Intern - Environmental Sustainability Policy & Regulatory Analyst
The Team
Interns at Alaska and Horizon work on visible projects that impact our guests and business. Beyond hands-on experience, interns also get the opportunity to network with employees and company leaders. When not working, we invite our interns to take advantage of our unlimited complimentary space-available travel on Alaska Airlines or Horizon Air.
Role Specific Details
This internship is expected to begin in late August 2023 and will run during the academic year through spring 2024. This internship will be a part-time, 20 hour per week commitment. Some remote work is allowed, with some regular office hours and in-person meetings required in the SeaTac area.
Key Duties
- Track and monitor the environmental sustainability legal and regulatory landscape – including relevant actions by United States federal agencies, the courts, and state regulators where Alaska operates (with particular focus on WA, OR, and CA), and international nongovernmental entities such as the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and other policymakers conducting international rule-setting.
- Work with Alaska Airlines sustainability, environmental affairs, government affairs, financial reporting, and legal teams to understand Alaska’s business interests, be able to effectively represent these while assisting the company to contribute to the legal and public policy debates that determine environmental laws and regulations impacting the airline industry.
- Interpret and summarize new policy proposals, laws and regulations, and analyze potential impacts to Alaska Air Group.
- Deliver regular reports on the evolution of proposed rules, or parameters to keep the company informed about how developments may and do impact the business and its compliance obligations.
- Draft comments or feedback on proposals to represent and protect our business interests where Alaska Airlines is uniquely impacted on an issue or where our voice is particularly needed. Work with outside counsel – via inhouse Alaska legal counsel – where appropriate and approved.
- Coordinate with Government Affairs on advocacy and influence strategies where needed to address issues of significant impact and importance.
- Serve as a liaison who helps Finance team members translate environmental policy into required financial reporting documents and investor presentations.
- With assistance from in-house legal counsel, participate in the creation of federal regulations by preparing feedback and comments during the rulemaking process. Provide input to aviation and other industry and trade associations to which Alaska belongs to ensure the company’s interests are effectively represented. Liaise directly with staff from such agencies and partners as appropriate.
- Report on key developments in international regulatory landscape as they could impact the development of sustainable aviation technology, US policy, key business partners to Alaska, customer expectations, or other factors in Alaska’s long-term strategy.
- Prepare a recommendation for Alaska that defines and scopes go-forward business need for this work, based on evolving legal and regulatory standards environment in this space.
Job-Specific Experience, Education & Skills
Required
- Pursuing a law degree or master’s degree with a focus on sustainability, environmental affairs, government affairs or similar.
- Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to address multiple projects and tasks while adhering to project schedules and deadlines, and effectively cope with conflicts caused by competing priorities with minimal supervision.
- Excellent communication (e.g., verbal, written, and listening), presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to produce clear and concise documentation.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office applications (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Minimum age of 18.
- Must be authorized to work in the U.S.
Preferred
- Knowledge and ability to read and interpret federal statutes and regulations dealing with environmental law. Appreciation and knowledge of administrative law and the federal rulemaking and public comment process. Familiarity with aviation regulation preferred.
- Knowledge of the environmental sustainability regulatory and standards landscape, including the role of United States federal administrative agencies, federal and state judiciaries, state regulators, and international nongovernmental entities such as the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and others responsible for international rule-setting.
- Strong interest in helping the company formulate legal and non-legal strategies to address environmental regulations, controls, and other potential compliance obligations.
- Some law school required. Some relevant private sector professional work experience preferred.
- Resourceful and capable of prioritizing work, demonstrates skills in using discretion when working with confidential information.
- Sound legal research skills and attention to detail
- Excellent written and verbal skills, with the ability to communicate with all levels of the organization.
Pay Details
Hourly pay for this internship will be determined by the candidate's degree program.
- Interns enrolled in a master's degree with a focus on sustainability, environmental affairs, government affairs or similar will be paid at $30 per hour.
- Interns enrolled in a law degree will be paid at $35 per hour.
Application Details
Interested candidates must apply through our careers site to be considered for this internship. We aren't able to consider Handshake applications alone. The application window will close on Wednesday, June 21st at 7 pm PT.