The Sustainability Intern will work extensively with the grant team to support sustainability reporting and grant administration. The primary project is to review research on how production information is captured and summarized across multiple reporting levels and use those findings to recommend a practical reporting structure. The intern will also learn grant management through record maintenance, archiving, and reporting.

Key Responsibilities

Review research and existing models for capturing agricultural production and sustainability information at multiple levels, such as farm, operation, state, and industry.
Compare reporting approaches for data consistency, producer ease of use, confidentiality, and the ability to combine information across reporting levels.
Develop a suggested reporting structure with recommended data elements, definitions, collection methods, and reporting formats. Prepare a research summary and sample template for team review.
Assist with maintaining grant records, organizing and archiving documentation, and checking files for completeness while following established confidentiality and record keeping procedures.
Support grant reporting by compiling information, updating tracking documents, and preparing materials under staff guidance.

Requirements

Pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in agriculture, sustainability, environmental science, data analytics, or a related field.
Strong research, writing, and organizational skills, with attention to detail and comfort using Excel and shared document systems.
Interest in agricultural sustainability and grant management, with the ability to work independently and collaborate with a team.
Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to read, interpret, and summarize scientific documents.
Strong collaboration and people skills.
Strong initiative and the ability to work as a self-starter.
Travel is expected; all expenses for work-related trips are paid.

Criteria for Applying

Duration of internship: 12 weeks.
Preferred timeline: May-August 2027, beginning in mid-May.
Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week.
Starting pay: $18/hour for undergraduate students or $20/hour for graduate students.
All intern positions are based at our office in Clive, IA. Interns must be local or relocate for the internship.
All interns must secure their own housing for the summer. A $1,500 living stipend is provided to all interns.

Industry Experiences

As a group, interns will participate in a packer tour, a farm tour (to be determined), NPIC, the Young Leaders in Ag Conference, and World Pork Expo.

Application deadline is 11/20/2026.

The National Pork Board has responsibility for Checkoff-funded research, promotion and consumer information projects and for communicating with pork producers and the public. The Pork Checkoff funds national and state programs in advertising, consumer information, retail and foodservice marketing, export market promotion, production improvement, technology, swine health, pork safety and environmental management. Applicants should be able to support the mission of the organization with enthusiasm to serve U.S. pork producers.

National Pork Board

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2027 Sustainability Grant Internship