Careers at WWF

WWF Internship Opportunities - 2012

The following internships are available at the World Wildlife Fund – United States. They are designed typically for graduate students, although some may be appropriate for advanced undergraduates. Projects can be undertaken over the summer (with extensions, as necessary, into the fall semester).

Most projects could also be extended over the course of one or two semesters as part of a student’s course work or thesis requirements; advance arrangements would be necessary with faculty advisors. Internships are typically unpaid unless otherwise noted, but facilities, library resources, and computers at WWF headquarters are available. Hours are flexible. To qualify for an unpaid internship, the student must provide documentation that they are receiving credit from their university, or that the work they will be performing is consistent with a course requirement.

In general, our interns need solid data management and writing skills, self-motivation, an ability to work both independently and collaboratively. Specific skills (required or preferred) are listed with each project, along with the primary contact person.

For more information on WWF’s Conservation Science Program, www.worldwildlife.org/science/ ; on the Natural Capital Project, www.naturalcapitalproject.org; on Market Transformation, http://www.worldwildlife.org/what/globalmarkets/;  and on the Species program, www.worldwildlife.org/species/

To apply, please email a cover letter and resume/CV to the contact individual listed for each project, with “INTERNSHIP” and the relevant internship number listed in the subject line. 

 

SUMMER 2012 SEMESTER

 

1. Internship Number and Title: IN-12011 Website Internship

Department: Marketing & Communications - Marketing

Interested in learning how to support the website for the world’s leading conservation organization? The website team is looking for someone who can adapt quickly to new technologies, prioritize tasks and projects, and provide analytical thinking to making decisions about web content.

Specific duties and responsibilities may include:

  • Complete in a timely and accurate manner the day-to-day updates to the website, worldwildlife.org, through our Content Management System (CMS). This requires the formatting and addition of images and other content.
  • Field questions from non-technical CMS users.
  • Run reports for website traffic data.
  • Use Photoshop and HTML to design web pages.
  • Debug pages to keep them cross-browser friendly.

 

Preferred skills:beginner Adobe Photoshop, JavaScript and CSS; intermediate HTML; attention to detail; organizational skills; excellent written communication skills.

Duration: Summer,Part-time (20-30 hours/week) starting in May or June 2012

Intern must provide confirmation from school or organization that s/he is participating in an internship program for credit or stipend.

Application deadline: June 1, 2012

Contact:  Please send cover letter and resume by email to Diane Querey (diane.querey@wwfus.org).

  

 

 

2. Internship Number and Title: IN-12025 WWF’s Forest and Climate Initiative Internship

Department: Conservation Strategy & Science – Forest and Climate Initiative (FCI)

Duration: Summer 2012 semester (June – August)  – with opportunity to continue

Description:WWF’s Forest and Climate Initiative (FCI) is a global program that is:

  • Working to advance support for an agreed global policy frameworkfor reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries and the conservation, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks (called REDD+) and to ensure major REDD+ initiatives adopt and implement strong social, environmental and governance safeguards.   
  • Working with forest countries and on the ground with local communities to build capacity and ensure programmes, standards, approaches and technologies for REDD+ produce real and verifiable emissions reductions while benefiting biodiversity and people's well-being.

 

We are seeking a Communications Intern to support the work of the FCI Communications team, and to be a contributing member of the broader FCI team. The Intern will have the opportunity to gain direct insight into how strategic communications is used as a tool to realize national and global conservation goals, and to interact with WWF communications and technical staff from around the globe.

Responsibilities will include:

  • Supporting the production of reports, position papers, information materials
  • Information gathering and dissemination via existing FCI and WWF internal and external international communications streams (newsletters, digests, online sites, etc.)
  • Research in support of strategic communications initiatives
  • Research REDD+ news items
  • Drafting relevant news and information items
  • Other related duties as relevant and necessary

 

Requirements:

  • Interest in environmental communications
  • Familiarity with MS Office
  • Excellent writing and research skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organized, self-motivated and flexible
  • First-year communications graduate student
  • Available 20-30 hours per week

 

Location: Washington, DC.

How to Apply: Please submit cover letter, resume, and short writing sample (5 or less pages) with the subject line “FCI Communications Intern Application” to Jennifer Ferguson-Mitchell  jennifer.ferguson-mitchell@wwfus.org no later than June 15th, 2012. Please note that WWF does not sponsor US visa for the internships.

 

3. Internship Number and Title: IN-12026 WWF’s Market Research Internship

Department: Market Transformation

Location: Washington, DC.

Duration: 10 weeks between June and August 2012 (start and end dates dependent on candidate availability)

Stipend: Paid ($10/hr)

Description:WWF’s Market Transformation team works to reduce the environmental impact of the world’s increasing consumption of natural resources and commodities.  The Markets team seeks an intern to meet its needs for research in the following areas: 

  • Sustainable consumption
  • Information portal for sources of food, fiber, and fuel commodity trade data
  • Knowledge and reference management database

 

Sustainable Consumption: The intern will conduct research and literature review on the topic of sustainable consumption and will develop a white paper. 

Information Portal: Commodity market information and population statistics are available from a wide variety of sources in a range of different time frames.  WWF’s Markets team would benefit from a universal portal from which all of these resources and information would be readily and easily accessible. The Market Research Intern will create this portal, which will include the national and international databases that are used to develop major annual reports (e.g., State of the World’s Forests, State of the World’s Fisheries, Millennium Development Goals Reports) as well as commodity- and company-specific databases.

Knowledge and Reference Management Database: As a complement to the above portal, WWF Markets seeks to improve the way it harnesses institutional knowledge by developing an internal database to keep track of key facts and citations used in reports and presentations.  The intern will be responsible for conceptualizing this database, collecting the information inputs, and possibly creating the database.

Requirements:

The successful applicant will be a current or recent graduate student with experience in agricultural or market research.  The applicant must be willing and able to relocate to the Washington, D.C. area for the duration of the internship.

Other qualifications include: 

  • Excellent research, writing, and communication skills
  • Strong familiarity with online information databases (FAOSTAT, USDA FAS, etc.)
  • Ability to work productively on independent research assignments
  • Understanding of environmental sustainability, agri-business, and global development trends preferred
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, required
  • Familiarity with database or website development
  • Experience living or working in Europe a plus
  • Ability to work full-time (if graduated) or nearly full-time (if current student)

 

How to Apply: Applications will begin to be reviewed on May 7.  To be considered, please email the following to Margaret Arbuthnot (margaret.arbuthnot@wwfus.org) with the subject line “Market Research Internship” by no later than May 30, 2012:

  • Resume
  • Cover letter
  • Dates available

 

4. Internship Number and Title: IN-12028 Video/Photo Intern

Department: Marketing and Communications

Location: Washington, DC.

Duration: Summer (June – August),  minimum 20 hrs /week. Beginning and end dates flexible.

 

Stipend:A non-paid internship during SUMMER 2012 Semester; must be eligible for course credit.

Description: Responsible for digitizing and archiving WWFs video, audio, photo and artwork assets. May also involve editing B-roll packages for news outlets and supporting productions over the Summer  session as needed. In a highly collaborative and dynamic environment, has routine contact and communicates effectively with WWF staff at all levels, including executive management team. On a project-by-project basis, coordinates assignments, schedules and budgets incorporating the work of freelance photographers and videographers, photo and video stock houses.

 

Responsibilities: Assist video producers in building the digital video library; Produce and edit B-roll packages from existing footage for distribution to news organizations. Perform intensive photo and video research for internal and external clients. Support WWF production shoots with lighting, sound and/or coordination. Performs other duties as assigned.

 

Requirements: 1 year education in photography/videography, natural sciences, library science, or related fields and at least. Keen visual abilities to select photographic and video materials of high visual and technical quality and appropriate for their audience and purpose. Well-developed organizational, multi-tasking and detail-oriented skills. Proficient in use of digital photo and video cameras and knowledge of various file formats and conversion options. Final Cut Pro editing skills a MUST. Skilled in the use of Photoshop, PowerPoint, Word and Excel. Excellent communications skills.

 

Able to quickly learn about the issues, trends and subject areas of conservation, including the philanthropic and other marketplaces within which WWF both competes with and partners with other organizations. Effective judgment to plan, organize, troubleshoot and complete projects within specified deadlines and on/under budget.

 

How to Apply: Please email a resume and cover letter with the subject line “Summer 2012 Internship Application” to Video Manager Chris O'Leary at Christopher.Oleary@wwfus.org

 

 

5. Internship Number and Title: IN-12033 GFTN-NA Summer Intern

Department: Market Transformation - Forests

Location: Washington, DC.

Duration: Summer (June – August) 2012.

 

Stipend:paid internship.

The Global Forest & Trade Network (GFTN)
The Global Forest & Trade Network (GFTN) is World Wildlife Fund’s initiative to eliminate illegal logging and drive improvements in forest management, while transforming the global marketplace into a force for saving the world’s most valuable and threatened forests.  First established in 1991, GFTN provides  assistance to approximately 270 forest product buyers, suppliers and producers from across the globe that are committed to responsible forest management and trade.  The GFTN-North America (GFTN-NA) program engages with leading U.S. and Canadian companies to help them identify and manage risks of sourcing wood and paper products, eliminate unwanted sources, and progressively increase the proportion of credibly certified forest products within their supply chains.  More information on GFTN is available at gftn.panda.org.

Internship Description: The GFTN-NA program in Washington, DC seeks a summer intern to assist with the development and synthesis of tools to help wood products buyers identify and mitigate the risks of sourcing timber and paper, with a focus on high priority species and WWF Priority Places.  The intern will:

  • Gather and compile updated information on wood sourcing risks in specific countries from GFTn managers and other sources into guidance documents that will be made available to forest products buyers that participate in the GFTN program. 
  • Research adapting current Access database forest product sourcing risk tool to an online platform, and integrating additional risk information into the platform.
  • Pilot use of the updated risk tool for one species/country combination.  
  • Assist with updating data on specific US product and species imports that are linked to WWF Priority Places.

 

Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree in one of the following is required: forestry, forest products trade, supply chain management, business, natural resource management or related area.
  • Familiarity with forestry issues and global forest products trade
  • Exceptional research and analytical skills, and attention to detail
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills
  • Ability to think strategically and creatively to achieve internship goals
  • Strong ability to develop and move tasks and projects forward with independence, while also working collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team and organization
  • Strong organization and time management skills
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications including MS Access

 

How to Apply: Please email a resume and cover letter by May 24, 2012 to the Senior Program Officer Amy Smith Amy.Smith@wwfus.org.  

 

 

6. Internship Number and Title: IN-12034 Internal Communications Intern

Department: Operations – Internal Communications

Location: Washington, DC.

Duration: Summer (June – August) 2012 - June start, 20 hours/week. 

Stipend: Stipend or school credit.

Description: WWF seeks an intern to support internal communication.  

Responsibilities:As the internal communications intern, you will apply your talents and skills to providing employees with important information and support leaders’ efforts to engage employees across the organization.  Your role will support the internal communications manager and other internal partners.

Use your stellar writing skills to produce content (e.g., articles, FAQs, and Fact Sheets, etc) for our weekly employee e-newsletter, intranet and other internal channels.  Sharpen your online media and planning skills supporting our intranet transformation.  This internship is a great opportunity for recent graduates of/students enrolled in degree programs in communication, journalism, English or related fields. 

Requirements: 

  • Bachelor’s degree preferred; Graduate degree in progress a plus
  • Background in communications, journalism, English or related field
  • Exceptional oral and written communication skills
  • Experience writing for web
  • Proficiency in MS Word and Power Point
  • Experience w/ html, Share Point, or other CMS a plus
  • Interest in conservation

How to Apply:To apply send cover letter, resume and writing a sample to erica.woods@wwfus.org now through May 30th.

 

7. Internship Number and Title: IN-12040 WWF’s U.S. Government Relations Intern

Department: Policy – U.S. Government Relations

Location: Washington, DC.

Duration: Summer (June – August) 2012 – anticipated start date is June 18th. 

Stipend: Unpaid – must be receiving a stipend or school credit.

Description: The U.S. Government Relations Department of the World Wildlife Fund is seeking part-time to full-time interns for policy research, analysis and outreach.  Given the diversity of issues that the USGR staff covers, research and analysis may entail working with legislation, regulations, and potentially court cases.  By contrast research, analysis and support may include assessment of government agencies' roles, policies and positions on issues relating to WWF's mission, or writing of brief materials about U.S. government agencies.  Outreach may entail covering congressional hearings and markups, and preparing and attending congressional, administration and/or NGO coalition briefings.  Subject matter will cover many of the issues in which WWF is involved, including biodiversity conservation (e.g., endangered species and habitat protection), natural resource management (e.g., fisheries, forestry and agriculture), climate change, and energy.

Intern Responsibilities: 

  • Research, writing & analysis on various topics which may include food security, foreign assistance, marine issues (fisheries and ocean acidification), species and climate change, as well as USAID specific topics.
  • Legislative tracking and research
  • Attend Congressional hearings and briefings, and NGO coalition meetings
  • Outreach to Capitol Hill and the Administration on legislation and rulemaking

Desired Skills and Qualities: 

  • Interest in conservation and international development issues
  • Interest and willingness to learn about Capitol Hill, the Administration (specifically USAID, U.S. State Department, and Millennium Challenge Corporation) and other non-governmental organizations. 
  • Excellent written and verbal communications skills
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, collaboratively and independently
  • Strong interpersonal skills crucial for developing working relationships internally and externally
  • Strong organizational skills
  • Attention to detail

Requirements:  Only enrolled students are eligible for this internship as you must be able to receive academic credit from your current academic institution.

 Office Hours:  WWF’s core hours are 9-5. Internship hours can be flexible (part time/full time) depending on class schedule and availability.  

 Please submit to AmericaMay.Pintabutr@WWFUS.ORG:  

  • Resume;
  • Cover letter including availability; and
  • A short writing sample (can be 2-4 pages from a longer document)

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