Clean Energy Climate Resilience Intern

Job Description

RETI Center is a nonprofit based in Brooklyn building climate solutions by educating, training, and working alongside youth, professionals, industry experts, and community members to transform New York City from one driven by fossil fuels to one balancing equity, ecology, and economy. We believe experiential learning and innovative ideas empower all of society to adapt and thrive together.

Through our Local Power Ecosystem, RETI Center develops local climate leaders by connecting education, hands-on projects, workforce development, and community-based renewable energy and environmental resilience initiatives.

The Clean Energy Intern is an entry-level, supervised learning position supported through NYSERDA's PON 4000 Internship Program. The internship is designed for an early-career candidate seeking practical experience in clean energy, energy efficiency, climate resilience, environmental education, community engagement, and program operations.

Under the direction of RETI Center staff, the intern will assist with youth education, curriculum preparation, environmental monitoring, research, data organization, community engagement, communications, and program logistics. The intern will receive regular supervision, coaching, professional development, and opportunities to learn from RETI Center staff, instructors, industry partners, and community organizations.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

Youth Education and Program Support

Support RETI Center's K-8 EXPOSURE and Youth & Young Adult EXPLORATIONS programs by helping staff develop project-based learning experiences that connect renewable energy, climate resilience, sustainability, and workforce pathways.

Responsibilities include:

• Assist staff with preparing materials, supplies, presentations, and hands-on activities for youth programs.
• Support classroom activities, workshops, field trips, community events, and project-based learning.
• Help maintain attendance records, participant files, program calendars, and activity documentation.
• Assist with setting up and breaking down classrooms, workshops, and event spaces.
• Support youth capstone projects and other supervised educational activities focused on community climate solutions.
• Observe experienced staff and instructors to learn effective environmental and clean energy education practices.
• Help research age-appropriate lessons, activities, career information, and educational resources.
• Support Program Manager and Program Coach with daily program operations.
• Attend youth programming throughout the summer and internship programs.

Climate Resilience and Water Program Support

Support RETI Center's Water Program by advancing community-based climate resilience, environmental monitoring, waterfront stewardship, and educational initiatives.

Responsibilities include:

• Support floating garden launches.
• Support and learn about bi-weekly floating garden maintenance and environmental monitoring.
• Assist with environmental data collection, organization, evaluation, and analysis.
• Support and learn about developing Train-the-Trainer educational resources.
• Assist with Community Water Access programming.
• Support researching community climate resilience methods.
• Support and assist with public engagement.

Learning and Professional Development

Develop a strong working knowledge of renewable energy, climate resilience, environmental science, community engagement, and clean energy workforce development.

The Clean Energy Intern will dedicate time each week to studying RETI Center resources and will be supported to continuously expand their knowledge of New York's clean energy transition, climate adaptation strategies, workforce opportunities, and environmental justice initiatives.

During the internship, the intern will have opportunities to develop introductory knowledge and experience in:

• Energy efficiency and clean technology
• Building electrification and renewable energy
• Climate resilience and environmental justice
• Environmental education and youth engagement
• Water-quality monitoring and community science
• Curriculum and educational-material development
• Community outreach and partner communication
• Program coordination
• Data entry, documentation, and reporting
• Google Workspace, Airtable, Canva, and related tools
• Workplace communication, time management, and teamwork
• Clean energy careers, employers, training programs, unions and associations

The intern will receive regular feedback and support to identify professional goals and potential next steps in the clean energy, environmental, education, and/or workforce-development sectors.

Qualifications and Skill Development

RETI Center welcomes candidates whose qualifications have been developed through education, volunteer service, community involvement, workforce training, internships, employment, or lived experience.

Preferred qualifications include:

• Degree, experience, studies or interest in Environmental Science, Sustainability, Renewable Energy, Climate Science, Environmental Education, Urban Planning, Engineering, Public Policy, Marine Science, Education, Geography, or a related field.
• Passion for climate action, environmental justice, and community-centered sustainability.
• Experience or interest in working with youth, educators, or community organizations.
• Strong interest to learn project coordination and organizational skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Ability to work independently with support and collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams.
• Interest in renewable energy, climate resilience, environmental monitoring, workforce development, and public engagement.
• Fluency in Spanish, Chinese or other language skills are a plus

Experience with or willingness to learn:

• Microsoft Office and Google Workspace
• Project management platforms like Airtable
• Data collection and analysis tools
• Presentation development
• Canva or similar design software
• AI productivity tools such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Claude, or Gemini
• Environmental monitoring technology

Compensation and Terms

This is a grant-funded position with a minimum commitment of 80 hours and a maximum of 480 hours, with a maximum 12-month duration.

RETI is open to creating a time commitment that works for the right candidate - for example, a candidate interested in working full-time could work 40 hours a week for...