Location: Remote Eligible. WFH Flexible, Minneapolis, MN. GPI’s headquarters are based at 2801 21st Avenue South, Suite 220 in Minneapolis, MN.
Reports to: Carbon Management Policy Specialist and Industrial Innovation Initiative Program Associate
Type of Position: Short-term internship (3 months), flexible (20 – 40 hours per week).
Ideal start date: June 2022
Compensation: $18/hour
ABOUT THE GREAT PLAINS INSTITUTE
A nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, the Great Plains Institute (GPI) is transforming the energy system to benefit the economy and environment. Increased demand for GPI’s unique blend of energy expertise and consensus-derived solutions has driven organizational and programmatic growth. With headquarters in Minnesota, GPI’s operations are national in scope while retaining a core competency in the Midcontinent region. GPI is powered by more than 50 professionals and is supported by some of the nation’s most respected philanthropies.
At GPI, we hold the following values:
Trusted. We base our approach and actions on trust, mutual respect, and accountability.
Inclusive. We achieve impact through inclusive and deliberate collaboration with a diversity of interests.
Equitable. We strive for equity in our approach and outcomes.
Transformative. We are a bold and passionate catalyst for change.
ABOUT THE CARBON MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
GPI’s Carbon Management Program is dedicated to fostering deployment of solutions at climate scale for managing carbon emissions from energy, industry, and manufacturing, while protecting and creating high-wage, family-sustaining jobs and providing economic and environmental benefits to affected communities. Through our staffing and coordination of the Carbon Capture Coalition at the federal level, the State Carbon Capture Work Group and Regional Deployment Initiative, the Industrial Innovation Initiative, and the Carbon Action Alliance, GPI’s Carbon Management Program is playing a transformative role in building broad industry, labor, and NGO engagement and support for federal and state policies necessary to put our nation on a path to net-zero emissions and achieving midcentury climate goals. The Carbon Management Program is a fast-paced collaborative team with an entrepreneurial spirit that encourages and appreciates equal contribution from members at all levels of the team.
THIS POSITION:
GPI’s Carbon Management Team is seeking a highly motivated, detail-oriented individual to support the carbon management team. The purpose of this internship is to provide communications and program support across the carbon management team’s initiatives. The successful candidate will work directly with GPI staff to develop a streamlined process for tracking, recording, and disseminating regular newsletters, and offer additional opportunities to engage in development activities and project-specific content creation.
GPI is a leader in the industrial decarbonization and carbon management space and will provide the successful candidate with a career-oriented opportunity to learn more about these technologies, develop professional connections, and grow their interpersonal and technical communications skills. This work supports greater GPI initiatives around carbon emissions reduction. The position will be 100 percent remote, with the opportunity to work from GPI’s Minneapolis office, if desired.
POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:
The main aim of the position is to help advance GPI’s carbon management and industrial decarbonization policy and technology priorities through communications, content development, and programmatic support. In pursuit of this goal, the successful candidate will support:
Research and Content Development (60%)
The Carbon Management team distributes four newsletters to over 800 stakeholders on state and federal news and policy and participant updates. See previous examples here. A successful candidate will assist staff with writing and compiling weekly newsletters. This will include:
- Designing a format to efficiently gather newsletter information in Mailchimp and Quorum;
- Writing short stories on news updates;
- Writing summaries of events and webinars;
- Tracking weekly state, federal, and participant news; and
- Integrating existing newsletters into new communication software.
The intern will also be able to choose from an additional capstone project, such as:
- Blog and factsheet writing;
- Compiling relevant research for a literature review/report;
- Producing other written content for publication or dissemination.
Program Assistance (40%)
The successful candidate will work closely with carbon management staff to support day-to-day operations across the program, including:
- Attending staff and stakeholder meetings and provide notetaking support;
- Maintaining and updating organized stakeholder lists across various carbon management projects;
- Assisting with administrative tasks related to grants and other funding sources;
- Work with other GPI staff to input existing stakeholder information into new CRM software; and
- Other duties and assistance as assigned.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:
Minimum qualifications
- Proficient with Microsoft Excel, Word, and
- Excellent research skills, with attention to detail and quality of source material.
- Demonstrated ability to work both independently as well as part of a team.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to represent GPI well among project participants.
- Ability to present complex information in a clear and concise manner.
Preferred qualifications
- Current student or recent graduate preferred. Preference for education in environmental sciences, geology, political science, public policy, or climate/sustainability.
- Experience conducting research independently.
- Experience or interest in innovative solutions in clean energy including hydrogen and carbon management technologies.
- Experience engaging with diverse stakeholders including from industry, government, civil society, labor, and the nonprofit sector.
EQUIPMENT USED:
Desktop computer and/or laptop, copier, fax machine, calculator, printer, telephone
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT:
Requires working at a desk (either sitting or standing) for extended periods. Extensive use of devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse), as well as usage of telephone/headset. May require lifting of boxes up to 20 pounds on occasion.
HOW TO APPLY:
Apply online here. Required application materials include a resume and one-page cover letter. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis with a preference for applications by 9 AM Central Time, Friday, April 21, 2023.
BACKGROUND ON GREAT PLAINS INSTITUTE:
GPI has a fast-paced entrepreneurial culture in which people enjoy both great freedom and great responsibility. People who thrive in this culture take personal responsibility for seeing what needs doing and getting it done. They are initiative-takers, problem-solvers, and quick to help others. They work hard because they believe in the mission and get to spend most of their time at the intersection of what they love to do and are good at. It’s a working environment in which performance is judged more on results than on time spent in a chair. We aspire to make this the best job anyone has ever had.
The Great Plains Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes a wide diversity of applicants.
