Ricardo plc is a global strategic, environmental, and engineering consulting company, listed on the London Stock Exchange. With over 100 years of engineering excellence and 3,000 employees in more than 20 countries, we provide exceptional levels of expertise in delivering leading-edge and innovative cross-sector sustainable solutions.

Clean Energy and Environmental Solutions (CEES), one of Ricardo plc’s operating units, offers leading sustainability consultancy services to customers around the world. We operate across the energy, transport, climate, chemical risk sectors, drawing on our decades of engineering, environmental and economic expertise.

We are currently looking for interns with an academic background in environmental chemistry and/or ecotoxicology to join our ECT team. You will have the opportunity to work and learn alongside our multidisciplinary experts in assessing the environmental fate and impacts of man-made chemicals on the environment in a regulatory context. You will be able to participates in projects investigating the behaviour and effects of organic chemicals, review regulatory reports, and hazard/risk assessments. As we deliver our expertise to international customers, a thorough understanding of written and spoken English is essential, with Spanish being a great advantage as well.

Our Madrid office hosts a diverse team of consultants, ranging from junior professionals to those with management responsibilities across various technical areas, as well as our European leadership team. We have a fun, multinational team, providing you with exposure to different languages and cultures during lunch and coffee breaks. The office, centrally located on Calle Orense, was recently renovated to meet the highest noise and environmental standards.

Purpose of the role

As an intern, you will support the delivery of research, data gathering and analysis, scientific analysis, and report writing, managing your time across multiple projects. You will be part of a European wide team, supporting senior colleagues in delivering a portfolio of high-profile projects to clients and partners across academia, industry, and regulatory authorities. Given the diverse topics our team covers, you will have the opportunity to work on different projects and thematic areas, allowing you to explore and align with your interests in fields such as ecotoxicology, environmental chemistry, EU chemical regulation, hazard assessments, and desk based research. This internship will enable you to apply and expand your skills while gaining familiarity with a wide range of sustainability and environmental topics.

Key Accountabilities

• Support senior staff with data and chemical analysis, literature reviews, and report-writing.
• Manage your time related to the tasks you are asked to complete.
• Be responsible for the quality and delivery of your work.
• Work closely with your colleagues to incorporate your contribution into wider project outputs.
• Be a team player.

Key competencies and skills

• Currently enrolled in an MSc program in chemistry, environmental sciences, biology, chemical engineering preferably with courses in disciplines such as environmental risk assessment, ecotoxicology, chemical fate and behaviour studies.  
• Strong analytical skills synthesising several data sources.
• Good communicator, written and verbally, including the ability to convey technical subjects clearly and concisely to a range of clients.
• Good IT skills with commonly used software, e.g. Microsoft Office (especially MS Excel and Word), internet, email.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a diverse team of specialists.
• Strong time management skills with the ability to effectively balance multiple projects.
• Fluency in Spanish and English is essential, other languages are desirable.

Personal development benefits

• Develop your skills in environmental chemistry, sustainability and data analysis on a variety of environmental topics.
• Shadow senior staff to gain insights into daily work to provide sustainability consultancy.
• Contribute to projects in Spain, Europe and globally.
• Learn how consultancy works and its positive impact on society.

Working here

Ricardo offers an exciting and rewarding internship experience where you can make a real impact. You'll collaborate with talented, dedicated, and supportive teams, gaining hands-on experience across a wide range of projects. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn, grow, and develop your skills through mentoring and a personalized approach to your learning. We’re always eager to welcome individuals with drive, ambition, and a passion for innovative thinking.

Wellbeing and work life balance

We offer flexible approaches to work, whether that's working from home, being in the office, or a blend of both. We’re open to discussing flexible arrangements that suit your needs. Wellbeing is at the heart of our culture, helping you to thrive and make the most of your internship experience. We value our people, and we’re committed to supporting you through our wellbeing initiatives, including mental health first aiders, flexible working options, and access to support through our Employee Assistance Programme.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion statement

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person's potential, and we'll help you reach yours. We have an ambitious diversity, equality, and inclusion approach as explained here. We value diversity; recognising that a more diverse workforce creates a richer and more varied working environment. Diversity also drives innovation, by allowing us to offer our clients the best consultancy service that we can. As part of our commitment to engage positively and pro-actively with all our employees and ensure a culture of inclusivity, we are a recognised as a 'disability confident' employer.

Next Steps

Once you have submitted your application a member of our Recruitment Team will be in touch. Please be aware that the timing can vary dependent on the volume of applications that we receive for each role and in some cases, we may start to review applications prior to the closing date.

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