Part Time Energy Efficiency Program Jobs in Portland, OR

About This Opportunity

Cascade Energy is seeking an Information Technology Intern. This role is focused on delivering outcomes that directly contribute to team and business goals. Success at Cascade/Fresh Coast is about learning constantly, seeking shared success, putting others first, being industrious and doing the right thing.

We're looking for a motivated Junior or Senior-year IT/CS student to join our team as an IT Intern, gaining real-world experience. We welcome interns with an interest or focus in any one or more areas; business and data intelligence/reporting, AI and Emerging Technology, Cloud Architecture and General IT.

Future-Focused AI-Ready Culture

At Cascade Energy, we’re actively shaping how AI gets deployed in the real world, in our tools, our client engagements, and our daily work.  Our approach has always been relationship-driven and expertise-led, and IA is how we multiply the impact of both. 

Successful Cascadians are curious and resilient.  They embrace change, seek smarter ways to create impact, and take ownership of their own growth.  We embed AI into our work in ways that are responsible and human-centered, and we actively develop our people to deploy it creatively and confidently.

We believe the future belongs to organizations that pair emerging technology with genuine human expertise.  That future is being built  here. . . .come be a part of it!

Areas of Focus for the Internship

Key Responsibilities can include a mix of the following. Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.

• Provide entry-level help desk and user support, assisting employees with common hardware, software, login, password reset, and access request issues under the guidance of senior IT staff.
• Write basic to intermediate SQL queries, organize data for reporting, and help test and validate data in internal systems, flagging inconsistencies as needed.
• Shadow senior team members on small SQL, reporting, AI, and data-related projects to learn how technology tools support business decisions.
• Experiment with approved AI tools under supervision to identify opportunities to automate repetitive tasks, such as ticket categorization, FAQ responses, or other routine IT workflows.
• Update, organize, and maintain IT documentation, FAQs, and step-by-step guides for common user questions and support processes.
• Participate in team meetings and small projects, contributing ideas from coursework in databases, AI, systems, or cloud platforms while gaining exposure to basic cloud monitoring, permissions review, and configuration tasks.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job
This is a part-time, non- exempt position located in our Corporate Office downtown Portland, OR. Minimal travel is anticipated for this role.

Qualifications

We seek candidates with a strong desire and ability to learn, a passion for energy efficiency work, and a willingness to work hard.  Additional criteria include:

• Currently pursuing or recently completed coursework toward a degree, certificate, or equivalent training in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, Cybersecurity, or a related field.
• Basic understanding of computer hardware, operating systems, networking concepts, and common business applications.
• Familiarity with Microsoft 365, Windows operating systems, collaboration tools, cloud-based platforms, and ticketing or asset management systems preferred.
• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with curiosity and a willingness to learn.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills, with the ability to explain technical information clearly to non-technical users.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple tasks and priorities with appropriate follow-through.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively in a collaborative, distributed team environment.
• Interest in energy efficiency, sustainability, decarbonization, or mission-driven work is a plus.
• Comfort using AI tools responsibly and thoughtfully to improve productivity, documentation, and problem solving is a plus.

For candidates whose experience may not align perfectly with all these preferred skills but can see themselves adding value in this role, we encourage you to still apply. Cascade is dedicated to building an inclusive and authentic workplace and places strong importance on learning and development. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Compensation & Benefits

The Internship provides:

• Up to 20 hrs./week for at least two quarters, at an hourly pay rate of $25/hr.
  • Start date flexible, but sooner rather than later.
• A flexible schedule to accommodate student’s other activities.
• This is a 50% in person downtown Portland OR/50% remote role.