Overview:
The Sustainability Research Student Employee will support day-to-day environmental sustainability and climate resiliency activities for Oakton College. Students in this role will support the Sustainability Specialist in establishing Green Policies, Reduce Carbon Emissions, Convert to Renewable Resources, Manage Energy Data, Develop Green Programs, Ecological Restoration, and other various sustainability-related projects. This role takes place predominantly in an office setting with occasional field trips to natural areas. This role provides free professional development training and certification for the selected candidate.
Department Name:
Facilities
Campus Location:
Des Plaines, with occasional joint trips to Skokie
Length of Employment:
Spring 2026; with option of renewal
Can a student do homework in this position?
Sometimes
Schedule Flexibility:
8:00-3:30 pm, Monday through Friday.
Tasks, Duties and Responsibilities and Learning Outcomes :
- Research Sustainability Initiatives in the Great Lakes Region for local application (CD, EI, LD)
- Engage Campus Community (students, staff, faculty, administration) in green initiatives.
- Attend in-person and virtual climate and sustainability conferences (CD, CM, PF)
- Employ various technologies for Sustainability tracking and reporting (GIS, Atrius, STARS) (CD, TC)
- Advocate for Public Health, Environmental Sustainability, and Racial Equity on Campus. (EI, LD, PF)
- Support Green Committee, Community Garden, and Student Club groups (CM, EI, LD, TW)
- Collaborate with Interdepartmental stakeholders to drive Green initiatives (EI, LD, TW)
- Attend Professional Development Workshops as desired (CD, CT, LD)
- Bi-weekly check-ins to track progress (CD, CM, PF)
Student Employment Learning Outcomes Defined:
The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has identified 8 career readiness competencies that broadly prepare college students for a successful transition into the workplace. Listed in alphabetical order, they include:
1. Career and Self-Development (CD)
2. Communication (CM)
3. Critical Thinking (CT)
4. Equity and Inclusion (EI)
5. Leadership (LD)
6. Professionalism (PF)
7. Teamwork (TW)
8. Technology (TC)
For more information about the NACE Career Readiness Competencies, please visit www.naceweb.org/career-readiness/competencies/career-readiness-defined/.
Candidate Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Other abilities):
- Must be enrolled in at least six credit hours during Spring. Must be enrolled in at least one summer credit course and/or be enrolled in at least six credits for subsequent fall to work during summer term.
- Must have an overall GPA of 2.0 or enrolled in their first semester with Oakton College at the time of hire. Must not be on academic probation.
- Must be making satisfactory progress as defined by Oakton's Standards of Academic Progress policy toward achieving their educational goals.
- Must be eligible to work in the United States.
- Written, verbal, critical thinking and interpersonal skills.
- Must be comfortable with occasionally being outdoors and outdoor labor, sometimes in inclement weather. Must be comfortable with "getting dirty" i.e. working in garden beds, sorting and identifying waste, walking through natural areas, etc.
- Must have an interest toward innovative technology, methods and practices in Environmental Sustainability.
Application Process:
All interested applicants should complete an online application and provide a resume with two (2) reference contacts. Any questions can be directed to Delaney Malloy at dmalloy@oakton.edu.
