Work With Us
The Office of Sustainability regularly offers internships and other positions for both undergraduate and graduate students at Tufts. When a position is open, it will be linked below to a job posting on Handshake along with application instructions and deadline.
Please note, for graduate students that do not have access to the Handshake platform, please email your cover letter and resume to the contact person indicated on the position instructions.
Please email us at sustainabilityoffice@tufts.edu with any questions.
Additional internship and academic opportunities may be found on the Environmental Studies Program blog.
OOS Statement of Inclusion
Tufts Office of Sustainability believes in the inherent worth of all people. In line with the work of the Office of Institutional Inclusive Excellence and the university at large, we aspire to deliver on the promise that Tufts is a place where all members of our community feel a sense of belonging and are empowered to contribute in ways that celebrate the most important parts of their identity.
Tufts Office of Sustainability seeks to illuminate the way global inequity, sustainability, and community resilience intersect, and makes a concerted effort to bring new voices and perspectives into the field of sustainability. We commit to developing opportunities for diverse participation in sustainability, valuing the many experiences and perspectives each individual member brings to our community, and welcoming diverse ideas and experiences.
Acutely aware of the way structural power shapes people’s experiences, our office engages the Tufts community with institutional problem solving that models the real-world challenges posed by global inequity and climate change. With an emphasis on just sustainability in our Annual Equity and Justice Goals, our office works to integrate equity and inclusion into our work, systems, and structures, including hiring, programming, communications, and governance.
Tufts Sustainability Exploration Grant
This grant is available for Tufts students to receive funding to complete an unpaid summer internship related to sustainability.
Read about one student's internship experience funded by this grant.
Current Openings:
Graduate Assistant, Sustainability Programs
Position Purpose: The Tufts Office of Sustainability is seeking a part-time Graduate Assistant to support our award-winning Resilient Climate Leaders Programs: Sustainable Spring, Sustainable CORE (Cultivating Our Resilient Environment) Fellows, and Sustainable Solutions Fellows. These programs help students connect their learning with sustainable action, build community, and develop resilience in the face of climate challenges. This role is ideal for a Tufts graduate student who is passionate about sustainability, interested in program development, enjoys working with others, and thrives in a collaborative environment.
Position Description: The Graduate Assistant will spend about 12-15 hours a week working with Ann Ward, the Sustainability Manager for the Office of Sustainability, and student program leaders to support sustainability programming by:
- Facilitating and running meetings for student cohorts across all three programs
- Providing logistical and administrative program support
- Collaborating with students and staff to support program goals and activities
- Contributing to program evaluation and improvement
- Taking on other tasks related to program operations as needed
The Graduate Assistant will gain hands-on experience in program coordination, facilitation, and student engagement. Working closely with staff and student leaders, the selected candidate will develop skills in leadership, communication, and organizational strategy.
Start Date & Work Schedule: The preferred start date for this position is August 18, 2025, though this may be flexible for the right candidate. Please indicate your preferred potential start date in your cover letter. The position requires availability for regular in-person meetings on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 12:00–1:15 PM on the Medford/Somerville campus. Outside of these times, the work schedule is flexible and work arrangements, including the possibility of hybrid work, can be arranged in collaboration with the staff manager and the selected candidate to meet their needs. The selected candidate will serve in this role throughout the 2025–2026 academic year. Work is not expected during university holidays or breaks unless otherwise discussed.
Essential Skills: The ideal candidate will bring a combination of interpersonal strengths, organizational reliability, and eagerness to collaborate. We are looking for someone who has:
- Strong interpersonal and organizational skills
- Effective time management skills
- Interest in higher education sustainability, broadly and inclusively defined
- Willingness to try new things and work collaboratively
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks
- A positive attitude and ability to take initiative
Compensation: $20/hour. This position is not work-study dependent and is open to all Tufts graduate students.
Organization Description: The Office of Sustainability works to improve Tufts University and scale its impact on the community and world. We focus on the equitable and sustainable use of resources and organizational change at all levels. Our core approach is linking institutional problem solving with Tufts education and research enterprises to build common purpose and an ethos of collective problem solving. Staff in the office create strategic partnerships, student and employee engagement programs, financially support sustainability efforts on campus and collaborate with faculty and the Operations Division on innovation and improvement efforts. Led by the Chief Sustainability Officer and reporting to the Executive Vice President, the Office consists of 4 full time staff and +/- 20 part-time student workers.
How to Apply: Apply via Handshake or by emailing sustainabilityoffice@tufts.edu with a cover letter addressed to Ann Ward and a resume. Applications without cover letters will not be considered. Direct any questions to sustainabilityoffice@tufts.edu.
Application deadline: August 8th, 2025, at 4:59PM EST
