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

This internship is designed for graduate students interested in learning how WWF operationalizes new initiatives. The intern will shadow a full-time program manager and learn how WWF is operationalizing a new initiative to design and fund nature-based solutions (activities that address societal challenges through the protection, management, and restoration of ecosystems) in tropical forests around the world. The intern will also have one discrete research project on commodity supply chains that will help the team target its corporate engagement strategy to companies with operational or sourcing footprints in priority landscapes.

• Shadow a full-time staff member at meetings (including with senior leadership), take meeting notes, and participate in strategy, brainstorming, and debriefing sessions.
• Assist in the development of presentations, workplans, and other project management tools (e.g. dashboards)
• Conduct qualitative and quantitative research on agricultural and forest commodity supply chains to understand the downstream market actors purchasing commodities from priority landscapes, and distill a process for applying this research approach to other landscapes.
• Present lessons learned from the internship, findings from the research project, and the distilled research process at the end of the internship.
• Attend weekly check-ins with the intern managers to track progress and learning objectives.

Minimum Requirements:

• Pursuing a graduate program. Must be an actively enrolled student and not received degree at time of internship start date (June 17, 2024).
• Experience in performing qualitative or quantitative research.
• Basic knowledge of nature-based solutions, tropical forestry, commodity supply chains. Academic experience will count in lieu of work experience.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
• Able to conduct themselves professionally and with discretion on sensitive matters
• 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:

• Basic knowledge of conservation finance
• Basic knowledge of AirTable
• Experience in project management

Learning Outcomes

• Intern is anticipated to learn how WWF operationalizes new initiatives and how a project manager coordinates initiative development.
• Intern will be provided with an overview to different WWF teams and exposure to the different types of roles and experience needed in a conservation organization.
• Intern will learn about data collection, synthesis, and reporting on commodity supply chains for selected commodities.

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.

Time Zone:

Remote interns located in Eastern to Mountain Time are expected to be available starting at 9am Eastern Time; Interns westward of Mountain Time are expected to be available starting at 10am Eastern Time.

Compensation:

Paid – $21 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-2420

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.