Sustainability Compliance Intern

About the job

Department: Sustainability Location: Chesapeake, VA Employment Type: Part-Time Internship Hours: 15 hours per week

About the Role

Dollar Tree is seeking a Sustainability Compliance Intern to support the Sustainability team as environmental regulations and operational requirements continue to evolve. This role will provide hands-on experience at the intersection of sustainability, environmental compliance, regulatory research, data analysis, and retail operations.

The intern will support a range of initiatives related to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), battery recycling requirements, post-consumer recycled (PCR) packaging, chemical reporting, supplier engagement, sustainability reporting, and emerging environmental regulations.

This is an opportunity to work across multiple business functions and gain a practical understanding of how environmental requirements are translated into business processes and compliance programs within a large retail organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Support EPR packaging reporting and compliance activities across multiple states, including data collection, validation, analysis, and regulatory submissions.
• Identify and evaluate opportunities to reduce EPR fees through packaging optimization, material reduction, and other initiatives in collaboration with Sustainability, Sourcing, and Merchandising.
• Support battery EPR reporting and regulatory assessments across states with emerging battery recycling requirements.
• Assist with post-consumer recycled (PCR) packaging reporting and related compliance activities.
• Coordinate with suppliers to collect sustainability-related data supporting packaging, climate, and chemical initiatives.
• Help manage and organize sustainability data across thousands of suppliers and tens of thousands of products.
• Monitor and assess emerging federal and state environmental regulations and identify potential compliance obligations and business impacts.
• Support annual Sustainability Report data collection, verification, and cross-functional coordination.
• Assist with regulatory research, compliance documentation, and other sustainability-related projects.
• Continue evaluating the feasibility and business case for the Cardboard Backhauling Project.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across Sustainability, Legal, Sourcing, Merchandising, Operations, and other functions to support project execution.

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a Juris Doctor, bachelor's degree, master's degree, or other relevant degree in environmental law, sustainability, business, environmental science, engineering, public policy, or a related field.
• Strong research, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to organize, validate, and analyze complex data.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams and a variety of stakeholders.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects and priorities.
• Interest in sustainability, environmental regulation, compliance, and the retail industry.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with environmental or sustainability regulations, particularly Extended Producer Responsibility, packaging, battery recycling, recycled content, or chemical reporting.
• Experience conducting regulatory research or translating regulatory requirements into business implications.
• Experience working with large datasets, dashboards, or data-management tools.
• Previous experience in retail, corporate sustainability, legal, compliance, operations, or a related field.
• Familiarity with sustainability reporting and environmental data collection.

What You Will Gain

This internship provides exposure to:

• Environmental compliance and emerging sustainability regulations
• Extended Producer Responsibility and packaging requirements
• Battery recycling and recycled-content regulations
• Supplier engagement and sustainability data collection
• Corporate sustainability reporting
• Cross-functional project management
• The intersection of sustainability, legal requirements, and retail operations

The role is designed to provide meaningful, practical experience while developing a well-rounded understanding of sustainability and environmental compliance within a large retail organization.

Full time

500 Volvo Parkway,Chesapeake,Virginia 23320

Talent Acquisition

Dollar Tree