A curated list of 200+ organizations with open positions across every business function. Apply your gifts and career to tackle the world’s biggest problems, today!
Global Forest Watch
About the Program:
The U.S. Electric School Bus Initiative is working to accelerate the transition of the nation’s 480,000 school buses to electric power by 2030. This work sits at the intersection of transportation, energy systems, public policy, and community engagement.
WRI’s strategy focuses on three interconnected “Levers” of change:
Lever 1: Market activation and aggregated procurement
Lever 2: Vehicle-grid integration, managed charging, and battery circularity
Lever 3: Deployment success, mobilizing market incentives and financing
The intern will each be embedded within Lever 2 while collaborating across teams to help advance implementation at scale.
Internship Summary
WRI is seeking an Electric Vehicle Industry Analysis Intern to support strategic implementation and research activities within the Electric School Bus Initiative. The Electric Vehicle Industry Analysis Intern will contribute directly to program delivery, stakeholder engagement, and knowledge development while gaining exposure to real-world climate program execution.
Unlike traditional research internships, this position emphasizes applied problem-solving, cross-functional collaboration, and participation in Agile project delivery. The Electric Vehicle Industry Analysis Intern will work alongside program managers, researchers, and external partners to advance high-impact initiatives across the electric school bus ecosystem. The Electric Vehicle Industry Analysis Intern may also support cross-cutting fundraising and program development activities, including background research, coordination support, and preparation of materials for philanthropic partners.
This is a hybrid position which requires 8 days per month in the office. You can be based in our office in Washington DC. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission as WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position. To be eligible for this position, you must be a resident of DC, Maryland or Virginia at the start of employment.
What you will do:
Strategic Research & Analysis (30%)
Conduct applied research on transportation electrification, grid integration, policy, financing mechanisms, or deployment practices
Organize and synthesize data and technical and policy information into concise insights for program teams and partners
Track emerging trends, funding opportunities, and stakeholder developments
Program Implementation & Agile Project Delivery (15%)
Support sprint planning, backlog development, and collaborative project tracking processes
Assist with coordination of workstream activities and preparation of internal planning materials
Contribute to development of pilot designs, stakeholder engagement strategies, or implementation tools
Stakeholder Engagement & Convenings (10%)
Assist with planning and execution of workshops, working groups, and partner meetings
Prepare briefing materials, summaries, and follow-up documentation
Support cross-sector collaboration with school districts, utilities, nonprofits, industry partners, and government agencies
Fundraising & Program Development Support (Partial Role) (Up to 25%)
Conduct background research on prospective funders and strategic partnerships
Assist with preparation of concept notes, presentations, and proposal materials
Provide administrative support such as scheduling meetings and tracking action items
Communications & Knowledge Products (20%)
Draft content for presentations, reports, and internal memos
Help translate complex technical topics into accessible language for diverse audiences
Contribute to visual or written materials that support program storytelling
Internship Learning Outcomes:
The Electric Vehicle Industry Analysis Intern will gain hands-on experience in:
Implementing large-scale climate and transportation programs
Agile project management within a nonprofit environment
Cross-sector collaboration across policy, industry, and community stakeholders
Translating research into actionable program strategies
Climate philanthropy and program development processes
What you will need:
Pursuing or completed a master’s degree in transportation planning, public policy, environmental/sustainability topics, urban/city studies, clean energy, transportation, engineering, statistics, business, or a related field
Fluency in English
Analytical, research, and written communication skills
Demonstrated familiarity with and interest in centering equity across environmental and climate initiatives.
Experience in creating original projects, products, or research activities
Familiarity or interest in electric vehicles and climate change
Experience with statistical analysis or visualization software a plus
Experience with transportation electrification, grid planning, climate policy, or clean energy markets
Familiarity with project management tools (e.g., Asana) or Agile working environments
Experience supporting research teams, implementation projects, or stakeholder engagement initiatives
Interest in nonprofit strategy, fundraising, or program operations
Experience working with public sector agencies, utilities, community organizations, or environmental justice initiatives, and applying equity principles in practice.
Compensation
The pay for this internship opportunity is $22/hour for master's students and $24/hour for PhD students.
Length of Contract:
This is a full-time 6-month internship with a flexible start and end date based on the candidate’s availability and needs of the project.
Location:
This is a hybrid internship that will be based out of our Washington D.C. office.
You will be required to work in the Washington DC office at least 8 days per month.
How to Apply:
Please submit a resume with a cover letter by March 10, 2026. Applicants must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered. We may close for applications sooner if we receive a high volume of applications from qualified candidates.
About Us:
World Resources Institute works to improve people’s lives, protect and restore nature and stabilize the climate. As an independent research organization, we leverage our data, expertise and global reach to influence policy and catalyze change across systems like food, land and water; energy; and cities. Our 2,000+ staff work on the ground in more than a dozen focus countries and with partners in over 50 nations.
Internships at WRI are learning experiences designed for current students, recent graduates, and other candidates who wish to gain knowledge about a specific area of our work. We strive to attract diverse, intellectually driven candidates who have a passion for sustainability and development. WRI provides many internship opportunities throughout the year in all our programs.
WRI is committed to advancing gender, racial, and social equity for human well-being in our mission and applies this principle to our organizational and programmatic practices.
Our mission and values:
WRI’s mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.
Our values are shared ideals that bind us together: Independence, Integrity, Impact, Partnership and Care.
Our culture:
WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission, including equal opportunities in employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, caste, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or protected Veteran status.
Our People team carefully reviews all applications.
#LI-DNP
