Sustainability and Biodiversity Intern

<p><strong>General Summary:</strong> Aurora Sustainable Lands (Aurora) is seeking a Sustainability &amp; Biodiversity Intern to support the company’s Operations team. This intern will create a roadmap for public disclosure of key sustainability metrics, explore market linkages to biodiversity outcomes, and continue evaluative assessments of Aurora’s portfolio for capturing nature-related interactions and outcomes. A successful candidate will have a unique mix of technical and practical skills including familiarity with financial sustainability disclosure and biodiversity monitoring frameworks, knowledge of nature-based climate solutions as they relate to forestry, and exposure to geospatial analysis. Success will require strong project management, acute attention to detail, and the ability to translate cross-disciplinary data into actionable insights and measurable impacts. This is an excellent opportunity for a student seeking experience in corporate sustainability, market-based solutions, bioeconomy, and exposure to forest carbon markets and large-tract management.</p> <p><strong>Primary Responsibilities and Competencies:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Scoping Aurora’s portfolio-wide interactions with nature and biodiversity</li> <li>Exploring biodiversity initiatives to enhance ecosystem value and align Aurora with emerging market opportunities.</li> <li>Assessing Aurora’s material interactions with and dependencies on nature using the TNFD LEAP Framework</li> <li>Developing SMART indicators/tracking metrics for ongoing sustainability reporting needs</li> <li>Developing data reporting methodologies for biodiversity indicators</li> <li>Streamlining stakeholder and partnership engagement efforts into a cohesive tracking system for effective collaboration and reporting</li> <li>Producing a capstone presentation to be shared with executive team detailing insights and lessons learned</li> <li>Other projects related to the Operations Team as needed</li> </ul> <p><strong>Required Education, Experience and Certification:</strong></p> <ul> <li>In pursuit of or having completed a bachelors program or in a masters program with studies focused on business, forestry, environmental science, natural resource management, and/or sustainability</li> <li>Strong skill set and experience in independent research and analysis</li> <li>Experience with GIS and/or remote sensing techniques</li> <li>An enthusiasm for using environmental markets to address critical climate challenges</li> <li>Strong communication and organization skills</li> </ul> <p><strong>Preferred Education, Qualifications &amp; Experience:</strong></p> <ul> <li>In pursuit of or having completed a graduate degree relevant to forestry and/or environmental management (e.g., Master of Forestry, Master of Environmental Management, or Master of Science with a Forestry focus)</li> <li>Awareness of regulatory reporting trends regarding climate risk &amp; nature-related sustainability</li> <li>A demonstrated strong background, keen interest, or past work experience in sustainability-related reporting frameworks</li> <li>Familiarity with CRM tools and/or project management platforms</li> </ul> <p>The successful candidate must report to Aurora’s Chapel Hill, NC office with an expectation for hybrid-style work (predominantly Central and Eastern time zones). The position is expected to work 40 hours per week over a 10–12-week period starting in late May. Start and end dates are semi-flexible. The position will receive a $10,000 stipend, and any required travel will be covered by Aurora.</p>