Internship: AI for Sustainability - Building an ESG Market Entry Assessment Agent

A sustainable, profitable, and enjoyable future for dairy farmers by combining robotization, engineering, and farming expertise. This is what we believe in. 

This journey began over 75 years ago with the dream of two brothers in Maassluis. Since then, we have become an innovative global leader in automated systems for dairy farmers worldwide. With 2,500 specialized professionals, we continuously work on new agricultural revolutions. We still do this from our Campus in Maassluis, the building with the highest achievable sustainability standards in the Netherlands, while also operating around the world. Our goal is to ensure that dairy farming remains attractive for future generations. 

How can we make sure ESG risks and opportunities are at the core of our international expansion decisions? And what role can AI play in this? During this internship, you will work at the intersection of Sustainability, ESG, Commercial Strategy, and Artificial Intelligence. Your challenge is to design, build, and validate an AI-supported ESG Market Entry Assessment Agent that helps Lely evaluate the ESG impacts, risks, and opportunities of entering new geographical markets. 

You will translate an existing ESG market-analysis methodology into a practical AI workflow and create a prototype that supports experts in making well-informed decisions. By combining sustainability knowledge with AI capabilities, you will contribute to a project that can directly influence how Lely evaluates future growth opportunities around the world. 

Your responsibilities include: 

• Translating the existing ESG market-analysis methodology into agent instructions and workflows 
• Structuring and validating relevant internal and external ESG knowledge sources 
• Building and configuring the ESG Market Analysis Agent in Copilot Studio 
• Developing IRO scoring, materiality assessment, and target-at-risk logic 
• Connecting country-specific findings to the Lely ESG framework 
• Testing and validating AI-generated assessments against existing expert assessments 

At the end of your internship, you will deliver a validated prototype ESG Market Analysis Agent that can assess a defined country and market-entry scenario and produce a source-based Lely IRO assessment, including: 

• Materiality scoring; 
• ESG target exposure analysis; 
• Mitigation and adaptation recommendations; 
• A market-entry recommendation; 
• Recommendations for further implementation. 

Practical information 

• Educational or Graduation internship both possible 
• Duration: Approximately 20 weeks  
• Education level: HBO or WO  
• Start date: To be agreed upon

You are enthusiastic about sustainability and curious about how AI can support better business decisions. You enjoy transforming complex information into structured insights and are comfortable combining research, analysis, and technology in a practical project. 

We are looking for someone with: 

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Global Studies, Sustainability, Sustainable Business, or a related field 
• Affinity with ESG, sustainability frameworks, and responsible business practices 
• Affinity with AI, Copilot, and emerging AI applications 
• Strong analytical thinking skills and a structured way of working 
• Experience with research and source validation 
• Good communication skills in English; Dutch is considered an advantage 

At Lely, we offer you an educational and dynamic internship experience at one of the most innovative organizations in the Netherlands. You’ll become part of a driven team and have plenty of opportunities to further develop your talents. 

• An international working environment 
• An internship allowance of €650 per month based on a 40-hour work week 
• A student apartment if your commute is too long 
• Our modern Lely Campus gives you daily access to extensive sports facilities: an indoor gym, outdoor padel courts, a basketball and volleyball court, as well as table tennis and foosball. You can join Hyrox workouts or sign up for personal training – and challenge your colleagues during an active break. 
• Enjoy fresh coffee and tea from our in-house barista, made with milk straight from our farm, and a healthy, affordable company restaurant. 
• A free shuttle bus takes you to and from the metro station in Maassluis, ensuring your workday starts and ends smoothly. 
• We’re also proud that our dedication and vision have been recognized with the Rotterdam Entrepreneur Award 2025!