DePoly · cleantech
Feedstock and Operations Internship at Business & Development Department
1. Feedstock Sourcing & Supplier Development
Nice to Have
- Research, evaluate, and directly engage potential PET waste suppliers (waste management companies, sorting facilities, collection networks, industrial partners with PET waste streams)
- Own supplier relationships, negotiating terms, troubleshooting issues, and ensuring consistent demo plant feedstock supply
- Build our supplier database with quality data, pricing, volumes, logistics requirements, and reliability metrics—the foundation for scaling feedstock supply
- Build standard operating procedures (SOPs) for feedstock handling, material flow, and inventory management that will scale beyond the demo plant
- Create dashboards, tracking tools, and automated reporting to enable faster decision-making
- Set up processes to track feedstock batches, volumes, material specifications, and full chain of custody—moving towards industry certification standards
- Build cost models for feedstock & logistics and supply reliability assessments; own the preparation of supplier negotiation materials and partnership frameworks that will support the scale up to 100x feedstock volumes
- Work closely with R&D; and Engineering to connect feedstock specifications to process performance and economics, integrating supply chain insights into our technical development
- Research waste classification requirements, transport regulations, and cross-border shipment rules while building relationships with logistics partners to establish our transport network
- You work across disciplines and are curious to learn. You ask questions to understand how feedstock quality, supplier relationships, logistics, and costs connect to get to the right solution
- You take ownership and work independently. You're comfortable with ambiguity, building structure from scratch, and driving multiple projects in parallel without needing constant direction
- You have a commercial and partnership mindset. You understand trade-offs and supplier incentives when structuring agreements or making decisions
- Strong communication skills in English for supplier negotiations and presenting to leadership; German, French or Spanish highly beneficial
- You're reliable with details and documentation, but pragmatic about finding solutions with incomplete information. You figure things out and turn ideas into action
- You're willing to get hands-on in operational settings—demo plant visits, handling materials, understanding the physical process
- You have a Swiss working permit or are eligible to work in Switzerland
Nice to Have
- Academic background in environmental, chemical or process engineering, supply chain, or industrial management; or prior academic or professional experience in waste management, recycling, or chemical manufacturing
- Experience with or curiosity about implementing AI tools in research, production, or procurement contexts
- 6 months internship at 80 or 100% in a stimulating working environment, with the possibility of further opportunities at the end of the internship
- Being involved in the scaling up of new recycling technologies
- Making the first steps in the cleantech & sustainability industry
- Being part of an international team in the heart of the Swiss Alps
- Learning practical, on-the-job, business skills in the world of PET recycling
- Gaining experience in technology to help boost plastic circularity