Bedford 2020 Internship Opportunity

Deadline for applications is June 10
June 1, 2012
~ from Bedford 2020

Exciting news . . . The B 2020 Business Task Force has received a grant to help local businesses go green. This grant will be used to hire an environmental intern to work with the Task Force in developing a pilot program to help small business owners take green steps that will benefit the environment in our local communities and help them save money.

The Business Task Force is currently accepting internship applications. The internship is open to students entering their junior or senior year in college or recent graduates. Depending on an applicant’s schedule and credentials, the work will take place during the summer, possibly extending into the fall.

If you know of any potential candidates for this internship, please share this link to the environmental internship job description with them. Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter to: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).  See job description, below.

Bedford 2020 Coalition is a nonprofit organization whose goal is to organize, lead and promote a community-wide effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 20% by the year 2020, and to create a sustainable community that conserves its natural resources. www.bedford2020.org. The Business Task Force is comprised of business leaders in areas such as manufacturing, insurance, real estate, retail and food, located in the Town of Bedford and surrounding communities, including Mt Kisco. The Task Force facilitates ways in which all businesses might work together to reduce energy usage, improve waste/recycling, improve transportation strategies, support local food initiatives, and support the Town’s water and land use goals.

Environmental Intern Bedford 2020 Coalition Job Description

Reports to: Program Director of Bedford 2020 Coalition, and works with the Business Task Force and Executive Committee of Board of Bedford 2020 Coalition

The Organization: The Bedford 2020 Coalition (http://www.bedford2020.org) is a nonprofit whose mission is to lead a community wide effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 20% by 2020 and to create a sustainable community that conserves its natural resources. In February 2010, the Town of Bedford unanimously passed a Climate Action Plan (CAP), recommending over 70 different ways our community could reduce greenhouse gas emissions and conserve our natural resources. The Bedford 2020 Coalition has been charged by the Town with the responsibility of engaging all members of the community to help implement this plan.

Bedford 2020 has created nine Task Forces to give focus to and lead this effort. One over arching objective is to obtain as broad involvement of the community as possible. The first five Task Forces are subject matter based: Energy, Waste/Recycling, Water/Land Use, Food/Agriculture and Transportation. Four additional Task Forces are user based: Business, Schools, Religious and Civic.

The Business Task Force is comprised of business leaders in areas such as manufacturing, insurance, real estate, retail and food operations located in the Town of Bedford and surrounding communities. Local businesses contribute 15% of our greenhouse gas emissions. A major Business Task Force goal is to reduce energy usage and improve waste and recycling among our community’s businesses.

Project Description: Using expertise garnered from 18 months of leadership of a signature pilot program in home energy efficiency funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, this project will focus on engaging the business community in improved energy efficiency and waste/recycling.

On March 7, 2012, B 2020 hosted a workshop for over 50 local small businesses to illustrate: 1) overall green strategies, 2) energy audits and other energy efficiency steps and 3) improvements in waste/recycling practices. Education was the primary goal of the workshop. The next step is to follow up with businesses and help them take action to conserve energy and improve waste/recycling. Interviews and feedback from workshop participants reveal that a major barrier to action by small businesses to conserve energy is lack of time and confusion about programs, incentives, rebates and vendors/products.

The intern’s job will be to lead a program to assist local small businesses in navigating the process of energy audits, upgrades and thereby help us increase the number of energy

assessments through Con Ed, NYSEG and NYSERDA programs and also assist in improving waste/recycling practices

The program will begin with the creation of a “Green Business Champions” pilot. The pilot will enlist a small group of “early adopters”, 4 or 5 local businesses that have volunteered to undergo energy and waste assessments, perform some of the recommended improvements and allow B 2020 to follow, track and promote the process and results of those improvements for the purpose of encouraging other businesses to make improvements in their operations. The intern will assist the Green Business Champions in navigating every step of the process, including data gathering, filling out applications, accessing financing, rebates and other incentives.

The intern will also work with B 2020 to develop a “Seal of Approval” program that publicly recognizes businesses that have achieved a certain level of improvement in their business and encourages local citizens to support these stores through PR/media attention and e-blasts to residents.

Principal Responsibilities: Working closely with the Program Director; various Bedford 2020 Board members, members of the Bedford 2020 Business Task Force and members of the Bedford 2020 Energy and Waste/Recycling Task Forces as well as local businesses in Bedford, Bedford Hills, Katonah and Mt Kisco and other stakeholders, the Environmental Intern will:

  Reach out to businesses that participated in the workshop;

  Reach out to businesses that did not participate in the workshop to solicit interest and participation in the energy assessment/upgrade program; distribute “20 Tips for Greening Your Business” as well as an energy assessment FAQ

  Work with “Green Business Champion” pilot businesses to gather energy usage and waste data – both pre and post improvements; assist in promoting them as “ambassadors” for energy and waste reduction and helping to share their results and savings

  Gather data as to how far each business has progressed in the assessment/upgrade process;

  Identify and work to resolve any issues/barriers to moving forward;

  Identify businesses that have completed the process and should be recognized; assist with community wide communications effort via local media and social media to highlight/promote early adopters;

• Work with Bedford 2020 and area businesses to develop a list of criteria for businesses to achieve recognition in our “Seal of Approval/Recognition” program.

Experience:

• Experience working on community projects, campaigning and community activation.

• Experience driving projects to conclusion.
• Experience working as a team leader to achieve challenging goals on a tight

schedule.
Personal Skills/Attributes:

• A self-starter with a high energy level, a strong work ethic and the proven ability to multitask;

• A good communicator, both orally and in writing, who can run a well-structured meeting and speak effectively to both small and large groups;

• A team player and collaborator who will be able to work comfortably with people in government, business, the not-for-profit world and the general community;

• A person of sound judgment and vision who is innovative and strategic in his/her thinking; and

• A proven leader who sets high standards and is of unquestioned integrity. Qualifications/Competencies:

• Must be computer literate and familiar with social networking tools, web technologies and other basic programs;

• Web based communication skills;
• Strong research and analytical skills. Able to digest, organize and clearly

communicate/report on concepts and data.

• Must be a licensed and insured driver with a reliable car;

• Must be committed to and have a passion for protecting the environment and value the importance of reducing green house gas emissions for the health and well being of our community and our country.

Compensation:
• Commensurate with experience.

Education: An undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university or enrollment in an accredited college or university.

Location: The Town of Bedford is located 45 miles north of New York City. The Town of Bedford, with its 39.3 square miles encompassing the hamlets of Bedford Village, Bedford Hills and Katonah, is situated in northern Westchester County, with 18,133 residents.

To Apply For Internship: Interested parties should submit the following by email attachment to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (applications are due by June 10, 2012)

  Cover letter describing their interest in the position

  Resume

  An indication of time available this summer between late June through end of August, beginning of September and any interest in continuing job during the fall.

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