Sustainability Fellows

The University of Virginia is hiring Sustainability Fellows for a 12-month term in its Office for Sustainability. These full-time positions focus on advancing sustainability goals through project management and support. Candidates should have an undergraduate degree and experience in sustainability projects. The roles include Zero Waste Fellow and Sustainable Healthcare Fellow, with responsibilities such as event support, waste audits, and collaboration with various departments. The application deadline is April 12, 2026.
About the position

UVA’s Office for Sustainability is seeking candidates for its next cohort of Fellows. UVA Sustainability Fellows are full-time, benefited project management and support positions in UVA’s Office for Sustainability that focus on advancing the University’s sustainability goals. These positions have a 12-month term and are designed to equip emerging professionals interested in sustainability careers with relevant knowledge, skills, experience, and connections.
Fellows must hold an undergraduate degree in any field by the start of their term, but do not need to hold the degree at the time of application. Strong candidates will have experience supporting or implementing sustainability-related projects and initiatives, even if not in a paid professional setting.
UVA Sustainability Fellows will be collaborative team players who are also able to work independently using a high level of analytical, process, and people skills.
The application deadline is April 12, 2026. The fellowship term will be June 22, 2026 through June 25, 2027. Applicants will apply to the Fellowship program generally and then be matched to the most relevant role. For this term, we are seeking to fill two fellowship roles, as follows:
Zero Waste Fellow duties may include:
Supporting zero waste event strategy and execution: including working at zero waste events, program promotion, training, volunteer coordination, liaising with UVA Recycling Department, coordinating with area caterers, piloting new resources as needed, and general process/program improvement.
Supporting waste infrastructure improvement and standardization in UVA’s academic facilities.
Assisting in the promotion and improvement of UVA’s Waste Directory web tool.
Supporting compliance with UVA’s plastic-free requirements.
Performing waste audits and assisting with special collection campaigns including cardboard at move-in, donations at move-out, and Green Games for major athletic events.
Sustainable Healthcare Fellow duties may include:
Supporting new recycling and waste minimization projects, including communications, site visits, education, presentations, and rollouts in UVA Medical Center facilities in collaboration with the Office for Sustainability and Medical Center Environmental Services.
Supporting renewal of The Joint Commission Sustainable Healthcare Certification, including data collection, calculations, and compiling presentation materials.
Attending UVA Health Sustainability Committee Meetings, liaising with Practice Greenhealth, and tracking clinician- and medical student-led waste initiatives in progress.
Supporting the Office for Sustainability in clinician engagement strategy and implementation, including presentations, tabling, events, communications, and general program improvement.
Supporting award applications related to healthcare sustainability, as needed.
Researching and sharing best practices from other institutions and Practice Greenhealth.
At the conclusion of the 12-month term, UVA Sustainability Fellows will be required to submit a written summary report of accomplishments, including recommendations for current and future initiatives.

Responsibilities
• Working with the Fellowship Supervisor to support implementation of a key, longer-term project or pilot related to one or more sustainability goals
• Managing shorter-term special projects as assigned by Fellowship Supervisor
• Supporting other team members’ initiatives within the Fellow’s area of focus
• Developing presentations for collaborators and stakeholders
• Actively assessing sustainability needs on-Grounds
• Researching best practices from other institutions and organizations
• Providing essential support in meetings such as scheduling, coordinating, taking notes, and providing deliverables
• Supporting zero waste event strategy and execution: including working at zero waste events, program promotion, training, volunteer coordination, liaising with UVA Recycling Department, coordinating with area caterers, piloting new resources as needed, and general process/program improvement.
• Supporting waste infrastructure improvement and standardization in UVA’s academic facilities.
• Assisting in the promotion and improvement of UVA’s Waste Directory web tool.
• Supporting compliance with UVA’s plastic-free requirements.
• Performing waste audits and assisting with special collection campaigns including cardboard at move-in, donations at move-out, and Green Games for major athletic events.
• Supporting new recycling and waste minimization projects, including communications, site visits, education, presentations, and rollouts in UVA Medical Center facilities in collaboration with the Office for Sustainability and Medical Center Environmental Services.
• Supporting renewal of The Joint Commission Sustainable Healthcare Certification, including data collection, calculations, and compiling presentation materials.
• Attending UVA Health Sustainability Committee Meetings, liaising with Practice Greenhealth, and tracking clinician- and medical student-led waste initiatives in progress.
• Supporting the Office for Sustainability in clinician engagement strategy and implementation, including presentations, tabling, events, communications, and general program improvement.
• Supporting award applications related to healthcare sustainability, as needed.
• Researching and sharing best practices from other institutions and Practice Greenhealth.

Requirements
• Education: Bachelor’s degree by start date of position.
• Experience: Some knowledge of sustainability concepts, or experience supporting sustainability initiatives.