Feedstock and Operations Internship at Business & Development Department

Zurich - Office, Sion - Office

Full or part-time

Intern / Student

Your mission

1. Feedstock Sourcing & Supplier Development

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

2. Operations Systems & Process Optimization

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

3. Scale-up Preparation & Strategic Projects

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

Your profile

Must Have

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

Why us?

Here is what we can offer:

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

About us

DePoly is a Swiss cleantech company, specializing in advanced recycling of PET and Polyester plastics. Recognized as 2024 Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum and winner of the Top 100 Swiss Startup Award in 2024, second place in 2025, we challenge the status quo and strive for excellence, with a shared passion for making a positive impact by tackling the global plastic problem. Founded in 2020, we are a team of young, dynamic dedicated entrepreneurs, scientists and operators who are committed to solving the plastic problem.