The mission of Facilities Operations is to serve the University by developing, operating, maintaining, and renewing excellent campus environments for teaching, learning and research, leadership, working, and personal growth. Facilities Operations supports the University's mission through the development of education, guidance, and partnerships that promote health, safety, and protection of the environment.

The Planet Blue Ambassador (PBA) program is housed within the Facilities Operations Unit. The mission of the PBA program is to inspire and empower all U-M students, staff, and faculty to engage in sustainability and climate action by serving as a resource navigator and creating diverse sustainability learning experiences.

The student selected for this position will help make the University of Michigan-Dearborn?s facilities and operations more environmentally sustainable and engage Planet Blue Ambassadors in this work. This person will also ensure metrics, such as waste diversion rates and engagement numbers, are accurately tracked, measured, and communicated. This position reports to the Assistant Sustainability Programs Manager and will be mentored by the Student Sustainable Operations Coordinator.

The selected candidate is expected to be reliable, enthusiastic about environmental stewardship and social impact, have strong communication and analytical skills, and must be open to getting their hands dirty. The position requires a 10 to 15-hour-per-week commitment from May to August 2026, with room for time off for vacations and the potential for extension and increased hours after August.

The person selected for this position may be asked to perform tasks beyond those listed below.

• Help manage and operate the on-campus composting facility upon its completion.
• Assist the Sustainable Operations Coordinator with tasks related to the Sustainable Labs Program.
• Perform various tasks to reduce waste, promote energy efficiency, and support sustainable landscapes on campus.
• Conduct recycling and trash volume surveys to establish and monitor waste diversion rates. These surveys require occasional evening and early morning working hours.
• Organize recycling education trainings with custodial personnel, office staff, kitchen staff, and others as necessary.
• Support Zero Waste Events, including sorting waste as necessary.
• Track and aggregate various sustainable operations data such as recycling metrics, food scrap diversion, water bottle refill station metrics, energy consumption, etc.
• Translate complex statistics into educational information that is understandable to the general public.
• Attend Student Sustainability Coalition meetings to report on current sustainable operations projects and explore opportunities for collaboration.
• Other duties outside of this list as necessary for the successful implementation of the PBA program. 

• Current University of Michigan-Dearborn student.
• Experienced in aggregating and analyzing data using Excel and Google Sheets.
• Ability to lift up to 40 lbs.
• Strong organizational skills with a keen eye for detail.
• Collaborative spirit - experience working successfully in a team environment.
• Strong communications skills (writing, speaking, visual information graphics, etc.)
• Knowledgeable about sustainability, the environment, and climate action.

• Has completed the Planet Blue Ambassador training course.
• Background in sustainability, environmental studies, environmental science, or a related field.
• Consistently professional with regard to communication, punctuality, and reliability.
• Dedicated work ethic with the initiative to lead a project and see it through to completion.
• Experience with communicating scientific topics to the general public.
• Plans to graduate in Winter/Spring 2027 or after

The chosen candidate will have the opportunity to work on university sustainability issues and gain experience with project management, communications, community engagement, process improvement, and interdepartmental collaboration. This internship is relevant to, but not limited to, those interested in the following career fields: sustainability, environmental science, energy, project management, and urban studies.

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.