Career Pathways Intern

Job Description

RETI Center is a New York City-based climate solutions nonprofit with a mission to educate, train, and work with local youth, experts, professionals, and community members to transform our coastal city from one that is driven by fossil fuels to one that balances equity, ecology, and economy. We believe experiential learning and innovative ideas empower all of society to adapt and thrive together.

Through our RETI Center Local Power EcosystemTM, we create a connected pathway from early climate education and career exploration to workforce training, employment, entrepreneurship, and long-term career advancement in the climate solutions industry.

RETI Center is seeking a motivated and organized Career Pathways Intern interested in gaining hands-on experience in clean-energy workforce development, career pathways, employer engagement, and job placement.

Working under the supervision and mentorship of RETI Center's Career Pathways Manager, the intern will support the EXPERTISE Career Pathways Program, which helps graduates of RETI Center's clean-energy workforce training move toward employment, internships, apprenticeships, mentorship, professional development, and longer-term careers in the climate solutions industry.

This is an entry-level learning opportunity designed to introduce the intern to clean-energy occupations and the systems that connect trained workers with employers. The intern will learn how workforce programs build employer relationships, identify job opportunities, prepare candidates, track placement and retention outcomes, and support graduates as they begin careers in solar, building efficiency, electrification, e-mobility, energy storage, and other areas of the growing clean-energy economy.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Clean Energy Career Pathways Support

• Assist the Career Pathways Manager with day-to-day implementation of RETI Center's EXPERTISE Career Pathways Program.
• Research clean-energy occupations, employers, internships, apprenticeships, training programs, certifications, and career opportunities.
• Help identify opportunities in solar, building efficiency, electrification, e-mobility, energy storage, and related climate solutions sectors.
• Assist with organizing employment and professional development opportunities for RETI Center graduates.
• Support graduate outreach and scheduling for Career Pathways activities.
• Help maintain individual Career Pathways records and follow-up information.
• Observe and support graduate coaching sessions to learn how individualized career pathways are developed.
• Assist with researching career advancement opportunities for graduates already working in the clean-energy industry.

Employer & Industry Engagement

• Gain practical experience learning how workforce organizations develop relationships with clean-energy employers and industry partners.
• Research clean-energy employers and prospective industry partners.
• Help develop and maintain RETI Center's employer and industry contact database.
• Research employer hiring needs and available entry-level clean-energy positions.
• Assist in engagement with employers, unions, industry associations, apprenticeship programs, and training organizations.
• Prepare background research and materials for employer meetings.
• Attend selected employer meetings, career fairs, industry events, site visits, and networking opportunities alongside RETI Center staff.
• Take meeting notes and track agreed-upon follow-up activities.
• Assist with follow-up communications under the direction of the Career Pathways Manager.

Graduate Employment & Placement Support

• Support staff as they help RETI Center graduates prepare for and access clean-energy career opportunities.
• Research job, internship, apprenticeship, and transitional employment opportunities.
• Match identified opportunities to graduate interests, skills, training, and certifications for Career Pathways Manager review.
• Help organize resumes, applications, certifications, and other employment materials.
• Assist with scheduling interviews and employer introductions.
• Support resume, interview preparation, and job-search workshops.
• Help coordinate RETI Center's paid internship, Learning-to-Work, and On-the-Job Training opportunities.
• Assist staff with graduate follow-up after interviews and placements.
• Learn how workforce programs support employee retention and career advancement after placement.

Mentorship & Professional Development

• Support activities that help graduates build professional networks and continue developing their careers.
• Assist with mentor and mentee outreach, scheduling, and program coordination.
• Research potential mentors from the clean-energy industry.
• Research certifications, training programs, professional associations, unions, and educational programs for RETI Center Career Pathways Program and graduates.
• Help organize professional development workshops, employer panels, networking sessions, and career events.
• Assist with Career Pathways support sessions covering resumes, applications, interview preparation, and career planning.
• Help maintain organized records of mentorship and professional development participation.

Data, Tracking & Program Support

• Learn how workforce development programs use data to measure participant progress and program effectiveness.
• Attend assigned staff meetings.
• Update graduate and employer databases under staff supervision.
• Assist with tracking employment applications, interviews, placements, wages, certifications, and retention milestones.
• Help maintain Career Pathways dashboards and program records.
• Assist with collecting participant and employer feedback.
• Support preparation of basic program reports and summaries.
• Maintain accurate and confidential participant records.
• Assist the Career Pathways Manager with scheduling, meeting preparation, program materials, and other program coordination activities.

What the Intern Will Learn

This internship is designed to provide practical exposure to both the clean-energy industry and clean-energy workforce development. The intern will also gain exposure to clean-energy employers, industry professionals, unions, workforce organizations, and training providers through RETI Center's partnerships and programming.

Through supervised work, mentorship, meetings, site visits, research, and direct program experience, the intern will develop skills in:

• Clean-energy career pathways and occupations
• Clean-energy employer and industry research
• Workforce development and job placement
• Employer engagement and professional outreach
• Career coaching and participant support
• Internship and apprenticeship pathways
• Resume and interview preparation
• Professional networking
• Workforce data collection and outcome tracking
• Program coordination
• Professional communication
• Database and project management systems
• Environmental justice and equitable workforce development