Schneider Summer Fellowships: U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) - Summer 2026
Through the Schneider Fellows program, Stanford students work at leading U.S. nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in the sustainable energy field. Schneider Summer Fellows spend a summer quarter tackling the world’s economic, environmental, social, and technical challenges associated with harnessing energy resources to deliver energy services.
Fellows receive a stipend of $11,500 for a 12-week summer fellowship. Additional funding of up to $1500 is available for fellowship-related travel.
Description of Organization
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a mission-driven nonprofit dedicated to accelerating and scaling the transformation of the built environment. Through LEED—the world’s most widely used green building rating system— and initiatives likes Greenbuild, the Center for Green Schools and advocacy, USGBC empowers professionals to drive market transformation that advances human and environmental health, climate resilience, and equity.
Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) is the world’s leading sustainability and health certification and credentialing body, independently recognizing excellence in performance. GBCI administers project certifications and professional credentials and certificates including LEED, WELL, EDGE, PEER, PERFORM, SITES, TRUE Zero Waste, and IREE.
We are proud to be globally recognized for our leadership in green building, environmental performance, and sustainable development.
Our Global Impact
- Over 120,000 LEED-certified commercial projects worldwide
- Millions of square feet of certified healthy, efficient, low-carbon space
- Recognition in 180+ countries for innovation in green building and business practices
Why Join Us?
At USGBC and GBCI, you’ll work alongside passionate, mission-aligned professionals who care deeply about people, the planet, and progress. We offer:
- A purpose-driven, inclusive culture
- Opportunities to grow your career and take ownership of meaningful work
- A chance to make a measurable impact on global sustainability efforts
- We’re seeking team members who thrive in collaborative environments, are committed to excellence, and want to build lasting partnerships that drive change in the built environment.
Meet Our Leaders and Learn More about our Mission:
Culture and Values Statement
Working together, each of us advances our mission by respecting all voices, trusting and supporting one another, excelling through collaboration and accountability, and continuously improving ourselves and our organization.
USGBC has three Schneider Fellowship positions available for summer 2026.
Fellowship 1: Technical Development Fellow
As an Intern on the Technical Development Team at USGBC, you will have the opportunity to learn and contribute to advancing the goals of the Technical Development Team. In this role, you’ll gain hands-on experience supporting projects and initiatives that help our team to deliver meaningful results aligned to our mission and strategic goals.
You’ll work under the guidance of the Director of Carbon & Energy and collaborate with a supportive team where your efforts and ideas will be valued. You’ll work closely with areas such as Education, Marketing, Product Management, and Technology.
KEY LEARNING AREAS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Research new market sectors and industries to help inform offerings, such as new design methods, best management practices, building performance monitoring strategies, or carbon accounting technology
- Develop and execute independent research projects to support technical development of various topics addressed in the credit categories, e.g. intersections between energy / carbon and indoor air quality.
- Identify new and developing industry issues, trends, scientific research, technologies, regulatory requirements, and industry standards and publications with a focus on the nexus between Energy and Air Quality
- Support rating system development by managing credit category research projects related to the reference guide, education, documentation, pilot credits, etc.
- Serve as support by researching and analyzing performance data
- Examine the integration of resilience, health and wellness, and social equity
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
-
Focus in one or more of the following areas:
- Mechanical Engineering
- Architectural Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Interior Design
- Data Science
- Environmental Studies and Sustainability
Technical Tools
- Research
- Data analysis and visualization
- Microsoft Excel
Skills
- Superior verbal and written communication skills; able to produce brief, clear, and persuasive written communications.
- Familiarity with green building generally or the LEED rating system specifically; LEED Green Associate credential preferred (but not required).
- Commitment to USGBC mission.
- Confidence when responding to and prioritizing multiple requests from external experts and senior managers.
INTERN LOGISTICS
Location: This position is onsite (Washington, D.C.), hybrid, or remote.
Work Schedule: Monday – Friday 9 AM to 5:30 PM EST
Start Date: June 15, 2026 or June 22, 2026
Fellowship 2: Product Management Fellow
As a Product Management Fellow, you’ll have the opportunity to learn and contribute to advancing the goals of USGBC’s Product Management Team. The Product Management Team is responsible for supporting USGBC and GBCI products (such as LEED, TRUE, SITES, PERFORM, Arc, etc.) across their entire lifecycle to advance overall product strategy and direction, including establishing integrated product plans, identifying customer needs, and working with cross-functional teams to develop, launch, and optimize products across the organization.
You’ll work under the guidance of a designated Product Manager and collaborate with a supportive team where your efforts and ideas will be valued. The role involves conducting market, technical, and competitive research, supporting user research and stakeholder engagement efforts to optimize our existing products.
KEY LEARNING AREAS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Conduct market research to identify trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in emissions, energy, water, and waste management.
- Supports the Product Manager in defining target markets through research and data analysis and assists in the communication of market strategies.
- Conduct analyses to define market size including: Total Addressable Market (TAM), Serviceable Available Market (SAM), and Serviceable Obtainable Market (SOM).
- Conduct competitive analysis and differentiation to understand the evolving landscape of sustainability solutions, including evaluating features, market positioning, strengths, and weaknesses.
- Support development, implementation, and analysis of surveys, focus groups, and customer conversations to help define product needs.
- Gather and analyze key product performance metrics and credit utilization data to inform product development and iteration.
- Support cross-functional product meetings, ideation sessions, concept testing, and the development of user personas, journey maps, and more.
- Review products across Product portfolio for synergies, trends and differentiation.
- Conduct pricing analysis across products to inform development of cohesive product portfolio pricing strategy.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Experience
- Prior internships or volunteer work in a professional setting preferred
- Experience conducting market research and competitive analyses preferred.
Education
- Sustainability or environmental science
- Real estate development
- Urban planning
- Business administration
- Marketing and communications
- Environmental management
- Environmental engineering
- Architecture
Technical Tools
- PowerBI
- Notion
- Microsoft Office Suite: Word, Excel, Powerpoint
Skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills; able to produce brief, clear, and persuasive written communications.
- Adaptability and ability to adjust focus based on evolving priorities.
- Strong research and analytical skills.
- Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills and a proactive approach to problem solving.
- Familiarity with green building generally or the LEED rating system specifically; LEED Green Associate credential preferred (but not required).
- Passion for advancing sustainability best practice in the built environment.
- Commitment to USGBC mission.
INTERN LOGISTICS
Location: This position is remote in the US.
Work Schedule: Monday – Friday 9 AM to 5:30 PM EST
Start Date: June 15, 2026 or June 22, 2026
Fellowship 3: Public Policy Fellow
As a Public Policy Fellow, you’ll have the opportunity to learn and contribute to advancing the goals of USGBC’s Advocacy & Policy Team. In this role, you’ll gain hands-on experience supporting projects and initiatives that help our team to deliver meaningful results aligned to our mission and strategic goals.
You’ll work under the guidance of the Associate Director, State & Local Advocacy and collaborate with a supportive team where your efforts and ideas will be valued.
KEY LEARNING AREAS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Collaborate with Advocacy and Policy staff on updates to USGBC’s Public Policy Library, which includes over 600 state and local policies across all 50 states.
- Support ongoing efforts to track, organize and analyze data on legislation and policymakers relevant to USGBC’s mission and initiatives.
- Manage research project(s) which enhance future outreach and engagement strategies and support of USGBC’s grassroot efforts, including the resulting materials and meeting/training preparations.
- Assist in drafting and revising policy fact sheets and talk points, policymaker letters and issue summaries.
- Participate in coalition and partner meetings.
- Experience a mission driven, nonprofit organization’s approach to changing the way buildings are designed, built, and operates through the levers of public policy.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
- Enrollment in relevant major: public policy, government, environmental policy, urban planning, environmental studies, engineering, or related fields.
Technical Tools
- Microsoft Office Suite
Skills
- Excellent critical thinking and research skills
- Excellent writing skills, including the ability to articulate clearly and develop persuasive arguments tailored to the target audience
- High level of comfort in initiating outreach
- Demonstrated interest in government and policy
- Positive team attitude and proactive teamwork
INTERN LOGISTICS
Location: This position is remote in the continental U.S.
Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM local time zone, with some flexibility on the schedule
Start Date: June 15, 2026 or June 22, 2026
EEO Statement
The U.S. Green Building Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Eligibility:
For complete eligibility requirements, please review our program policies in its entirety.
Applicants must be:
- enrolled at Stanford for the winter and spring quarters of this academic year (2025-26); and
- be in good academic standing and not on suspension
Undergraduates and graduate students from all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply, and applicants may vary in academic interests, public service involvement, and experience. Priority will be given to students who have completed fewer than two previous Cardinal Quarter opportunities.
Requirements:
Selected Fellows are expected to begin service by June 22, 2026 for this summer fellowship. All fellows are required to work with their community partners full-time (35-40 hours) for twelve consecutive weeks at their placements. Other commitments include the following:
Quarter before fellowship
- Complete an online program orientation.
- Complete the Engaging in Ethical and Effective Service workshop or worksheet.
- Attend Schneider Fellows cohort session(s)
- Identify and meet with an on-campus mentor at least once.
- Design a personal learning plan and share the learning plan with site supervisor and on-campus mentor.
- Complete all required pre-orientation forms.
During fellowship
- Submit a brief preliminary report.
- Submit a final report, complete a program evaluation, and correspond with fellowship donor(s) as requested by fellowships program staff.
Quarter after fellowship
- Meet with on-campus mentor at least once.
- Participate in outreach activities to share the experience and help publicize the program.
Selection Process:
For those who seek assistance, advising is available at the Haas Center to help students develop their applications.
This fellowship is intended for individuals whose application, references, and interview demonstrate
- an integration of the fellowship experience with applicant’s academic, personal and/or career goals
- prior demonstrated interest or involvement in the subject area, including related coursework
- a compelling match between applicant’s skills and interests and an organization’s work and needs
- strong potential for the fellowship experience to deepen a candidate’s understanding of an identified community issue or challenge
Complete applications are screened, finalists interviewed, and fellows selected by our partner organizations with the intention to award fellowships within six weeks of the application deadline. Applicants are responsible for checking their Stanford email (including Spam folders) and responding promptly to interview invitations. Failure to respond to an interview invitation will result in withdrawal of the application.
Applicants should respond promptly (within 48 hours) via email to a fellowship offer, or the offer will be rescinded. Once an applicant accepts a fellowship offer, the student should promptly notify all other Stanford and non-Stanford programs to which they have applied that they have accepted another offer and to withdraw their candidacy.
