Sustainability Intern
Sustainability Intern
Currency Exchange Cafe
About Next Bites
Next Bites is a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization: we empower members of the foodservice industry and dedicated diners alike to reduce our collective footprint, bolstering the health of our planet and its people. Through partnerships, events, and online educational materials, Next Bites educates the public and foodservice industry professionals about sustainable seafood, environmentally preferable and humane food, food labeling, waste reduction, and third party certifications to identify preferable products and services.
About the University of Chicago Environment, Agriculture and Food (EAF) Group
EAF is a scholarly working group in the Program on the Global Environment at the University of Chicago, focused on topics related to environment, agriculture and food in the Chicago metropolitan region and beyond. EAF partners with Next Bites to provide student and staff support, as well as research for sustainability assistance.
Position Overview
Next Bites and EAF are seeking a highly skilled Sustainability Assistance Program Intern to work directly with the Currency Exchange Café, located in the Arts Block in Washington Park to create a plan for them to implement more environmentally-preferable practices into their business. The intern will audit the cafe’s current practices, collaborate with Verde Solutions on energy and water solutions, research potential areas of improvement, forge connections with local urban farms, and write up a final report complete with suggestions for the Currency Exchange Cafe. The intern will report directly to the Next Bites Program Manager, and will also be responsible for communications with the Currency Exchange Cafe and Verde Solutions. The internship period will be Spring Quarter of the 2016-17 academic year, running from March 27th, 2017 through June 2nd, 2017.
Key Responsibilities
● Conduct audit of The Currency Exchange Cafe’s energy and water usage, waste practices, and food sourcing
● Collaborate with Verde Solutions on energy and water recommendations
● Forge connections with local urban farms for food sourcing and composting opportunities
● Communicate with vendors to assist in implementation of new practices/products
● Analyze information and generate final report with suggestions for improvement
● Record project results and evaluation in Sustainability Assistance forms provided by Next Bites
Skills & Qualifications
● University of Chicago students in Environmental Studies, Environmental Science, Economics, Public Policy or Related Field
● Familiarity and/or experience with foodservice back-of-house operations
● Competent with Google products and Microsoft Office
● Proficient at written communication
● Attention to detail and data gathering
Preferred Skills and Qualifications
● Interested in foodservice sustainability, environmental conservation, and/or nonprofit operations
● Ability to think quickly and troubleshoot as problems or issues arise
● Self-guided with the ability to work independently and with a team
Application Information
Please send resume and contact letter to Carly Schulman at Carly@nextbites.org with “Currency Exchange Cafe Sustainability Intern” as the subject line, by April 7th, 2017.
Work study eligible students are strongly encouraged to apply for this internship. For those who are not work study eligible, the Environment, Agriculture and Food group will work with the selected applicant to identify and apply for any possible funding opportunities.