About the role#
The Sustainability Intern will support environmental and resource management goals at the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. This role focuses on maintaining data reporting frameworks to track energy, water, and waste use across our campuses. You will work with internal teams and consultants to refine our tracking systems and provide insights that guide future sustainability initiatives.
What you'll do#
- Collaborate with internal teams and consultants to maintain the Environmental Resource Reporting Dashboard.
- Execute standardized data collection protocols to input utility data.
- Segment data to analyze resource use across zoo campuses and specific zones.
- Evaluate current and historic data to identify gaps and establish baseline metrics.
- Research and recommend operational changes or new systems for resource stewardship.
- Develop a final capstone presentation outlining data insights and business cases for sustainability strategies.
What you'll need#
- Currently pursuing or planning to pursue an undergraduate degree.
- Must be 18 years of age or older.
- Strong familiarity with Microsoft Power BI, Excel, and data visualization tools.
- Strong analytical skills and experience with qualitative and quantitative research methods.
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
- Ability to work effectively with others in a diverse environment.
- Ability to learn and perform data and sample gathering techniques.
- Familiarity with conservation issues and strategies.
- Previous experience in conservation research, sustainability, or community engagement is preferred.
Location & details#
- Location: San Diego, California.
- Term: Summer 2027 (10 weeks).
- Work Modality: On-site.
- This is a paid, full-time internship.
About San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is a nonprofit organization founded in 1916. Based in San Diego, California, it operates the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. The organization focuses on conservation, zoology, and research to support wildlife. It employs between 1,001 and 5,000 people and maintains conservation projects across 150 countries.
How to get in at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
Securing an internship at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance requires timing your application to ensure you are among the first candidates reviewed. Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your target is published anywhere, so you apply among the first, as early applicants get seen before the pile grows. This helps you avoid the frustration of submitting materials to a role that has already been filled. You can also improve your chances by connecting with the people actually hiring for these conservation positions. Intern Insider surfaces the recruiters behind the company's roles so you can reach out directly to ask about the role or a referral, which materially improves response rates. A direct message often cuts through the noise better than a standard application.
