network of MA, 99 Bishop Allen Dr, Cambridge, MA 02139 

Work will be performed hybrid. We are typically in the office Monday through Wednesday, and remote Thursday and Friday. 

Mentors:  
Kerry Kokkinogenis, Local Food Program Manager, SBN

Qualitative Investigation: Entrepreneurship as a Wealth-Building Tool

TAVO 

Newburyport, MA
Position is fully remote

About the Host Organization: 
TAVO’s mission is to reshape the capital landscape for underrepresented entrepreneurs by operating as a purpose-driven investment and advisory business to foster inclusivity, strengthen the economic resiliency of individuals and communities, and create generational wealth. 

About the Fellowship position: 
TAVO is an emerging manager in the investment space. The purpose of the project is to investigate established centers of entrepreneurship across the country to aid in the development of TAVO’s long-term investment strategy, as well as to build potential relationships with underrepresented entrepreneurs scaling their businesses from those areas. Therefore, through our Fellow’s work, we hope to deepen our knowledge of the opportunities to invest in underrepresented entrepreneurs utilizing entrepreneurship as a tool to build wealth and meaningful connections for their communities.  

Outcomes: 
Our Fellow will work to identify a subset of cities and research relevant organizations, accelerators, incubators, and other available resources for entrepreneurs in those areas. The focus of the project will be to create an archive of resources for these entrepreneurs, as well as build partnerships for TAVO that allows us to establish deal flow from incubators and accelerators. The Fellow will work on specific projects such as drafting a curriculum for entrepreneurs and adding to our entrepreneur resource hub. If desired, there will be opportunities for the potential Fellow to explore TAVO’s investment process.  

Additionally, we hope that our Fellow will gain professional experience honing their qualitative research, synthesis, analysis, and communication skills. The Fellow will have the opportunity to shape their summer project according to their specific interests, thus improving their ability to lead and manage a long-term project. Overall, the Fellow will have an opportunity to work with a small but powerful team that champions efficient, collaborative, communicative, and mission-oriented work.  

Desired Qualifications:
The Fellow does not need a specific degree, however interest and/or previous experience in the following fields is preferred: impact investing, social justice/DEI, philanthropy, political science, ethnic studies, and women’s studies.  

Location:  
TAVO, 29 Green St, Newburyport, MA 

Work will be performed fully remote.  

Mentor: 
Aliya Sarris, Senior Associate, Communications & Strategic Projects 

Sustainability Fellowship

Tanbark

Saco, Maine
Position description coming soon!

Sustainable Procurement for Solar & Storage Projects 

BlueWave 

Boston, MA
Position can be fully remote, hybrid or in-person 

About the Host Organization: 
BlueWave's mission is to protect our planet by transforming access to renewable energy. A pioneering renewable energy company and certified B Corp that develops and owns solar and battery storage projects, BlueWave has a long track record of success. To date, BlueWave has developed over 200MW of community solar, more than 80MW of which are agrivoltaic, allowing for both agricultural and solar energy production on the same land. We have helped the industry address fundamental challenges, advancing practices like community solar and dual-use solar at scale, and bring that same spirit to development of stand-alone storage projects that enhance the resiliency of the grid.  After joining Axium Infrastructure in May 2022, BlueWave’s business model transformed from ‘develop and sell’ to developing, building, operating, and maintaining our own assets long term. Today, we are developing several gigawatts of solar and battery storage projects throughout the United States to ensure our grid is reliable and efficient in a clean energy future.  

BlueWave is headquartered in Boston, MA, where roughly 2/3 of employees work from our beautiful Back Bay office. We believe we cannot address the climate crisis without addressing the impacts the energy industry has on marginalized communities. We are committed to expanding access to renewable energy while building projects that reflect the ecological and agrarian values of rural communities. We hold ourselves accountable to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion through our DEI Committee and charitable giving policies. In 2023, BlueWave became a Public Benefit Corporation and renewed our certification as a B Corp to recognize our commitment to protecting the planet.   

About the Fellowship position: 
Since becoming an energy system owner-operator, BlueWave has more capacity to make good on our commitments to people and place throughout the full lifetime of our projects. We also have new layers of responsibilities and opportunities to live our values through the procurement of supplies and construction of our projects. In preparation for our next re-certification as a B-Corp in 2026, we seek a Fellow who will help us examine our supply chains through the lens of equity, human rights and environmentalism—see “Mission Context,” below. Our hope is that once we have a better understanding of our current supply chain, the Fellow will support the creation of policies through which we can better incorporate ethical and environmental concerns into our procurement decisions. This project will support BlueWave’s continued leadership as an innovative solar company, will set an example for others in the industry, and will provide valuable professional experience for the selected candidate. 

We envision the project taking place in two phases. First, the Fellow will conduct an analysis of our current procurement practices. They will review our existing policies and the data that we already have obtained from our vendors. They will then conduct outreach to our vendors to augment this data. Our experience indicates that some vendors and suppliers will be unwilling to share certain data points, either for legal reasons or because they have not mapped their own supply chains. Capturing the data that exists, and learning what is not yet available, will be valuable as we set a baseline from which we can expand our data and improve our processes. 

In the second phase of the project, the Fellow will support the creation of policies, questionnaires, or other mechanisms to enhance BlueWave’s ability to obtain human rights and environmental data in the future. While it is not common for small- or medium-scale solar companies in the United States to have policies like this, European companies provide an example. This project will help BlueWave prepare for upcoming changes to the B-Corp certification process and ensure that our procurement processes reflect our commitments to environmental stewardship and human rights.  

Outcomes:  
The Fellow will assess our current procurement practices and data availability, and collect additional data on our suppliers through targeted outreach and research. The deliverables for this first phase of the project will be a virtual library of data with a legend and a presentation to our Procurement and Sustainability teams outlining successes and challenges. The deliverables for the second phase of the project will be collaboratively decided and may include a questionnaire, a draft policy, or a white paper on industry benchmarks for ethical procurement standards. 

Desired Qualifications: 
We recognize that stellar candidates may not have academic or experiential background that perfectly matches the below qualifications. If you are strongly interested in this project, we encourage you to apply. 

• Academic Background 
  • Graduate student or recent undergraduate of a program in Sustainability, Sustainable Development, Business, Engineering, Energy Systems 
  • Concentration in Production/Operations Management or Supply Chain Management/Logistics is a plus 
• Experience 
  • Experience with research, data collection & data organization 
  • Exposure to solar energy systems, battery storage systems 
  • Familiarity with or interest in human rights law, theory and/or advocacy 
  • Familiarity with or interest in environmental sustainability, agriculture 
  • Knowledge of certifications related to sustainability of production or procurement 
• General / Soft Skills 
  • Strong written & verbal communication skills in English, Mandarin a plus 
  • Ability to juggle multiple project components and maintain communication with multiple project partners 
  • Demonstrated initiative to complete work independently or as part of a team, asking for help as needed 
  • Skilled in systems thinking 
• Technical / Specialized Skills 
  • Intermediate Excel 
  • Understanding of life cycle analysis 
  • Knowledge of supply chain logistics 
• Interests  
  • Corporate sustainability & responsibility; business for good 
  • Human rights 
  • Climate change 
  • Food & energy systems 

Location:  
BlueWave, 116 Huntington Ave, Suite 601, Boston, MA 02116 

The Fellow can choose whether they want to work in-person, remote or hybrid. BlueWave has a hybrid work culture: most employees work a hybrid schedule, spending 3 days per week in the office; roughly one third, including the Fellow’s supervisor, are fully remote. BlueWave’s office is in the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston and is accessible by public transportation. Any Fellow that is remote but able to travel will be invited to an orientation in BlueWave’s Boston office and a trip to one or more operating solar sites.  

Mentors: 
Gabrielle Hayes, Associate, Sustainable Solar Development

Sustainability Fellowship

Clean Energy NH

Position description coming soon!

Community Power Market Analysis

Community Power Coalition of NH 

Concord and Lebanon, NH 
Position is hybrid

About the Host Organization: 
The Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire (CPCNH) is a non-profit Joint Powers Agency created to empower New Hampshire's cities, towns, and counties to develop and operate Community Power programs. Founded in 2021, CPCNH’s mission is to provide local communities with competitive energy rates, increased access to clean energy, and more control over their energy future. The organization serves 66 municipal and four county members, helping them implement community-driven energy solutions, advocate for energy policy, and promote renewable energy initiatives that support local economies. CPCNH is committed to advancing sustainability and resilience by facilitating collaboration among municipal governments and regional stakeholders. 

About the Fellowship position: 
The Community Power Market Analysis Fellowship provides an exciting opportunity for a fellow to analyze and report on the current and projected landscape of the Community Power sector in New Hampshire. The fellow will conduct research on market share, growth projections, types of programs and providers, electric rate comparisons, and customer savings. The data gathered will be used to create a comprehensive report that not only informs CPCNH’s stakeholders but can also serve as a replicable model for other organizations. This project will help CPCNH refine its strategies for community power aggregation, improve member adoption rates, and demonstrate the impact of its work in advancing local clean energy goals. 

By generating a market analysis report, the fellowship will help CPCNH track its progress, compare performance against other providers, and potentially influence energy policy at the state and national levels. The findings will also help enhance CPCNH’s outreach to its member communities and demonstrate the value of Community Power programs, ultimately catalyzing broader adoption of community-based energy solutions across New Hampshire and beyond. 

Outcomes: 

• Community Power Market Analysis Report: A comprehensive report detailing the market share, growth, program types, providers, electric rates, and savings within the Community Power space focusing on New Hampshire. This report will also include an analysis of Community Power types and offerings within other states that have adopted Community Power such as Massachusetts, California, and Ohio.  
• Reusable Methodology: A methodology for conducting future market analyses, enabling CPCNH to replicate this process for ongoing assessments. 
• Outreach Materials: Development of materials to communicate the results of the market analysis to CPCNH members and the public, including presentations, infographics, and summary reports. 

Desired Qualifications: 
Academic Background: 

• Degree in Business Analytics, Economics, Sustainability, Environmental Science, Community Planning, or related fields. 

Experience: 

• Prior experience in data analysis, market research, or working within the energy sector is preferred but not required. 
• Familiarity with energy markets, renewable energy solutions, and community-based energy programs is a plus.

General / Soft Skills: 

• Strong written and verbal communication skills for both technical and non-technical audiences. 
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical thinking abilities. 
• Ability to collaborate with a diverse team of professionals across multiple fields, including energy, community planning, and public policy. 

Technical / Specialized Skills: 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and data analytics platforms. 
• Experience with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms is a plus. 
• Ability to perform data analysis, modeling, and simulations. 
• Understanding of energy systems, energy economics, and energy management. 

Interests: 

• A passion for renewable energy, sustainability, and community-driven solutions. 
• Interest in working with local governments and contributing to meaningful energy policy change. 

Location:  
Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire
14 Dixon Ave Concord, NH
20 West Park Street, Lebanon, NH

Work will be performed hybrid (with both in-person and remote work options available).

Mentor:  
Dr. Jackson Kaspari, Community Energy Advisor, Departments of Member Services and Projects and Programs 

Sustainability & Social Impact Report

Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee   

Orange, MA
Position is hybrid

About the Host Organization: 
Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee is a 100% Fair Trade and organic coffee roaster with a mission to use specialty coffee as a vehicle for positive change. Dean Cycon founded the company in 1993, with the intent to prove that a for-profit business could create meaningful change through ethical business practices rooted in respect for the earth, the farmers, our co-workers and consumers. Here we are 32 years later!  

Throughout his career, Dean challenged the coffee industry to do more for coffee farmers and to protect the planet. When he retired in June 2023 he sold the company to the employees, transforming Dean’s Beans into a 100% worker-owned cooperative. We continue Dean’s legacy of advocating for environmental, social, and economic justice, as well as caring for the wellbeing and dignity of coffee farming communities. We operate our business in an ethical way for the success of all people in the supply chain - from farm to cup.  

Dean’s Beans achieved B Corp certification in 2019, solidifying our place in the world as a “business for good”. In 2019 and 2022 we were honored as a Best for the World™ B Corp in the Community category. This honor acknowledges that we were one of the top-performing B Corps investing in their communities locally and around the world, to build a “shared, sustainable prosperity for all.” 

About the Fellowship position:  
Dean’s Beans has a strong relationship with UNH, having hosted a Sustainability Fellow last summer, who conducted a company-wide Carbon Audit. She also created a framework for our company to conduct future bi-annual carbon audits. This is critical for our continued focus on reducing our carbon emissions.  

In 2025, Dean’s Beans is eager to engage with a Sustainability Fellow to help develop and design our first annual Sustainability and Social Impact (SSI) Report.  

We consider social, environmental, and economic justice in everything we do. Dean’s Beans has been a pioneer in the coffee industry for decades based on our innovative business model and our approach to long-term relationships with coffee farmers around the world. Our main goal in launching the Sustainability and Social Impact (SSI) Report is to share with others - particularly younger coffee drinkers - our mission, direct development projects in the coffeelands, and our work to protect the environment and address climate change. 

Outcomes: 
The objectives of this summer Fellowship are to support the Dean’s Beans CEO and MarketingManager in developing and implementing the concept for a clear, compelling Sustainability and Social Impact Report (in downloadable PDF format). This will involve:  

• A thorough review of Dean’s Beans SSI history, initiatives and projects at our production facility, in our community, and around the world  
• A landscape analysis of other coffee companies and B Corps’ sustainability and social impact programs and reports, noting opportunities for this project 
• Collaboration with our staff and design or marketing consultants to establish the desired “look and feel”, messaging, and meaningful stories for the report 
• Creative use of excellent writing, powerful images, design, and compelling infographics to communicate our SSI story 
• Identifying ways for Dean’s Beans to augment our sustainability efforts 
• Supporting marketing and outreach efforts to share the finished SSI Report with the specialty coffee industry, our customers, and community 
• Outlining the process and timeline for creating future annual SSI Reports 

Our hope is to inspire coffee consumers to prioritize sustainability and social impact when making purchasing decisions and motivate other coffee companies to consider our way of doing business. 

In terms of how this project will help build the Sustainability Fellow’s portfolio and advance her/his career: They will have worked collaboratively with staff and outside design consultants to create a beautiful, powerful Sustainability and Social Impact report. This process involves deep thought and skill with synthesizing a range of data, projects, and impact into a compelling message. In addition, they will have created a useful and repeatable framework for future reports of this kind. The final document will be tangible work product that they can use in their future academic and professional pursuits. The fellow will also get to learn about our unique business model: we are a mission-driven for-profit business using those profits to create positive change.  

Desired Qualifications:  
No specialized degrees are required, though previous study of Sustainability, Marketing and Communications are important. Key skills for success will include marketing, project management, ability to research company and industry data, skill at synthesizing information and data, excellent writing or order to convey a clear, concise, compelling message. An aptitude for storytelling and a keen eye for design will be helpful. We will reach out to our farmer partners for data and storytelling, so Spanish language proficiency is a bonus, but not required. Success on this project will require clear, communication skills, flexibility, and the ability to think creatively about challenges.  

Location: ​​​​​​​
Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee, 50 RW Moore Ave, Orange MA, 01364 

We are flexible about how we work with the Fellow, and open to a combination of remote and on-site/hybrid options. The Fellow would likely benefit most by working a hybrid model where they will come to the office 1 day a week, or every other week. When on-site, the Fellow will share an office with their mentor, allowing them to collaborate and think creatively about the project in person. A fully remote setup may be considered on a case-by-case basis if location is a barrier.  

Dean’s Beans is a fun and unique office setting; it’s a company headquarters and coffee manufacturing facility all in one! It is just another example of the ways that we do things a little differently here. Seeing all aspects of our production process will add valuable context to their understanding of our company, our work, and inform the final product.  

Mentor: 
Beth Spong, CEO, and Julie Davis, Marketing Manager

Is Waste Plastic the Future of Precast Concrete

EZ Crete 

Swanzey, NH
Position is hybrid

About the Host Organization: 
We are EZ Crete, and we believe that precast should be innovative, problems-solving, and—against all conventional wisdom—great for the environment. Each year we are looking to create or make niche products that solve real-world problems while simultaneously improving our organization with a people-focused, technology-rich approach. An upcoming solar installation, 95% water recycling and 100% solid upcycling are a few of the sustainability initiatives we are taking to create a leading presence in the precast concrete Industry. 

About the Fellowship position: 
This is an applied engineering/materials science project in which a Fellow will work to identify and test possibilities for using waste plastic as a significant raw material in precast concrete. 

In 2024 we enrolled in University of New Hampshire Sustainability Institute’s Climate Action Clinic and worked with a student team to determine our baseline carbon footprint. This is the basis for our march towards a more sustainable industry. The proposed project aims to advance that journey and includes diverting a large waste stream of mixed, post-consumer/pre-land fill (i.e., ocean bound) plastic. We’ll achieve this by changing its form and incorporating it into our products; then validating its use in other areas of the precast industry. 

Post-consumer plastic is different from other types of recyclable plastic in that it is generally contaminated with food or other substances and greatly reduces its usability. This generally results in landfilling as the most economical solution. We aim to transform this waste into a value stream by creating a paradigm shift around its functionality as a viable resource for the built world. 

The Fellow will review academic literature and industry white papers as well as gather data and perspective from EZ Crete staff and other industry experts. They’ll use the data they gather to design and implement specific tests to incorporate waste plastic into precast concrete at an experimental scale, then document their work and develop recommendations for a larger scale pilot program of their findings. 

Outcomes: 

The deliverables for the Fellow will be: 

• A report that details the use of an identified source of waste plastic as a replacement for or addition to, raw materials in precast concrete. 
• Identifying 1 or more form factors for the identified waste plastic as it relates to the incorporation into precast elements at values exceeding the current range. 

This project should result in a path to a pilot program which aims to responsibly and economically encapsulate post-consumer waste plastic into concrete. The current track is to mold the waste into specific shapes that create voids within precast concrete elements. The resulting voids:  

1. Reduce the amount of concrete needed for the element 
2. Reduce the weight of the element allowing for more product on a per truck basis 
3. Fully encapsulate the plastic from the environment. 

As a result, less concrete, equal less cement, equals less carbon. Lighter weight equals less trucking, and fully encapsulated plastic results in smaller landfill footprint and the resulting leachate.     

This will be an exciting opportunity to build engineering skills and industry contacts, exercise creativity, and have real-world impact

Desired Qualifications: 

• Material/structural engineer experience 
• Ability to create and execute on a plan, analyze data   
• CAD, Google suite, understanding of different grades of plastic and their properties, basic understanding of concrete and its constituent materials 
• An interest in solving challenges related to the environmental impact of concrete 

Location:  
EZ Crete LLC, 126 Monadnock Highway, Swanzey, NH 03446 

Work will be performed hybrid.  

Mentor:  
Brice Raynor, Owner/Founder

Scope 3 Carbon Emissions

Lawson’s Finest Liquids

Waitsfield, VT 
Position is hybrid

About the Host Organization: 
Lawson’s Finest Liquids was founded in 2008 in Warren, Vermont as a 1bbl home-based brewery. Fans quickly sought out our beer, prompting an expansion in 2011 to a 7bbl system and the launch of our flagship IPA, Sip of Sunshine in 2014.  Lawson’s Finest opened our destination brewery, taproom and retail store in Waitsfield, Vermont in 2018, finally giving a space to welcome visitors. Our beer can be found in 11 states across the U.S. Learn more about us at www.lawsonsfinest.com.  

Our Mission: We craft and deliver the finest and freshest beer possible to delight our fans and to cultivate healthy, vibrant communities. 

Our Vision: We will leave the planet a better place by leading with our values, employing sustainable business practices and giving generously to benefit people and the environment. 

Our Core Values: 

Be the Finest 

• We deliver the finest, freshest, always-kept-cold beer in the market 
• We uphold our commitment to world-class service 
• We invest in state-of-the-art equipment and source the best ingredients possible to brew one-of-a-kind recipes to our exacting standards 

Keep it Authentic 

• We stay humble, show gratitude and make true connections 
• We communicate transparently with our staff, fans and industry partners 
• We always stay “true to brand” 

Focus on Community 

• Everyone is welcome here 
• We maintain a great place to work and gather 
• We support neighbors, families and friends in communities wherever our beer is sold 

Have Fun 

• We nurture a culture of good times and playful whimsy 
• We infuse passion and enthusiasm into everything we do 
• We cultivate fans for life 

Take Good Care 

• We use the power of business to amplify philanthropy and grow our Social Impact Program 
• We provide generous compensation and benefits for all our employees 
• We prioritize sustainability and energy efficiency to deliver on our “Green is Grand” promise 

About the Fellowship position: 
The Fellow will conduct a scope 3 greenhouse gas inventory using the UNH SIMAP platform for Lawson’s Finest Liquids’ operations to complement their scope 1 and scope 2 greenhouse gas inventory. This will include, but is not limited to, in-house and regional distribution, off-site production, warehousing, and packaging. 

Lawson’s Finest Liquids will have already calculated a portion of their carbon footprint as part of the Spring 2025 UNH Climate Action Clinic. This effort focused on their direct on-site emissions (scope 1) and indirect purchased electricity emissions (scope 2), and it will have identified key opportunities for on-site reductions. As a regionally distributed craft beer producer with a complex supply chain, Lawson’s Finest looks forward to calculating their upstream and downstream carbon emissions (scope 3) and exploring further recommendations for emissions reductions. 

The first phase of the Fellowship will involve confirming which scope 3 categories are both relevant to Lawson’s Finest and feasible to calculate, based on available activity data sets. The second phase of the Fellowship will be completing the scope 3 emissions analysis, which will complement the scope 1 & 2 carbon emissions analyses already completed in the UNH SIMAP platform, and provide visibility to Lawson’s Finest complete carbon accounting. The final phase of the Fellowship will be taking a holistic look at the complete footprint analysis to suggest recommendations for emissions reductions. 

Lawson’s Finest seeks to incorporate emissions data and modeling into everyday business decisions to enhance our sustainability and reduce our overall contribution to climate change.  

Outcomes: 

The key goal for this Fellowship is to evaluate, as a first step toward reducing, the scope 3 carbon footprint of Lawson’s Finest Liquids. The deliverables for this overarching goal are: 

• Scope 3 greenhouse gas inventory report, primarily for internal use. This technical report will summarize the methodology, any assumptions, the results, recommendations for emissions reductions, and any suggestions for refining the analysis through new internal documentation policies or supplier engagement efforts. 
• Scenario analysis. As time allows, the Fellow will conduct scenario analysis for calculating scope 3 emissions to identify feasible and effective scenarios. 
• Footprint reduction recommendations. Based on the footprint results and scenario analysis, the Fellow will prepare a list of recommendations for Lawson’s Finest to most effectively reduce their scope 3 carbon emissions. 
• A presentation of the Fellow’s report and findings to key Lawson’s Finest Team Members including the B Team who works on the company’s B Corp Certification efforts and members of the Senior Leadership Team. 

The Fellow should also prepare clearly documented data sets and calculation files. The greenhouse gas inventory tool SIMAP (unhsimap.org) will be used for the footprint calculation itself, but any supporting materials should be submitted as well. 

With their full greenhouse gas inventory and the Fellow’s recommendations, Lawson’s Finest will be able to incorporate greenhouse gas reduction into all aspects of their business operations. Lawson’s Finest already values sustainability initiatives and would like to reduce their climate impact – the Fellow’s work will provide Lawson’s Finest with the knowledge and tools to do so. 

Desired Qualifications: 

• Strong data analysis and data management skills are essential, including experience with software like Excel. 
• Experience with technical report writing and presenting. 
• Experience with carbon footprint accounting. 
• Experience working with the UNH SIMAP tool. 
• General / Soft Skills – Possess a positive proactive approach, highly organized, detailed oriented, effective verbal and written communicator. 

Location:  
Lawson’s Finest Liquids, 155 Carroll Road, Waitsfield, VT 05673 

Work may be performed either hybrid (partially remote and partially on-site) or fully remote. If remote, the Fellow will be expected to visit the Lawson’s Finest campus during their Fellowship in order to experience the company’s facility and operations as well as to present their findings to Lawson’s Finest team members. 

Mentor:  
Carra Cheslin, Social Impact Program Manager

Social & Governance Implementation

Low Impact Hydropower Institute

Boston, MA
Position is fully remote

About the Host Organization: 
The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) is a national non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to reducing the impacts of hydropower generation through the certification of hydropower projects that have avoided or reduced their environmental and social impacts pursuant to the Low Impact Hydropower Institute’s rigorous science-based criteria. 

LIHI envisions a world where hydropower puts people and the environment first. LIHI strives to achieve this vision by recognizing and supporting hydropower facilities that prioritize environmental, recreational, historical, and cultural resource protection. We believe that hydropower plays a vital role in addressing climate change and that it can be built and operated in a manner that enables healthy ecosystems and biodiversity preservation, societal wellbeing, and planetary health. As part of our efforts, LIHI supports renewable energy and climate change policies and practices that provide incentives for positive environmental and social outcomes at hydropower facilities. Our efforts are focused on advocacy and education, not lobbying.  

There are thousands of hydropower dams in the United States located on many of our most important rivers and streams. These facilities can create renewable energy, but they can also produce significant adverse impacts on fish and wildlife and other resources. 

We define and certify Low Impact Hydropower using rigorous science-based criteria and public input; providing education and outreach; and structuring our organization to integrate and evolve with community, conservation, and hydropower interests. More information on LIHI’s program and criteria is available here.  

About the Fellowship position: 
The Low Impact Hydropower Certification Program is a voluntary certification program that assesses the environmental and social impacts of a hydropower generating facility. The program examines a facility based on eight criteria: Ecological Flow Regimes, Water Quality, Upstream Fish Passage, Downstream Fish Passage, Shoreline/Watershed Protection, Threatened and Endangered Species Protection, Cultural and Historic Resource Protection, and Recreational Resources. In terms of the ESG landscape, the program is very effective in assessing the environmental impacts of a facility, with some consideration of the social impacts. However, the program does not holistically address many social considerations like labor issues, gender equality, and working conditions. The program does not assess governance considerations at all, including areas like corporate culture, transparency, and business ethics. Building on the work of LIHI’s previous Fellow, this project would focus on communicating findings, educating interested parties, and integrating recommendations into a supplemental programmatic offering in the Low Impact Hydropower Certification Program.  

Outcomes: 
The incoming Fellow will integrate with the daily operations of the Low Impact Hydropower Institute to better understand its mission and programming and work on fellowship deliverables that align with the strategic direction of the organization. As such, the Fellow will consolidate and comprehend the data and recommendations made in the previous UNH-LIHI Fellowship to: 

Enhance messaging and communications on the intersection of ESG and low impact hydropower within LIHI’s existing Low Impact Hydropower Certification Program. 

Understand the existing Low Impact Hydropower Certification Program and the standards utilized to identify synergies with social and governance considerations.  

• Fellow will work closely with the Certification Program Director to understand the review, decision making, and stakeholder engagement processes in the Certification Program.  
• Drawing on the findings of the 2024 UNH-LIHI Fellow, the incoming 2025 Fellow will make recommendations to make the synergies between the existing Certification Program and social and governance considerations accessible and communicable.  

Create key messages around the intersection of the current LIHI certification and ESG reporting. 

• Fellow will work closely with the Communications Manager to develop key messages and digital media.  

Develop plans to assist current Certificate Holders with reporting ESG in an effort to make reporting more accessible. 

• Understand current ESG reporting process and requirements. 
• Continue the Interview Protocol established by previous Fellow to learn more from owners and operators: What is reported, to whom, why? What are the current challenges in reporting? How can LIHI be a part of this process or better assist Certificate Holders with ESG reporting? 
• Develop plans to assist both small and large Certificate Holders with reporting ESG considerations based on their existing LIHI Certificate: Help small owners assess and implement ESG reporting at their project; and, provide larger asset owners with a report on ESG synergies associated with achievement of Low Impact Certification to assist in their reporting efforts. 

Provide recommendations on potential novel social and governance criteria that may supplement the current Certification Program.  

• Building on the analysis conducted by the 2024 UNH-LIHI Fellow, develop recommendations for new, voluntary, supplemental social and governance criteria that can be added to LIHI’s science-based Certification Program.  
• To the extent time allows, and at a high level, address key questions such as: Feasibility assessment – Would it align with our program? What staffing requirements would we need to assess? What would a potential ESG evaluation entail? How would it be implemented? Who would review and how do we find third party reviewers with the necessary experience/expertise?  

Desired Qualifications: 
This position requires a self-motivated, proficient communicator who is familiar with the intersection between energy and society. An understanding of both of these landscapes is imperative. The candidate must demonstrate a capability to distill large swaths of data and communicate said data in an accessible manner. Much of the fellowship work will be self-driven, though the prospective Fellow will also work closely with each of the Institute’s staff members to ensure organizational alignment and to support the Fellow’s career growth and experience. Strong organizational skills and excellent oral/written communication skills are paramount, as well as a commitment to continued learning and growth. 

A degree in an applicable field – energy markets, social justice, natural resources, renewable energy, communication, social work – is preferred but not required with commensurate experience. 

LIHI is built on the principles of transparency and collaboration – the prospective Fellow is expected to uphold these principles.  

Location:  
Low Impact Hydropower Institute, 68 Harrison Ave, Ste 605 PMB 113938, Boston, Massachusetts 02111-1929 

Work will be performed fully remote.   

Mentors:  

• Whitman Constantineau, Administrative Manager 
• Whitney Stovall, Communications Manager 
• Surabhi Karambelkar, Policy Director 
• Shannon Ames, Executive Director 
• Maryalice Fischer, Certification Program Director 

Update Greenhouse Gas Inventory & Projections  

New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES)

Concord, NH 
Position is hybrid

About the Host Organization: 
The mission of NHDES is to help sustain a high quality of life for all citizens by protecting and restoring the environment and public health in New Hampshire. NHDES is organized into three divisions: Air Resources, Water Resources, and Waste Management, each focused-on safeguarding and managing specific aspects of the state's environment. This project resides within the Technical Services Bureau of NHDES’ Air Resources Division and is responsible for providing technical support and expertise through air monitoring, data analysis, emission inventories, air quality modeling, and managing grants designed to reduce air pollution. 

About the Fellowship position: 
This project involves updating New Hampshire’s greenhouse gas inventory and developing emissions reduction scenario projections, establishing essential elements of the state’s new climate action plan.  

NHDES received an EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) formula Planning Grant to develop a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP) by December 1, 2025, which will include an updated greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory and projections based on projects, programs, and policies (collectively “measures”) that may be implemented across multiple economic sectors.  

To meet EPA requirements for the CCAP, NHDES must include, among other required elements, a GHG inventory and a set of near-term and long-term projections of GHG emissions in the absence of implementing CCAP measures, and under a scenario where the CCAP is fully implemented.  

The Fellow will update New Hampshire’s statewide GHG inventory by gathering and entering data into the EPA’s State Inventory Tool (SIT), which generates sector-based inventories using modules within Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. The Fellow will assess the suitability of EPA’s default SIT data, identify and collect data from federal and state public data sets to enhance inventory accuracy, and input the more accurate data into the SIT. The Fellow will summarize the inventory results through a series of charts and tables.  

The Fellow will also develop near-term and long-term GHG emissions projections based on measures selected by NHDES for each economic sector:

• Transportation 
• Electricity generation
• Commercial and residential buildings
• Industry
• Waste and materials management
• Agriculture
• Wastewater
• Natural and working lands

These projections will be developed using Energy Innovation’s Energy Policy Simulator and EPA’s GLIMPSE modeling platforms, and will require the Fellow to enter relevant parameters for reduction scenarios across sectors, based on NHDES staff guidance, research, and stakeholder input.  

Outcomes:

The final deliverables for this project will include: 

• A 2022 New Hampshire GHG inventory using sector-based SIT modules. 
• Several charts and tables that summarize GHG inventory results. 
• Near-term and long-term estimates of GHG emissions for a "business as usual" scenario, where no CCAP measures are implemented, and a scenario reflecting full implementation of all the CCAP measures. 
• Several charts and tables that summarize projections of GHG emissions. 

The Fellow will gain valuable experience with various types of carbon accounting and tools, as well as experience and perspective on the process of climate action planning. They will also deepen their understanding of state climate policy opportunities and constraints, and of the role of state agencies in supporting disadvantaged communities. 

The CCAP will serve as a valuable resource, offering data-driven insights and actionable strategies that can guide decision-making and inspire coordinated efforts to combat climate change. The Fellow will gain hands-on experience in state-level climate policy, data-driven analysis, and emissions modeling, equipping them with valuable skills for a career in sustainability, environmental, or climate planning.  

Desired Qualifications: 

• Academic Background: Graduating senior or graduate student in an environmental science or engineering program. 
• Experience: In projects, programs, and policies that reduce energy consumption and GHG emissions as well as modeling software platforms. Specific public sector GHG inventory experience a plus. 
• General / Soft Skills: Effective communication at meetings and in written correspondence. 
• Technical / Specialized Skills: Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel, with a strong ability to create charts to summarize data. Experience with modeling software platforms and proficiency with Python is preferred but not essential. 

Location:  
NHDES, 29 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH

This Fellowship will be hybrid; weekly remote work is acceptable/expected but an in-person presence will be required for some meetings. 

Mentor:  
Jennifer Galbraith, Climate and Energy Program Manager, Air Resources Division, Technical Services Bureau
James Tilley, Climate Planning Manager, Air Resources Division, Technical Services Bureau
Kurt Yuengling, Community Engagement Specialist, Air Resources Division, Environmental Health Program

Guiding Inclusive Community Development Through Data

NH Community Development Finance Authority 

Concord, NH 
Position is hybrid

About the Host Organizations: 
Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) 
Mission: Maximizing the value and impact of community development, economic development and clean energy initiatives throughout New Hampshire. 

CDFA envisions resilient communities where everyone has equitable opportunities to thrive. Data is central to our mission. CDFA’s Community Progress Indicators (CPIs) enable us to address the evolving needs of New Hampshire communities by shaping our strategic priorities and directing resources to where they are needed most. Identifying quality metrics in alignment with our vision and using them to identify and better understand statewide, regional and local trends helps CDFA support our partners in creating lasting impact within New Hampshire communities. 

New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute (NHFPI) 
Mission: NHFPI promotes opportunity and economic well-being for all New Hampshire residents by producing and disseminating independent research and analysis to inform public policy. 

NHFPI prioritizes research and analysis that highlights economic and policy conditions that impact the wellbeing of individuals and families with low and moderate incomes and underrepresented populations in New Hampshire. Their work aims to inform public policy discussions and potential effects of policy decisions on Granite Staters, particularly those who are most impacted by systemic inequities. By using data to explain policies and policy outcomes in healthcare, housing, wages, and education, NHFPI drives policy conversations to help promote equitable, responsible, and sustainable fiscal and economic policies. 

About the Fellowship position: 
As part of its mission to support community economic development across New Hampshire, the Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) uses demographic, fiscal, and other data, combined with public input, to guide planning and funding priorities, particularly for the federal Community Development Block Grant program. This commitment, articulated in CDFA’s Living Strategic Plan, emphasizes meeting communities’ self-articulated goals while fostering coordinated, long-term strategies to address broader statewide needs. In this spirit, CDFA provides technical and financial resources to communities of all sizes, recognizing their varying capacities. 

To advance this mission, CDFA launched an initiative in 2019 to enhance its data collection, analysis, and visualization capabilities. Collaborating with the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute (NHFPI) and a fellow from the University of New Hampshire’s Carsey School of Public Policy, CDFA identified and analyzed data sources to develop 13 Community Progress Indicators (CPIs). These indicators serve as critical tools to illustrate socioeconomic challenges and opportunities across the state.  

This collaborative project between the Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) and the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute (NHFPI) aims to develop a robust framework and resource platform for updating and using the state’s 13 Community Progress Indicators. These indicators are critical tools for assessing community needs and will guide efforts to support priority populations, including individuals with low and moderate incomes; Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC); immigrants and refugees; women; people with disabilities; LGBTQ+ individuals; rural communities; youth; and unhoused residents.  

As NHFPI and CDFA continue to work as a team to provide robust community level data that will enhance inclusive development for all populations wanting to call New Hampshire home, we created two separate projects.  We are open to applications for either project depending on the Fellow’s background and interests: 

Subsequently, this project focuses on updating and refining the Community Progress Indicators to ensure they align with CDFA’s evolving organizational priorities and the needs of priority populations. The Fellow will analyze the current indicators, incorporate new data sources, and adjust metrics to reflect the evolving landscape of available data. By leveraging the expertise of both NHFPI and CDFA, the intern will analyze existing data sources, identify gaps, and propose methods to refine these indicators to align with CDFA’s broader approach to advancing equitable community development and provide a more authentic and actionable data framework. 

As time allows, the Fellow may also spend some of their effort on contributing towards creating training materials and documentation to help stakeholders understand and effectively use the Core Data Index and CPIs. The Fellow will aid this effort by collaborating with CDFA and NHFPI to design resources that resonate with diverse audiences, such as municipal officials, community organizers, and local decision-makers. These materials will guide stakeholders in interpreting the indicators, identifying trends, and applying insights to their specific community contexts. By bridging the gap between complex data analysis and practical application, this work ensures the tools are accessible and actionable for all users. 

Outcomes: 
Create report on Equity-Focused Framework for Community Progress Indicators:
Enhancing Data for Inclusive Development. This will include analysis of the current indicators, incorporation of new data sources, and adjusting metrics to reflect the evolving landscape of available data. The report will identify gaps and propose methods to refine these indicators to align with CDFA’s broader approach to advancing equitable community development and provide a more authentic and actionable data framework.  

As time allows, the Fellow will also contribute towards creating training materials and documentation to help stakeholders understand and effectively use the Core Data Index and CPIs. 

Desired Qualifications: 

Undergraduate Background 

• Field of Study: Any field, but a background in social sciences, public health, community development, statistics, computer science, or a related discipline is advantageous. 
• Foundation Skills: Evidence of strong analytical thinking, quantitative coursework, or experience. 

General / Soft Skills 

• Communication: Ability to translate data insights into clear, actionable recommendations for non-technical stakeholders. 
• Collaboration: Comfortable working in multiple diverse teams and engaging with community partners. 
• Cultural Competence: Awareness of and sensitivity to issues impacting underrepresented populations. 
• Critical Thinking: Ability to approach problems creatively and from multiple perspectives. 
• Adaptability: Willingness to learn new tools, work in dynamic environments, and adapt to project needs. 

Technical / Specialized Skills  

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Understanding of how to analyze and interpret data and apply insights to inform strategic decisions within community development projects. 
• Data Management Processes: Familiarity with frameworks and strategies for organizing, cleaning, and maintaining datasets to ensure accuracy and accessibility. 
• Data Visualization Principles: Knowledge of best practices for designing effective visualizations that clearly communicate findings to diverse audiences. 
• Visualization Software: Experience with Tableau, Power BI, or similar platforms to present insights effectively is helpful, but not necessary. 
• Analytical Frameworks: Ability to apply frameworks like needs assessments, cost-benefit analyses, or logic models to evaluate and prioritize community initiatives. 
• Equity-Focused Analysis: Proficiency in identifying and addressing disparities through frameworks such as the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) or Equity Impact Assessments. 
• Survey Development and Implementation: Experience in structuring surveys and focus groups, with an emphasis on culturally responsive methods to collect relevant qualitative and quantitative data. 
• Reporting and Communication: Skills in creating actionable reports and presentations tailored to stakeholders with varying levels of technical expertise. 
• Collaboration and Engagement: Capacity to involve stakeholders in data processes, ensuring inclusivity and alignment with community goals. 
• Ethical Data Practices: Knowledge of ethical frameworks for data collection, analysis, and dissemination, with an emphasis on privacy and respect for participants. 
• Report Writing: Skills in creating professional, accessible reports that summarize findings. 

Interests 

• Community Impact: A genuine interest in community development and addressing systemic inequalities. 
• Equity Focus: Passion for using data to amplify the voices of underrepresented populations. 
• Public Policy: Interest in how data informs policy and drives meaningful and sustainable change. 
• Storytelling with Data: Excitement about using data and information resulting from data analysis to tell compelling stories that resonate with diverse audiences.

Other Considerations 

• Internship Experience: Previous experience with community-based projects or internships related to social impact is helpful. 
• Professionalism: A strong commitment to ethics and data privacy, particularly when working with sensitive or vulnerable populations. 

• Enthusiasm for Learning: Open to learning new technical and interpersonal skills during the internship. 

Location:  
CDFA, 14 Dixon Street, Concord, NH 
NHFPI, 100 N Main St 4th Floor, Concord, NH 

Work will be performed hybrid. Opportunity to integrate in office/staff discussions and activities every Monday for Program Team meetings. 

Mentors:  
Nate Olson, Data and Compliance Specialist, CDFA  
Phil Sletten, Research Director, NH Fiscal Policy Institute 
Project Coordinator: 
Kirsten Barton, Community Innovation Manager, CDFA

Extended Producer Responsibility Policy Analysis & Packaging Innovation

ProAmpac 

Cincinnati, Ohio 
Position is fully remote 

About the Host Organization: 
ProAmpac is a global manufacturer of flexible film, foil, and fiber packaging solutions built on material science. Through strategic growth, our network has spread across the globe. We have more than 6,500 collaborative and self-motivated employees working in 51 manufacturing centers of excellence and supported by 10 award-winning graphic design centers. ProAmpac serves more than 5,000 customers in 90 countries.  

We are moving flexible packaging forward by redefining innovation through collaboration — not just within our teams but also with our customers and suppliers. ProAmpac brings brand owners and packaging experts together to generate fresh thinking, accelerate advanced technology and increase speed-to-market, package customization and consumer differentiation. We are guided in our work by five core values that are the basis for our success: Integrity, Intensity, Innovation, Involvement, and Impact.  

For more information, please check out our website and 2024 IMPACT Report. 

About the Fellowship position: 
In recent years, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws have gained significant momentum at the state level. The aim of EPR legislation is to shift the responsibility for managing the environmental impact of packaging from local governments and taxpayers to the producers. EPR laws are designed to incentivize manufacturers to reduce waste, design more sustainable products, and fund the collection, recycling, and proper disposal of their materials. The proliferation of diverse EPR regulations presents challenges and opportunities for the packaging industry. However, it also provides a fantastic opportunity to gain experience at the crossroads of environmental policy and business strategy. 

Our Fellow will work to create a comprehensive policy analysis of state-level EPR laws, determine the applicability of these laws to ProAmpac, and quantify the scope of their impact on the business. To support this work, the Fellow will have access to our portal on the Producer Responsibility Organization’s (PRO)—Circular Action Alliance (CAA)—website, where they can read reports, review guidance documents, and view webinars. Further, they will have access to support, documents, and data from members of our product development, sales, and analyst teams. 

Then, based on their analysis and further research, the Fellow will develop a proposal for how ProAmpac can alter current packaging structures to enhance sustainability in compliance with EPR laws. The Fellow’s findings have the potential to kick off a cascade of innovation across our product offerings, thereby helping our over 5,000 customers achieve their sustainability goals, simplifying the end-of-life management process for municipalities, and reducing the industry’s impact on the environment. 

Outcomes: 

1. A comprehensive report detailing key EPR policies across various jurisdictions and their applicability to ProAmpac, as well as the individual and cumulative scope of impact on ProAmpac’s product offerings in the short, medium, and long term.  
2. A detailed strategic response proposal with actionable recommendations to enhance the sustainability of our product offerings and ensure compliance with EPR laws. 
3. A presentation summarizing findings and recommendations, designed for a general business audience. 

Desired Qualifications: 
We are looking for candidates with a degree in one of the following: Environmental Policy, Engineering, Materials Science, Sustainability, or related. Experience in or knowledge of flexible packaging, EPR, and circular economy concepts is preferred. However, all candidates who fit the following criteria are encouraged to apply: 

• Intellectually curious. 
• Critical thinker with an eye on systems level interactions. 
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently and collaboratively. 
• Effective communicator, including distilling complex regulatory and technical information for diverse audiences. 
• Microsoft Office suite proficiency (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, etc.). 
• Strong research and technical writing skills.  

Location:  
ProAmpac, 12025 Tricon Road, Cincinnati, OH. 

Work will be performed fully remote.  

Mentors:  
Ian Moore, Corporate Sustainability Specialist, ProAmpac

Industrial Energy/Emissions Hotspot Identification & Reduction Action Planning

ProAmpac 

Cincinnati, Ohio 
Position is fully remote

​About the Host Organization: 
ProAmpac is a global manufacturer of flexible film, foil, and fiber packaging solutions built on material science. Through strategic growth, our network has spread across the globe. We have more than 6,500 collaborative and self-motivated employees working in 51 manufacturing centers of excellence and supported by 10 award-winning graphic design centers. ProAmpac serves more than 5,000 customers in 90 countries.  

We are moving flexible packaging forward by redefining innovation through collaboration —not just within our teams but also with our customers and suppliers. ProAmpac brings brand owners and packaging experts together to generate fresh thinking, accelerate advanced technology and increase speed-to-market, package customization and consumer differentiation. We are guided in our work by five core values that are the basis for our success: Integrity, Intensity, Innovation, Involvement, and Impact.  

For more information, please check out our website and 2024 IMPACT Report. 

About the Fellowship position: 
ProAmpac, a global leader in flexible packaging solutions, has committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 through the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). As part of this commitment, ProAmpac has completed its Scope 1 and 2 GHG inventory, identifying energy consumption as the primary contributor to these emissions. Achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 requires a relentless focus on energy inputs and their associated emissions. However, to maximize the effectiveness our work must be grounded in data, bolstered via thorough research and analysis, and refined by real world experience.  

The Fellowship will entail two phases: First, our Fellow will utilize our scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions and primary activity data to identify energy and emissions hotspots across our global portfolio of sites. Second, with that analysis as a foundation, the Fellow will develop a report outlining practical, scalable, and actionable recommendations to reduce energy consumption and associated GHG emissions. To inform this report, the Fellow will develop and implement a framework for modeling anticipated implementation costs, GHG impact, energy savings, and payback period for both individual actions and cumulative recommendations, using information gleaned from review of select site energy audits, additional desk research, and interviews of staff who are on site. Lastly, depending on time and the Fellow’s interest, there is also an opportunity to assist in drafting a companywide energy policy. 

The Fellow's work will cumulate in the presentation of their findings to the sustainability leadership team and site presidents, as applicable. The Fellow’s work will directly influence ProAmpac’s sustainability strategy and set the stage for a company-wide effort to reduce operational GHG emissions as we work towards our net-zero commitment, catalyzing meaningful change and potentially eliminating thousands of tons of GHG emissions.  

Outcomes: 

1. A detailed report identifying energy and emissions hotspots across ProAmpac’s operations; by division/facility type. 
2. A prioritized list of recommendations for energy reduction, including low-cost and high-impact initiatives; by division/facility type. 
3. A cost-benefit analysis of the recommended energy-saving initiatives, and estimated GHG impact of proposed actions. 
4. A presentation summarizing findings and recommendations, designed for corporate and operational audiences. 

Desired Qualifications: 
We are looking for candidates with a degree in one of the following: Engineering, Sustainability, or related. Experience in or knowledge of energy systems, the GHG protocol, and energy flows in the context of manufacturing is preferred. However, all candidates who fit the following criteria are encouraged to apply: 

• Intellectually curious. 
• Critical thinker with an eye on systems level interactions. 
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently and collaboratively. 
• Effective communicator, including distilling complex technical information for diverse audiences. 
• Microsoft Office suite proficiency (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, etc.). 
• Strong research and technical writing skills.  
• Strong data analysis and quantitative capabilities. 

Location:  
ProAmpac, 12025 Tricon Road, Cincinnati, OH. 

Work will be conducted fully remote. However, if the Fellow is located close to one of our manufacturing sites and has access to transportation, we are happy to coordinate an on-site visit.  

Mentors:
Ian Moore, Corporate Sustainability Specialist, ProAmpac