Culinary Internship Jobs in Decatur, GA (NOW HIRING)

As the Sustainability Manager at Emory University, you will lead and advance sustainability initiatives across a dynamic collegiate dining program, driving measurable improvements in waste reduction, sustainable sourcing, and environmental stewardship. This highly collaborative role partners closely with culinary and operational leaders, university stakeholders, students, and local food producers to support Emory University's ambitious sustainability philosophy.

This is an excellent opportunity for a passionate professional who enjoys combining data, relationship-building, and hands-on program management to create meaningful impact.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the implementation, tracking, and continuous improvement of waste reduction initiatives across campus dining operations.
• Collect, analyze, and report sustainability data related to waste diversion, food recovery, local purchasing, and other key performance indicators.
• Review and validate local and sustainable purchasing data to ensure reporting accuracy and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Partner with Executive Chefs, Chef Managers, and operational leaders to review sustainability metrics and develop action plans that improve environmental performance.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with local farmers, producers, vendors, and Bon Appétit's Regional Forager to expand local and sustainable sourcing opportunities.
• Serve as the primary Bon Appétit representative on Emory University's Sustainable Food Committee and collaborate with campus sustainability partners.
• Manage relationships with external organizations, including the Working Farms Fund and other local sustainability partners.
• Coordinate student engagement initiatives, including Weigh the Waste campaigns, sustainability education, and awareness programs.
• Recruit, train, and supervise student interns supporting waste audits, sustainability reporting, and data collection efforts.
• Support Emory University's sustainability reporting initiatives, including STARS reporting and other institutional environmental goals.
• Monitor emerging sustainability trends, best practices, and regulatory developments to identify opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement.
• Promote Bon Appétit's sustainability commitments through education, collaboration, and engagement with associates, students, and campus leadership.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Sustainability, Environmental Studies, Food Systems, Hospitality Management, Business, Nutrition, or a related field preferred. Equivalent relevant experience will be considered.
• Experience developing and implementing sustainability programs within foodservice, hospitality, higher education, or operational environments.
• Strong knowledge of food waste reduction strategies, sustainable sourcing, responsible procurement, and environmental stewardship initiatives.
• Experience collecting, analyzing, and presenting sustainability data and translating metrics into actionable operational improvements.
• Demonstrated project management skills with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with the ability to influence diverse stakeholders, including culinary teams, operational leaders, students, university partners, vendors, and community organizations.
• Experience leading sustainability education, engagement, or behavior change initiatives is highly preferred.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Excel and other reporting or data management tools.
• Self-motivated, organized, and passionate about creating measurable environmental impact.

What We're Looking For:

We welcome individuals with strong, relevant experience in sustainability programming, food waste initiatives, sustainable sourcing, environmental reporting, foodservice operations, or related fields. Success in this role comes from a passion for sustainability, strong analytical skills, and the ability to build partnerships that drive meaningful change. If you're excited about helping shape a more sustainable future while making a lasting impact on one of the nation's leading universities, we'd love to hear from you.