Student & Graduate Internships

East Lothian Council is a local authority that covers the region immediately to the east of Edinburgh, which has a semi-rural population of approximately 110,000. The Council is headquartered in Haddington. East Lothian Council declared a climate emergency in 2019. The Council, like all public bodies in Scotland, has a requirement to reach net zero emissions in its operations by 2045. Recent guidance also requires the Council to develop a plan for the whole area of East Lothian to reach net zero emissions. Councils across Scotland use ClimateView, a data-driven platform that helps local authorities design and monitor emissions reduction pathways. This work is supported by the Scottish Climate Intelligence Service (SCIS), which provides guidance, tools, and training to accelerate climate action. Each council is partnered with a dedicated Local Lead, who works closely with teams to build capacity in using ClimateView effectively, surfacing climate change interventions from existing
plans and strategies, and engaging colleagues across service areas as well as external partners.

The Role

This role supports East Lothian Council's Climate Change Officer to accelerate development of climate change plans using the ClimateView platform, supported by the Council's Local Lead from the Scottish Climate Intelligence Service (SCIS). You will help identify and organise climate change interventions from Council plans and strategies, upload them to ClimateView and prepare to publish the Council's ClimateView dashboard. You will also take a wider view of local authorities' sustainability obligations and identify interventions for use in other Council plans and external funding applications. You will engage with colleagues within the council across different service areas, and maintain accurate, actionable data that informs emissions reduction pathways. The position offers a practical opportunity to be part of Scotland's efforts to meet national climate targets while gaining insight into collaborative governance and climate planning.

Key Tasks:

The role is varied but will include:

Identify interventions from council plans & projects and upload them to ClimateView platform.
Attend SCIS workshops and training sessions - Training and supporting resources from SCIS will be made available.
Liaise with internal council teams to get input on interventions.
Attend & do secretariat for working group meetings to share and discuss insights from ClimateView dashboard.
Outcomes will include:

· Contribute to building and communicating a picture of climate action in East Lothian.

· Experience planning and actioning local decarbonisation initiatives, working with departments such as planning, transport, housing, and energy.

· Learn how policies are developed, approved, and implemented in local government, and how collaboration with elected members, businesses, and residents shapes outcomes.

· Build skills in project management, data analysis, and communication.

· Be part of a team leading on achieving Scotland's ambitious climate change goals.

The Candidate

Skills required: Any degree with a strong interest in government, public policy, and climate change is essential. Relevant areas of study may include data science, politics, environmental sciences, planning, engineering, landscape architecture, or related fields.

The role requires attendance in Haddington approximately every other week, with occasional travel to other locations across East Lothian as required. Advance notice will be provided whenever in-person attendance is needed.

Candidates should possess good basic IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office and Microsoft Teams. Confidence in using Excel is highly desirable, while experience working with websites, web applications, or digital platforms would be advantageous.

A laptop, system access, and a work email account will be provided.

We particularly welcome applications from candidates with knowledge of, or an interest in, East Lothian and its communities. Local knowledge would be beneficial but is not essential., a) You must be eligible to work in the U.K. for the full length of your placement. Valid Visa will be sought.