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

WWF’s Markets Institute identifies global issues and trends in food, agriculture, and soft commodities with the goal to increase the speed and scale of solutions to help optimize global food sector sustainability. The Markets Institute develops business cases to demonstrate how financial and environmental interests align, enabling stakeholders to visualize how shifting towards sustainable practices can have a positive impact on their organizations. These cases attempt to show how companies and others can think differently, and by sharing these value propositions we strive to make change happen faster.

• Conduct background research to support the development of a business case. The Director, Business Case Development will have several topics of interest to discuss with the intern to choose a topic that aligns with the intern’s interests and experience. Topics may include: sustainable waste management, using food waste for animal feed, reducing methane in rice production, and others. The intern will explore challenges and opportunities of various models, scalability, applicability to other species (if relevant to topic), cost/benefits of different models, and more.
• Deliverable: detailed research summary (research will contribute to additional Markets Institute business cases; previous cases can be found on the Markets Institute website)

Minimum Requirements:

• Pursuing an Associate’s or Bachelor’s program. Must be an actively enrolled student and not received degree at time of internship start date (June 17, 2024).
• Strong research experience
• Analytical thinker
• Identifies and aligns with WWF’s core values:
  • COURAGE – We demonstrate courage through our actions, we work for change where it’s needed, and we inspire people and institutions to tackle the greatest threats to nature and the future of the planet, which is our home.
  • INTEGRITY – We live the principles we call on others to meet. We act with integrity, accountability and transparency, and we rely on facts and science to guide us and to ensure that we learn and evolve.
  • RESPECT – We honor the voices and knowledge of people and communities that we serve, and we work to secure their rights to a sustainable future.
  • COLLABORATION – We deliver impact at the scale of the challenges we face through the power of collective action and innovation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Business student
• Understanding of sustainable food systems

Learning Outcomes

• Deepen research skills
• Gain a high level understanding of sustainable food systems with a more in depth view of one or more issues
• Develop critical thinking skills by analyzing research and its relevancy to environmental and economic outcomes

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, Rhode Island, Wyoming.

Compensation:

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

Internship Dates:

Internship will run from June 17, 2024 to August 23, 2024

How to Apply:

Please submit a resume & cover letter through our Careers page, Requisition #BR-2425

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 interns must have U.S. work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa.

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.