Title: Healthy Purchasing Initiative Internship
Status: Intern, 12 week engagement
Reports to: Director of Research & Market Innovation
Commitment: 96 hours
Dates: Flexible – May to September
Application deadline: Until Filled
BACKGROUND & SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY
Oregon Environmental Council (OEC) seeks a motivated researcher with an interest in public policy and/or environmental health to support the Healthy Purchasing Initiative. The Initiative is focused on strengthening demand for goods and services that are designed to be safer for people and ecosystems through the use of green chemistry.
In general, the Initiative is focused on facilitating collaboration and leadership among local governments in Oregon. The intern will be responsible for performing primary and secondary research and other duties in support of the work of the Healthy Purchasing Coalition, a group of local governments working to adopt innovative policies and processes around public purchasing. Research topics will likely include state and local purchasing policy and purchasing contract specifications, third-party certifications and ecolabels, and others as necessary.
A successful candidate will likely be a current student or recent graduate of a program related to policy, law, public administration, urban planning, economics, or environmental health. The candidate will have experience in research as well as a working knowledge of local government.
OEC offers a collaborative, team-oriented, family-friendly workplace that treats employees as responsible professionals. You will learn a lot, laugh a lot, and feel great about making Oregon a better place.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
Conduct research on sustainable purchasing criteria and specifications
- Identify and organize criteria and specification language that relates to chemical hazard and chemical ingredient disclosure for a variety of product categories
Provide support for the Health Purchasing Coalition
- Assist with the development of a guidance document for vendors and suppliers that describes emerging chemical disclosure and hazard assessment requirements
- Assist with meeting and conference call facilitation including note taking as needed
QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
- Status as a graduate level or exceptional undergraduate student, or recent graduate
- Excellent research, data collection and writing skills
- Self-motivated, resourceful and reliable
Desirable:
- Familiarity with sustainable purchasing policies and processes
- Experience with graphic design and/or document design
It is the policy of Oregon Environmental Council that our organization does not discriminate in its leadership, staffing, or service on the basis of age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, political affiliation, or religious belief.
