NIKE Global Sustainability Graduate Internship 2027: Paid 10-Week Graduate Internship in the United States
The NIKE, Inc. Global Sustainability Graduate Internship offers graduate students an opportunity to gain practical experience working on sustainability initiatives at one of the world’s most recognized sports companies. The internship is designed for graduate-level candidates interested in sustainability, climate and environmental issues, supply chains, operations, analytics, human rights, sustainable materials, compliance and other areas that contribute to responsible business practices.
Based at NIKE’s Philip H. Knight campus in Beaverton, Oregon, the 10-week paid internship gives selected participants the opportunity to work with teams across the company and contribute to projects that connect sustainability with business, manufacturing, operations and marketplace activities.
The internship is particularly relevant to graduate students pursuing an MBA and/or Environmental Science graduate degree who want to develop experience working on large-scale sustainability challenges within a global organization.
About the NIKE Global Sustainability Graduate Internship
Nike describes sustainability as an important part of its approach to innovation and long-term business development. The company’s Global Sustainability team works across its value chain to address environmental and social issues while supporting business and operational objectives.
The internship provides graduate students with the opportunity to become part of this work and contribute to projects involving different functions and stakeholders across Nike.
Rather than simply observing sustainability activities, interns are expected to take ownership of one or more projects. These projects can involve research, strategic thinking, data analysis, stakeholder engagement, problem-solving and the development of recommendations that can help move business initiatives forward.
The position therefore combines sustainability knowledge with business strategy, project management, analytics and cross-functional collaboration.
Areas of Sustainability Available to Interns
Selected interns may work in one or more areas of Nike’s Global Sustainability organization.
These include:
- Climate & Environment
- Work related to climate strategy, environmental impact and resource management.
- Projects may involve emissions reduction and broader environmental initiatives.
- Engagement
- Supporting efforts to engage employees, stakeholders or other audiences around sustainability priorities.
- Geo Sustainability
- Working on sustainability priorities and initiatives connected to particular geographic markets or regions.
- Marketplace Sustainability
- Exploring how sustainability can be incorporated into Nike’s marketplace activities and consumer-facing initiatives.
- People & Human Rights
- Working on social sustainability, human rights and responsible business practices.
- Raw Materials & Traceability
- Supporting initiatives involving sustainable materials, sourcing and the ability to track materials through supply chains.
- Supply Chain Compliance
- Working on sustainability and compliance considerations throughout Nike’s global supply chain.
- Sustainable Chemistry
- Contributing to efforts involving cleaner chemistry and reducing the environmental impact of materials and production processes.
- Sustainability Compliance & Reporting
- Supporting sustainability reporting, compliance and related corporate responsibility activities.
This broad range of areas means that the internship can expose participants to different dimensions of sustainability, from environmental and climate issues to supply chains, human rights, reporting and business operations.
What Will Interns Do?
The Global Sustainability Graduate Intern will work with teams across Nike to help integrate sustainability into various areas of the business.
According to the opportunity description, interns may contribute to business, manufacturing, operations and marketplace initiatives.
A major component of the internship is project ownership. Interns are expected to lead one or more projects that require them to:
- Work with multiple stakeholders.
- Analyze complex problems.
- Structure projects and identify solutions.
- Conduct research.
- Analyze information and datasets.
- Develop strategic recommendations.
- Communicate findings to different audiences.
- Apply critical and strategic thinking.
- Translate information into actionable business insights.
- Contribute to initiatives that can move the business forward.
This makes the opportunity particularly suitable for graduate students who want more than theoretical sustainability knowledge and are interested in applying their education to real organizational challenges.
Examples of Previous Nike Internship Projects
Nike provides examples of projects previously undertaken by interns to demonstrate the type of work participants may encounter.
Examples include:
Developing a Climate Strategy
One previous project involved developing a strategy for how Nike could incorporate carbon offsets into its enterprise climate strategy.
This type of assignment requires research, strategic analysis and an understanding of climate-related business considerations.
Sustainability at Running Events
Another previous project involved researching and creating a playbook for elevating Nike’s sustainability presence at key running races.
This demonstrates how sustainability can extend beyond manufacturing and supply chains into events, marketing and marketplace activities.
Distribution Center Sustainability
Another project involved developing a strategy to enhance sustainability efforts at North American distribution centers.
This illustrates the operational dimension of sustainability and the importance of integrating environmental considerations into logistics and distribution.
These examples also demonstrate that interns may be expected to tackle open-ended business questions and develop practical recommendations rather than simply perform routine administrative tasks.
Duration and Compensation
The internship is a:
- 10-week program
- Paid internship
- Graduate-level opportunity
- In-person position
- Located at Nike’s Philip H. Knight campus in Beaverton, Oregon
- Includes relocation assistance
The paid nature of the internship provides graduate students with an opportunity to gain professional experience while participating in a structured corporate internship program.
Relocation assistance can also be particularly relevant to eligible candidates who are not currently based in the Beaverton area, although applicants should review the specific relocation and employment conditions provided during the application process.
Educational Requirements
Applicants must be enrolled in a qualifying graduate program.
Nike specifically requires candidates to be enrolled in:
- A Business/MBA graduate program, and/or
- An Environmental Science graduate program
Applicants must also have an expected graduation date of:
- December 2027, or
- Spring/Summer 2028
This requirement is important because the internship is specifically designed for students at a particular stage of their graduate education.
Candidates should therefore ensure that their current enrollment and expected graduation date meet Nike’s stated requirements before applying.
Preferred Academic and Professional Backgrounds
Although Nike specifically identifies Business/MBA and Environmental Science graduate programs, it also states that candidates with experience or backgrounds in several related fields are preferred.
These include:
- Social and Environmental Sustainability
- Operations
- Supply Chain
- Analytics
- Manufacturing
- Engineering
- Procurement
- Textiles
- Finance
- Retail
This means candidates can potentially bring different forms of academic and professional expertise to the Global Sustainability team.
For example, someone with supply chain experience could contribute to traceability or compliance projects, while an analytics-oriented candidate could contribute to sustainability data analysis and reporting.
Work Experience Requirement
Applicants must have at least two years of work experience.
This is an important requirement because the internship is not positioned as an entry-level undergraduate internship. It is specifically targeted at graduate students who already have meaningful professional experience.
Applicants should make their relevant experience easy for recruiters to identify in their resume, particularly experience involving:
- Project management
- Business operations
- Sustainability
- Analytics
- Supply chains
- Manufacturing
- Procurement
- Research
- Stakeholder management
- Reporting
- Strategy
- Environmental initiatives
Skills Nike Is Looking For
Nike identifies a broad range of skills that can help candidates succeed in the internship.
Sustainability Knowledge
General knowledge of sustainability is strongly preferred.
Relevant areas include:
- Corporate responsibility
- Climate
- Natural resources
- Circularity
- People and human rights
- Environmental sustainability
- Sustainable supply chains
Candidates should be able to demonstrate a genuine interest in sustainability rather than simply listing it as an area of interest.
Project Management
Strong project management abilities are required.
Interns may be responsible for leading projects involving multiple stakeholders, research activities, analysis and final recommendations.
Experience managing deadlines, organizing workstreams and coordinating stakeholders can therefore be valuable.
Problem Structuring and Solving
Nike is looking for candidates who can take complex or ambiguous problems and structure them into manageable components.
This may involve:
- Understanding the problem.
- Identifying relevant information.
- Analyzing available data.
- Developing potential solutions.
- Evaluating alternatives.
- Communicating recommendations.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
The internship requires working across teams within a highly matrixed organization.
Candidates should therefore be comfortable collaborating with people from different departments and professional backgrounds.
The ability to influence teams and communicate effectively with stakeholders is specifically highlighted.
Analytical Thinking
Nike wants candidates who can decipher themes, make decisions and tell stories from large datasets.
This suggests that data analysis is an important component of some projects.
Candidates with experience using data to identify trends, develop insights and communicate findings can demonstrate relevant preparation for the role.
Presentation Skills
Experience presenting information to diverse audiences, including senior leadership, is also sought.
Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate their ability to turn complex information into clear and useful presentations.
Communication
Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required.
Because interns will work across different teams and potentially communicate with senior stakeholders, the ability to write clearly and communicate ideas effectively is important.
Personal Qualities Nike Is Seeking
Beyond technical qualifications, Nike describes several personal qualities that it wants from candidates.
Self-Starter
Candidates should be comfortable taking initiative and progressing work without requiring constant supervision.
Comfort With Ambiguity
Sustainability projects can involve complex problems without obvious answers. Nike therefore wants candidates who can work effectively when the path forward is not completely defined.
Bias for Action
Applicants should demonstrate an ability to move from analysis and ideas toward practical action.
Growth-Focused Mindset
Nike is looking for candidates who are interested in learning, improving and developing professionally.
Inquisitive Approach
Curiosity is important because sustainability challenges often require research, questioning existing processes and identifying new possibilities.
Process-Oriented Mindset
Candidates should be able to organize their work systematically and understand processes within complex organizations.
Application Documents Required
Nike has specific instructions concerning application materials.
Applicants must submit:
- A one-page resume
- A one-page cover letter
Both documents must be submitted in PDF format.
Importantly, Nike states that the resume and cover letter should be uploaded and submitted as one combined PDF file.
Resume Requirement
The resume should be limited to one page.
Applicants should prioritize information most relevant to the Global Sustainability Graduate Internship, including:
- Graduate education
- Relevant work experience
- Sustainability experience
- Project management
- Analytics
- Operations
- Supply chain
- Research
- Leadership
- Presentations
- Relevant technical skills
Cover Letter Requirement
The cover letter should also be limited to one page.
A strong application should clearly connect the candidate’s academic background, professional experience and interest in sustainability to the responsibilities of the internship.
Applicants should avoid submitting a generic cover letter and instead demonstrate why their background is relevant to Nike’s Global Sustainability team.
Location
The internship is based at:
NIKE, Inc. Philip H. Knight Campus
1 Bowerman Drive
Beaverton, Oregon 97005
United States
The position is explicitly described as in-person.
Candidates should therefore be prepared to work physically at Nike’s campus during the internship rather than treating the opportunity as a remote position.
Nike states that relocation assistance is provided for the internship.
Nike’s Internship Environment
Nike describes its internship program as an opportunity to become part of a large, diverse and collaborative organization.
The company says its teams bring together different skill sets, knowledge bases, ideas and backgrounds.
The internship is therefore designed not only to provide technical experience but also to expose participants to the way a global organization operates.
Participants can expect opportunities to:
- Work with professionals across the organization.
- Participate in real business projects.
- Develop strategic thinking.
- Strengthen project management skills.
- Improve stakeholder communication.
- Work with data.
- Present findings.
- Gain exposure to global sustainability issues.
- Build professional experience within a multinational company.
Nike Hiring Process
Nike outlines a general hiring process for its corporate positions.
Step 1: Apply
Candidates begin by reviewing the job description and submitting their application through Nike’s careers platform.
Applicants should ensure that their application documents satisfy the specific requirements for the internship.
Step 2: Recruiter Contact or Assessment
For corporate positions, selected candidates may be contacted by a recruiter who will become their main point of contact during the interview process.
The recruitment process may involve further assessment depending on the position.
Step 3: Interview
Candidates who progress to the interview stage should research Nike, understand the internship requirements and prepare to discuss their background and approach to work.
Applicants should be prepared to discuss examples demonstrating:
- Project management
- Problem-solving
- Collaboration
- Sustainability knowledge
- Analytical thinking
- Communication
- Leadership
- Working with ambiguity
- Presenting information to stakeholders
Equal Opportunity and Accessibility
Nike states that it is an equal opportunity employer and that qualified applicants receive consideration without regard to characteristics including race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status or disability.
Nike also provides accommodations for candidates who require assistance during the interview and application process.
Available accommodations may include:
- Screen readers
- Sign language interpreters
- Accessible interview locations
- Closed captioning
- Other reasonable modifications
Candidates requiring accommodation can use Nike’s Candidate Accommodation Request Form or contact Nike through the information provided on the official job posting.
Deadline
Deadline: The job posting provided does not state a specific application deadline.
Because no closing date is listed in the supplied posting, prospective applicants should check the official Nike careers page and apply as early as possible. Corporate internship vacancies can close once the recruitment process reaches the required number of applications or the position is filled.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should prepare their application according to Nike’s requirements before submitting it online.
Application Checklist
Before applying, candidates should ensure that they:
- Are enrolled in an eligible MBA/Business and/or Environmental Science graduate program.
- Have an expected graduation date of December 2027 or Spring/Summer 2028.
- Have at least two years of work experience.
- Have a relevant academic or professional background.
- Can demonstrate sustainability knowledge or interest.
- Have strong project management and analytical skills.
- Can demonstrate cross-functional collaboration.
- Prepare a one-page resume.
- Prepare a one-page cover letter.
- Combine both documents into a single PDF.
- Submit the application through Nike’s official careers platform.
Application Link
Apply for the NIKE Global Sustainability Graduate Internship Here
Official Website
For more graduate internship opportunities visit OFY Website HERE
Job Details at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opportunity | NIKE, Inc. Global Sustainability Graduate Internship |
| Category | Paid Graduate Internship |
| Company | NIKE, Inc. |
| Job ID | R-92069 |
| Location | Beaverton, Oregon, United States |
| Work arrangement | In-person |
| Duration | 10 weeks |
| Compensation | Paid |
| Relocation | Relocation assistance provided |
| Graduate programs | Business/MBA and/or Environmental Science |
| Expected graduation | December 2027 or Spring/Summer 2028 |
| Work experience | At least 2 years |
| Resume | 1 page, PDF |
| Cover letter | 1 page, PDF |
| Submission format | Combined resume and cover letter PDF |
| Application deadline | Not specified in the supplied posting |
Conclusion
The NIKE, Inc. Global Sustainability Graduate Internship provides graduate students with an opportunity to gain hands-on experience working on sustainability challenges within a major global organization. The 10-week paid program combines sustainability with business operations, strategy, analytics, supply chains, manufacturing, human rights, compliance and other areas of corporate sustainability.
The opportunity is specifically designed for graduate students in Business/MBA and/or Environmental Science programs who expect to graduate in December 2027 or Spring/Summer 2028 and have at least two years of work experience.
Successful interns can expect to take ownership of meaningful projects, collaborate with teams across Nike, analyze complex information, develop strategic recommendations and communicate insights to diverse stakeholders. The program is particularly relevant to candidates seeking to build careers at the intersection of sustainability, business strategy, operations, analytics and global supply chains.
Since the supplied posting does not provide a specific deadline, eligible candidates should review the official Nike careers listing and submit their application as soon as possible.
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
Share this:
Discover more from Opportunities for Youth
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
