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. The intern will support wildlife-related communications needs internally for the Wildlife Conservation team and externally on program priorities, collaborating with colleagues on the broader Wildlife Conservation, Marketing & Communications, and other Goal teams. The successful candidate will gain firsthand strategic communications experience and gain a deeper understanding of WWF’s global wildlife conservation work.

The intern’s role will include, but is not limited to:

• Leading and supporting the development and maintenance of internal communications products for the Wildlife Conservation team (e.g. newsletters, regular media and communications updates, internal databases and calendars, and fact checking).
• Developing and updating existing editorial and written content. This may include:
  • Webpages of wildlife species and projects
  • Web stories
  • Newsletter stories
  • Presentation decks
• Brainstorming ideas, comms strategies, and executing comms outputs for wildlife commemoration days (i.e. Global Tiger Day, World Ranger Day, World Elephant Day, etc) and other priority campaigns/initiatives.
• Supporting implementation of a new wildlife communications framework which may include helping build out associated action plans for our priority landscapes and initiatives, maintaining an editorial calendar, updating key messages documents and shared notes, etc.
• Responding to inquiries and requests from Marketing and Communications teams including fact checking, reviewing social posts, directing media inquiries to our experts, etc.
• Assisting with the development of social media materials for the Senior Vice President for Wildlife Conservation’s Twitter/X account (e.g. regular tweets and an editorial calendar).
• Developing graphics, infographics, or other visuals to explain our work and priorities as assigned.
• Participating in meetings with internal WWF staff, developing and distributing meeting notes afterward, as necessary.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements:

• Pursuing a graduate program in communications (or a related field, including in the environmental or conservation communications space). Ideally the candidate will have some experience or an affinity for conservation or environmental sciences. This includes course work in communications and wildlife, conservation, or biology. Those studying outside these areas are still highly encouraged to apply. Must be an actively enrolled student and not received degree at time of internship start date (June 17, 2024).
• Creative and innovative thinker.
• Highly organized, with good time management skills.
• Passionate with strong interest in wildlife conservation.
• Strong analytical, written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Experience with email platforms and Microsoft Office applications.
• Resourceful, engaged, flexible, and adaptable.
• Ability to meet deadlines and commitments.
• Good interpersonal skills. Communicative and a team player.
• 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:

• Experience using design software like Canva and/or Adobe programs like InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Premier Pro is a plus.

• Related education (additional major, minor, or focus area) and/or previous work experience in wildlife conservation, conservation biology, wildlife science, environmental science, or related fields.

Learning Outcomes

• Creating communications strategies and plans.
• 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, Rhode Island, Wyoming.

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-2424

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.