The University of Arizona Office of Sustainability seeks to hire one to two undergraduate or graduate Sustainability Reporting Assistants to help with their campus-wide sustainability report (STARS). The Sustainability Reporting Assistants will work directly with the staff Sustainability Data Analyst to research, compile, organize, analyze, and report on sustainability data collected from internal and external partners.
STARS, or the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, & Rating System, is an internationally-used tool to track sustainability initiatives across campus, including water usage, waste diversion, renewable energy use, student success and engagement, and more. STARS is managed by AASHE, or the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. The report informs university decision-makers and is integral to shaping successful UA operations and technology/resource investments.
The ideal candidate must be adept at compiling, organizing, and cleaning information, while being equally able to tell a story through data to communicate the information found. Candidate must be comfortable talking to campus stakeholders and conducting self-directed research to answer qualitative questions for the STARS report. Data visualization/data story experience via effective graphs and infographics to communicate data clearly to the public is preferred.
This position mainly focuses on AASHE STARS reporting but may include other data tracking, organization, and management tasks as needed. Additional responsibilities may include supporting broader Office of Sustainability initiatives to promote a campus culture of sustainability.
You must be a currently enrolled University of Arizona student, with a graduation date of May 2027 or later, to be considered for this position. This position can start as early as April 2026, and can go as long as May 2027, with the ability to work over the summer.
To be selected for an interview, you must provide a resume, cover letter, and 1-3 examples of information projects you have done (i.e. infographics, reports, graphs, etc.) and how you communicated that information with your audience. Please provide a short description of the process you used to complete the projects.
If you need support in crafting a Cover Letter or Resume for this position or assistance in strengthening your interview skills, please reach out to the team at Student Engagement and Career Development. They provide free guidance and coaching as a service to all current University of Arizona students. Please do not use AI to write your cover letter; it only hurts your chances of being selected.
Other Resources:
https://www.career.arizona.edu/jobs/resumes
https://www.career.arizona.edu/jobs/interviewing
This position does not require specific prior experience or knowledge in sustainability or climate action. All skills and required knowledge will be provided by the Office of Sustainability.
Office Location: Office of Sustainability, Environment and Natural Resources Building 2, 1064 E Lowell St, Room N495).
Hours per week: 10-25
Pay rate: $15.50/hour
Duties
Reporting Responsibilities
- Assist with the collection, cleaning, and reporting of quantitative and qualitative information related to the AASHE STARS report, including but not limited to course offerings, food purchasing, waste generation and recovery, campus programs, and campus demographics;
- Ensure information is correct by checking against official University sources, checking for holes or inconsistencies, and fixing formula errors;
- Schedule 1:1 meetings with campus stakeholders to collect answers needed for STARS report;
- Assist with the development of data visualizations to report current sustainability progress and opportunities for improvement to campus community.
General Responsibilities
- Complete required University and Office of Sustainability trainings (~10 paid hours);
- Maintain clear and open lines of communication with everyone in the Office of Sustainability, particularly your supervisor, and any relevant Office staff.
Required Qualifications:
- Enrolled University of Arizona student, undergraduate or graduate, with a graduation date of May 2027 or later;
- This is a hybrid position, with occasional in-person meetings required;
- Highly detail oriented;
- Strong writing ability, with ability to take information and synthesize it into clear narratives;
- Strong interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to positively represent the Office of Sustainability to our campus community;
- Adept with Microsoft Excel;
- Highly organized, with the ability to keep track of multiple tasks at once and organize files using electronic file managers (SharePoint);
- Ability and eagerness to quickly learn and apply new skills, plus ability to search for answers if you don’t know something;
- Ability to clearly communicate your conclusions to a varied audience;
- Ability to problem-solve and adapt.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Background in storytelling to communicate key takeaways from reports to stakeholders;
- Background interest in community engagement and sustainability/environmental conservation;
- Familiar with data visualization software, such as creating graphs within Excel and programs like Tableau or Power BI;
- Familiarity with graphic design programs such as the Adobe Creative Cloud or Canva to build infographics, or general knowledge in graphic design concepts to create visually appealing and approachable graphs.
About the University of Arizona Office of Sustainability
As a Tier 1 research and land-grant institution, the University of Arizona addresses global challenges through research and teaching and translates research into action. The U of A uses its campus as a living laboratory to pilot and implement innovative, place-based solutions that advance sustainability. The Office of Sustainability furthers this progress by elevating and institutionalizing best practices in sustainable operations and development. We work across the university to build relationships and networks that foster a culture of sustainability. We also provide student, faculty, staff, and community engagement opportunities, offering unique and meaningful experiences.