2026 Summer Sustainability Internship

Role: Sustainability Assessment Reviewer - Intern

Location: Remote or Hybrid, based out of Pittsburgh, PA 

Contract: Full time, Internship – mid-May through mid-August, 2026 

Remuneration: $26/hr. + potential for 10% bonus upon internship completion 

Internship Summary  

This internship program provides the framework for a student to apply what has been learned from prior experience and the classroom to make a value-added impact on 3R and its clients. This is not a consulting internship but is instead a hands-on, assessment review opportunity within 3R’s Sustainability Assurance Services (SAS) division. SAS was established to meet the growing need for third-party validation of sustainability-related data and reporting.  Through this internship, interns will gain real-world work experience and demonstrable accomplishments, while acquiring a deep understanding of various sustainability-related standards and frameworks.  The skills developed during this internship will form the foundation for positions including but not limited to those related to sustainability consulting, ESG/sustainability audits and controls, corporate ESG/sustainability policy writing, green building design/performance, and sustainable real estate/investment. 

Candidates must be available to work 40 hours per week for the duration of the internship. 3R will provide all required training and software resources. For remote/hybrid interns, you must possess a fully functioning, current, secure laptop for working virtually. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Perform in-depth technical reviews of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance documents for analysis and benchmarking 

• Verify policies, reports, and data for multiple ESG categories compared to international sustainability standards 

• Gain familiarity with several international sustainability rating systems/assessments (LEED, GRI, ISO, GRESB, etc.) 

• Work with confidential client information 

• Work diligently in a fast-paced environment 

• Manage time across various tasks to meet deadlines 

• Work collaboratively with other interns and 3R employees, as well as independently 

• Engage in designated customer-facing activities and communications 

The Ideal Candidate is: 

• A graduate student interested in a career in sustainability, studying sustainable business practices, environmental studies/sciences/engineering, chemical/biological sciences, policy writing, or a related field 

• Self-motivated and able to complete tasks efficiently and on time while working remotely 

• An effective communicator- able to work with the 3R team and project team leaders to evaluate project data against broad ESG benchmarks, scorecards, and best practices 

• Competent in analyzing operational and environmental data for compliance, indicators, and trends 

• Able to perform detail-oriented reviews of lengthy documents, providing clear, concise notes when needed 

• Proficient with Google and Microsoft Office Suite 

• Strong at problem-solving, decision making, time management, organization, and written and verbal communication skills 

• Team-focused, demonstrates initiative, and has a positive, helpful attitude 

• A quick learner, adaptive, and eager to tackle new situations 

• Has a passion for sustainability and the underlying engineering, business, and policy impacts, roles, criteria, and technology 

• Willing to jump in on any task that helps the team meet its objectives  

Estimated Project Timeline:  

• Interviews will begin in December/January and offers will be made through March or until all positions are filled. 

• Technical Training (40 hours) will be held mid-May.  Interns are paid for training time, and all interns are required to participate.  

• Project work is conducted the week after the technical training through mid-August (40 hours per week, Monday to Friday) 

• All interns that successfully complete the full program will be eligible receive a 10% bonus  

• Top performers may be offered the opportunity to extend their time with 3R. 

• Please note that the duration of this internship will happen remotely. There is an option to come into the office if you are local to Pittsburgh for those who may want to experience working in an office setting, either on a regular basis or occasionally throughout the summer.  

• All interns must be located within the contiguous US for the duration of the internship. Due to the remote nature of the internship, there is a degree of flexibility to accommodate time zone differences, but most work will take place from 9am-5pm EDT. 

The 3R Difference 

Make a Difference Every Day – Business plays a critical role in sustainable development, which is why 3R is proud of its Women-Owned Business and B Corp Certifications. Externally, the 3R Team partners with clients to develop their ESG strategy, implement their plan, and achieve results which are good for: business, the environment, society, and the economy.  

3R Sustainability works at the intersection of ESG, carbon reduction, building performance, and reporting. Our vision is to be the partner of choice to help organizations realize the value of sustainability and create a world in which our team members and clients’ employees live and work in an environment that is mutually beneficial for people, the planet, our partners, and profit, now and for generations to come.   

Our culture makes us unique. We value continual improvement, integrity, teamwork, and transparency both internally and externally- and it shows in our long-term partnerships with clients and growing employee base.  We prioritize learning and development and work to help each employee reach their full potential, including you.  

Please consider applying if you have 75% of the requirements – we can help you develop the other skills.  We strongly encourage people of historically underrepresented groups to apply. 

Note: All candidates of 3R (if offered a role with 3R) will be subject to a background check.  Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment. 

3R is a Certified Woman-Owned Business, and a certified Benefit Corporation.  

3R is a member organization of the US Green Building Council and the Green Building Alliance of Western PA, Detroit 2030 District, and CEOs for Sustainability.. 3R is also an accredited CDP Solutions Provider, an EcoVadis Training Partner, a signatory of the UN Global Compact and a member of the Green Sports Alliance.