Environmental Science Jobs in Springfield, IL (NOW HIRING)

The sustainability graduate internship offers a unique opportunity for those who are eager to apply their academic knowledge to real-world scenarios and immerse themselves in the field of corporate sustainability. The internship is structured to provide a blend of research, analysis, and practical application, focusing on sustainability best practices and reporting frameworks. The sustainability graduate intern will collaborate directly with the Director of Global Sustainability and work alongside cross-functional subject matter experts from across the company. The ideal candidate possesses strong leadership skills, excellent research and writing skills, and has experience connecting initiatives to drive company value. They will be part of a fast-paced and dynamic environment so must be a proactive collaborator and communicator who is able to grasp ideas quickly.

What You’ll Do:

• Conduct in-depth research and analysis on sustainability best practices and industry trends, as well as emerging sustainability reporting frameworks (voluntary and required) to inform Workiva’s non-financial disclosure strategy
• Support the development of sustainability reporting and disclosures
• Prepare reports and presentations on sustainability performance and progress
• Collect and analyze sustainability-related data
• Contribute to the development of communication materials to enhance Workiva’s sustainability narrative
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including but not limited to finance, legal, internal audit, communications, and marketing, to support the goal of positioning Workiva as a global leader in sustainability management
• Perform other duties as assigned

What You’ll Need:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Current enrollment in a master's degree program with a focus on Environmental Science, Sustainability, Business Administration, or a related field

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with sustainability reporting frameworks and third-party investor ratings (e.g., GRI, SASB, CSRD, ISSB, CDP, ISS, MSCI, EcoVadis, Sustainalytics, etc.)
• Exposure to Workiva sustainability management platform
• Experience utilizing AI to automate work tasks including to support research analysis and writing effective prompts to generate desired outputs.
• Strong interest in corporate sustainability
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to research, analyze, and succinctly report qualitative and quantitative results
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Proficiency in Google Suite (Meet, Docs, Slides, Sheets, Calendar)

Travel Requirements and Working Conditions

• Minimal travel
• Reliable internet access for any period of time working remotely, not in a Workiva office

Location: This internship is primarily a remote opportunity. However, if you are located near one of our office hubs, you are welcome to work in a hybrid capacity and utilize our office spaces. Check out our article on Workplace Flexibility to learn more.

When can you expect to hear back?

We are committed to attending all career fairs and recruitment events before closing our positions. That means, this position might be open without updates for a few weeks to give us time to connect with all potential candidates before wrapping up the recruitment season. Check out our tentative timeline below to see when you can expect to hear from us!

Postings close: September 27, 2026 Engineering postings close: October 2, 2026 Interviews: Early to mid October Offers: Mid to late October

2027 Start Dates:

Our positions have opportunities that start in the Spring or Summer. Please see our start dates below and let us know your availability in your application.

Spring 2027 Internships: Monday, January 4, 2027 (15-20 hours per week max)

How You’ll Be Rewarded

Salary range in the US: $35.00 - $35.00 401(k) participation and match

Paid sick leave

A unique opportunity to further your learning experience through additional internship seasons

Why Join Workiva

Workiva is the platform designed to bring confidence, control, and a competitive edge to the world’s most complex organizations. Our AI-powered platform unifies finance, risk, and sustainability on a single, secure foundation-ensuring data is trusted, traceable, and ready to act on. With an unbroken path from source to output, leaders gain confidence in their numbers, visibility into current and emerging risks, and the ability to move with speed and precision in a constantly changing world.

At Workiva, you’ll bring technology to market that executives, boards, and regulators depend on. The work you do here helps organizations navigate uncertainty, maintain trust, and make decisions that stand up to scrutiny. If you’re energized by meaningful challenges, inspired by collaborative teams, and motivated to help organizations turn uncertainty into advantage, we’d love to meet you.

Employment decisions are made without regard to age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status or any other protected characteristic.

Workiva is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. To request assistance with the application process, please email earlycareer@workiva.com.

Workiva employees are required to undergo comprehensive security and privacy training tailored to their roles, ensuring adherence to company policies and regulatory standards.

Workiva supports employees in working where they work best - either from an office or remotely from any location within their country of employment.