Environmental Justice & Toxics Use Reduction Intern

Environmental Justice & Toxics Use Reduction Intern - (250008D0)

Who We Are:

The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) seeks to protect, preserve, and enhance Massachusetts’ environmental resources and create a clean energy future for all residents. Through the stewardship of open spaces, the protection of environmental resources, and the advancement of clean energy, EEA works tirelessly to make Massachusetts a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family.   Our commitment to environmental justice ensures that every resident, regardless of background or location, can live in a safe, clean environment and shares equally in the benefits of the clean energy transition.

Who We Are as an Employer:

At EEA, we create meaningful, inclusive opportunities that empower our employees to make a real difference in shaping the environmental future of Massachusetts. We foster a workplace culture where diversity is valued, innovation is encouraged, and collaboration thrives. Our employees play a vital role in advancing sustainability, environmental justice, and clean energy solutions, ensuring a positive and lasting impact on Massachusetts and its residents.

Description:

The Massachusetts Office of Technical Assistance (OTA) is a statewide agency under the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) that was created by the Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA) to provide free and confidential pollution prevention and toxics use reduction assistance to Massachusetts businesses.  OTA is one of three implementing agencies of the Toxics Use Reduction Act Program (TURA program).  In addition to OTA, the TURA program consists of MassDEP, which administers the law’s reporting and planning mandates and enforcement of covered businesses, and the Toxics Use Reduction Institute at UMass Lowell (TURI) which provides research, training, and grant opportunities to businesses and communities.  Approximately 80% of businesses that file under TURA are located within a mile of an environmental justice population and the objective of this position is to develop tools, strategies, and content for enhancing OTA’s outreach to these existing and new manufacturers as outlined below.

Description of Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the supervision and mentorship from the Outreach & Policy Analyst, the intern will engage in the following activities:

Build on existing foundational work and content to implement an Environmental Justice landing page on OTA’s website for TURA program information relevant to environmental justice populations.  Activities will include working with OTA staff to finalize written content and visuals and preparing maps and tools in GIS.

Assist with implementing outreach strategies for engaging with different environmental justice stakeholders and businesses.  The ultimate goal of the strategy is increasing referrals for OTA site visits and technical assistance to businesses located near environmental justice populations and/or vulnerable to climate change and severe weather events.  Work will be aligned with OTA’s Key Agency Actions for Environmental Justice (p.54 of PDF) and OTA’s Chemical Safety and Climate Change Resiliency Program.

Identify outreach opportunities for OTA to market its services statewide to environmental justice organizations, community-based organizations, economic development organizations, and municipal agencies to increase visibility and referrals for OTA's programs and technical services.

Communicate findings and make recommendations to OTA staff throughout the process and at the end of the internship.  Activities include:

Making presentations to OTA and TURA program staff

Assist with development and dissemination of written outreach materials

Assist with GIS maintenance

Identify resources that will help OTA better serve and partner with environmental justice organizations and populations

Participate with OTA staff in the Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse (IC2) Low-Income and Disadvantaged Communities (LIDAC) Workgroup.

Deliverables:

Finalize content and design for a TURA program Environmental Justice landing page on OTA’s website. Content to include GIS maps, written text, tools, resources, and graphics.

Implement a strategic outreach campaign featuring OTA’s Right from the Start Program with the goal of increasing OTA site visits to new or expanding facilities located near, providing services to,  and/or employing environmental justice populations.

Other activities as directed to update GIS layers in existing OTA tools and conduct outreach to raise the visibility of OTA resources with Environmental Justice populations.

Preferred Knowledge and Skills:

ArcGIS experience required

Interest in pollution prevention in the Manufacturing Sector

Work independently and be accountable to deadlines in regular communication with supervisor

Strong research, writing, and graphical communication skills

Facility with MS Excel, PowerPoint, Word

Data analysis and analytical skills

Spanish and/or Portuguese language skills a plus

Additional Position Information:

Candidate must be available and commit to working part-time during weekday business hours (i.e., Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm).

Compensation for this position is up to $34 per hour, not to exceed a total budget of $5,000.00.

Hours per week:

Hours TBD, but must be within weekday business working hours (Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm), with total compensation not to exceed $5,000.00.

Qualifications

First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

Please see Preferred Qualifications.

Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer.  Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law.  Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements.  We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.

Official Title: Contracted Student Interns

Primary Location: United States-Massachusetts-Boston-100 Cambridge Street

Job: Environmental and Energy Agency: Exec Office Of Energy and Environmental Affairs

Schedule: Part-time

Shift: Day

Job Posting: Jan 20, 2026, 8:00:27 AM

Number of Openings: 1

Salary:   34.00 Hourly

If you have Diversity, Affirmative Action or Equal Employment Opportunity questions or need a Reasonable Accommodation, please contact Diversity Officer / ADA Coordinator: Melixza Esenyie - 6176261282

Bargaining Unit: Non

Confidential: No

Potentially Eligible for a Hybrid Work Schedule: Yes