Facilities and Maintenance Intern

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a CGIAR Research Center, is seeking applications from enthusiastic individuals who are looking to gain professional experience in the field of Facility Management and Maintenance under IWMI’s internship program. The internship will be based at IWMI’s headquarters in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Scope of internship

During this internship, the intern will support the Facilities Management department in ensuring the smooth and efficient operation of IWMI's headquarters. The intern will also gain hands-on experience in facilities management, maintenance planning and execution, project management and energy management thereby contributing to the operational excellence of an international research organization.

During this internship, the intern will assist in the following areas:

• Assisting in day-to-day operations of the Facilities Management department, including maintenance requests, space planning and safety inspections.
• Monitoring the performance of facilities and maintenance service contractors.
• Supporting the implementation of maintenance schedules and preventive maintenance programs.
• Participate in coordinating facilities projects, renovations and office reconfigurations.
• Helping to maintain accurate records of building plans, maintenance activities, and safety audits.
• Assist in managing service contracts and relationships with vendors and service providers.
• Contributing to the development and implementation of sustainability and energy efficiency initiatives.
• Participating in emergency preparedness planning and response activities.
• Supporting the administration of facilities management software and tools.

• Undergraduates or fresh graduates specializing in the fields of Facilities Management, Engineering, or any other related field.
• Has an interest in facilities management, sustainability and operations within an international organization.
• Strong organizational and communication skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Has a basic understanding of building systems and maintenance practices.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with facilities management software is a plus.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD is preferred.
• Ability to work in a multicultural team environment and contribute to collaborative projects.
• Fluent in English, both written and spoken. Knowledge of Sinhala or Tamil is an advantage.

IWMI will provide a monthly stipend to the selected candidate during the internship period.

The duration of the initial internship contract will be for 6 months with the possibility of extension for another 6 months based on performance, requirements of IWMI and the availability of funds. This is a nationally recruited internship and only citizens of Sri Lanka are eligible to apply.

To apply, visit www.iwmi.org/jobs. Applications must be submitted by 24:00 (Colombo time) on February 09, 2026 (Monday). The short-listed candidates will be contacted.

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) is an international, research-for-development organization that works with governments, civil society and the private sector to solve water problems in developing countries and scale up solutions. Through partnership, IWMI combines research on the sustainable use of water and land resources, knowledge services and products with capacity strengthening, dialogue and policy analysis to support implementation of water management solutions for agriculture, ecosystems, climate change and inclusive economic growth. Headquartered in Colombo, Sri Lanka, IWMI is a CGIAR Research Center with offices in 15 countries and a global network of scientists operating in more than 55 countries. www.iwmi.org

IWMI believes that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. We offer a multi-cultural, multi-color, multi-generational and multi-disciplinary working environment. We are consciously creating an inclusive organization that reflects our global character and our commitment to gender equity. We, therefore, encourage applicants from all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, and gender identities.