BR-2307 Wildlife Communications Undergraduate Intern

Overview

WWF Overview

For 60 years, WWF has worked to help people and nature thrive. As one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, WWF works in more than 100 countries, connecting cutting-edge conservation science with the collective power of our partners in the field – more than one million supporters in the United States and five million globally, as well as partnerships with communities, companies, and governments.

Our vision for diversity, equity and inclusion at WWF is an organization as diverse as the world we protect; where the richness of all our unique views, experiences, and backgrounds combines to create the most sustainable and inclusive conservation outcomes possible — bringing the greatest benefit to the planet and every person who lives on it.

Across the many cultures and individuals that represent WWF, we are unified by one mission, one brand, and one common set of values: Courage, Respect, Integrity and Collaboration.

BRIDGE – Building Relationships, Inclusivity, Diversity, Growth, and Excellence

WWF’s diversity-focused internship program, BRIDGE, aims to recruit professionals early in their careers who bring fresh thinking and innovation to the environmental and conservation sector and are well positioned to develop into the next generation of leaders. Our mission is to increase exposure of students from underrepresented populations to conservation and environmental careers, provide professional development opportunities, reduce the barriers to attracting a diverse pool of internship candidates, and develop a pipeline for future WWF hires from underrepresented populations.

Position Summary

Working closely with the Wildlife Conservation Communications team, the intern will assist and support the coordination, administration, and implementation of Wildlife Conservation communications priorities and activities. Additionally, the intern will support wildlife-related communications needs associated internally for the Wildlife Conservation team and externally on program priorities, collaborating with colleagues on the broader Wildlife Conservation and Marketing & Communications teams. The successful candidate will gain firsthand communications experience and gain a deeper understanding of WWF’s global wildlife conservation work.

Responsibilities

Internship Description:

• Leading the development and maintenance of internal communications products for the Wildlife Conservation team (e.g. newsletters, regular media updates, internal databases and calendars, and fact checking).

• Supporting the development of editorial and written content. This may include:

• Webpages of wildlife species and projects

• Web stories

• Newsletter stories

• Presentation decks

• Helping in fact checking requests from other WWF teams

• Assisting with the development of social media materials for the Senior Vice President for Wildlife Conservation’s Twitter account (e.g. regular tweets and an editorial calendar).

• Developing graphics, infographics, or other visuals to explain our work and priorities.

• Brainstorming ideas and executing comms outputs for wildlife commemoration days (i.e. Global Tiger Day, World Ranger Day, World Elephant Day, etc.)

• Participating in meetings with internal WWF staff, developing and distributing meeting notes afterward, as necessary.

• Supporting implementation of wildlife communications strategy as needed.

• Performing other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

• Must be an actively enrolled student and not received degree at time of internship start date.

• Pursuing an Associate’s or Bachelor’s program.

• Highly organized, eager, and passionate with excellent communication skills and some experience/exposure or interest in wildlife conservation.

• Creative and innovative thinker.

• Experience with email platforms and Microsoft Office applications.

• Resourceful, engaged, and communicative.

• Ability to meet deadlines and commitments.

• Good interpersonal skills.

• Identifies and aligns with WWF’s core values: Courage, Integrity, Respect, and Collaboration:

• Demonstrates courage by speaking up even when it is difficult, or unpopular.

• Builds trust with colleagues by acting with integrity, owning mistakes, and holding oneself accountable.

• Welcomes other points of view and ideas, recognizing and embracing different and contrary perspectives with kindness, curiosity, and encouragement.

• Makes conscious efforts to promote cooperative practices, behaviors, and ways of working across many groups and individuals.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Course work in communications and wildlife, conservation, or biology.

• Excellent research skills.

• Attention to detail.

• Organized and self-motivated.

• Strong analytical, written, verbal, and presentation skills.

• Experience using design software.

Learning Outcomes

• Developing engaging, informative, and impactful communications products.

• Collaboration with others across disciplines and teams.

• Handling and supporting a wide portfolio of topical areas and deliverables, ranging in level of urgency and timeliness.

• Practical experience in writing for multiple platforms and audiences.

• Learning about and gaining a deeper understanding of strategic and programmatic communications, through a conservation lens.

• Firsthand exposure and experience to communications and wildlife programs in one of the leading conservation NGOs in the world.

WWF interns will be provided a set of professional development opportunities, aimed at increasing their exposure to conservation and sustainability careers. This includes:

• Development discussions with their manager;

• Up to two online courses through Cornell University’s eCornell program;

• Speed mentoring with different WWF teams;

• Opportunity to present their work to intern peers and WWF staff;

• Session on resume and interviewing best practices.

Interns will also have access to an array of networking opportunities. This includes meetings with WWF’s CEO, the senior management team, Employee Resource Groups, and representatives from other departments.

Location:

US-DC-Washington or US-Remote: WWF employs interns in all states with the exception of: Alabama, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Wyoming.

Compensation:

Paid - $17 per hour (full-time, 35 hours per week)

Internship Dates:

Internship will run from June 5, 2023 to August 11, 2023

How to Apply:

Please submit a resume & cover letter through our Careers page, Requisition# BR-2307. In your cover letter, please describe your relevant skills and experience for this position and include a discussion of 1) how you have demonstrated a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and 2) what you hope to gain from the internship.

If selected for the role, you will need to provide 1 letter of recommendation as part of the WWF application process.

* Please note that intern must have U.S. work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa.

WWF is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy workplace and requires all US-based staff to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. WWF will consider requests for accommodation from the vaccine requirement based on disability, medical contraindication, sincerely held religious belief, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

As an EOE/AA employer, WWF will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or protected Veteran status.