Job Description: Summer Internship

TITLE: Intern, Strategic and Online Communications, Colorado River, Land, Water and Wildlife
With world attention focused on both the environment and the economy, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is where policymakers and business leaders turn for win-win solutions. This leading green group, with programs from Boston to Beijing, has tripled in size over the past decade by focusing on strong science, uncommon partnerships and market-based approaches. You can be part of a vibrant workplace that welcomes diverse perspectives, talents and contributions, where innovation and a focus on results are a way of life. Environmental Defense Funds Land Water and Wildlife Program aims to demonstrate that working in partnership and forming mutually beneficial alliances between the government and private landowners is a cost-effective path to environmental protection. Within the scope of this multi-faceted program are programs addressing creation of habitat markets to protect and enhance endangered species habitats, working with farmers and their supply chain to reduce nutrient run off, restoring the Mississippi River Deltas wetlands by restoring natural system processes, and creating new sustainable approaches to water management in the west. EDFs Colorado River Program seeks to achieve healthy river flows and sustainable water management in the Colorado River Basin through work to create a dynamic, flexible water management framework that meets 21st-century needs. This multidisciplinary, multi-faceted program deals with many challenges associated with protecting and restoring rivers while promoting sustainable water supplies that underlie robust western rural and urban economies in communities throughout the Colorado River Basin. EDFs advocacy centers around building partnerships and knowledge in order to promote state policies that support healthy river flows and sustainable water supplies in the state and Basin-wide.

This position is a great opportunity for a high-achieving, communications-savvy person to gain valuable experience and insights in nonprofit, campaign-driven public relations work. You will work side-by-side with top members of EDF's communications and Colorado River program team in a fast-paced work environment that requires quick learning and accountability for results. By the completion of the internship, you will have gained an understanding of current environmental policy issues and solutions, nonprofit communication systems and strategies, and the mechanics of writing and promoting to diverse audiences.

Reports to
Land, Water and Wildlife Media Coordinator

Overall Function

Assist EDF's communications work supporting the Colorado River Basin program by conducting research and managing information to support implementation of programspecific communication and media strategies; support outreach document development; support social media activities and web content development (e.g., blogs, Twitter, Facebook); and support traditional media outreach mechanisms.

Key Responsibilities

Participate in Colorado River and Arizona-water communications and partnership strategy discussions and follow-up. Follow project-related blogs, craft responses to create online dialogue, enhance connections between others blogs and EDFs blogs and websites, and help promote project websites. Manage programs Twitter accounts and Facebook pages, sharing news, interacting with followers, and helping to expand and diversify follower base. Conduct research to identify key contacts in stakeholder groups and potential partners; help to create and maintain partnership and media lists and information. Assist in managing and developing print and other publications and presentations, including research, writing, design, and production-related activities. Assist in scoping and launching future social media and communications projects, including potential facebook groups pages, blogs, and webpages. Participate in research, writing, and strategy development for communications and partnership campaigns and associated messaging development, including creative application of relevant social science and public opinion research. Improve knowledge management capacity (e.g., updating photographic library for easy retrieval of specific subject matter; compiling, creating, and cataloging video, photos, graphics, and other images for use in communications materials, including identifying and securing necessary permissions, etc.). Draft press releases. Build media lists. Conduct research on advertising (stations, costs, etc.). Conduct research on effectiveness of advertisements, press, social media and other outreach.

Qualifications
Minimum one year undergraduate educational training in strategic communications, marketing, advertising, print or broadcast journalism, or communication majors or experience in these fields. Or minimum one year undergraduate training in an environmental science or policy or related field. Ability and comfort with fast-paced, time-sensitive assignments of short duration while simultaneously making progress on longer-term projects. Independent and highly organized and able to create systems for collecting, organizing and retrieving information.

Proof of strong written and oral communication skills. Experience with social media such as development and management of material for websites, blogs, Twitter, Facebook. Adept with word processing programs. A demonstrated commitment to conservation or environmental issues is preferred but not required. Desirable Qualification: Familiarity with Microsoft Excel, SharePoint, and/or WordPress

Location
Washington, DC

Term
10 weeks during the Summer. Flexible start dates between May 15 June 15, 2013

Hours
Full time (35 hrs/week)

Compensation
$10/hr (3500/10 weeks)

Application Materials
Interested applicants should send their cover letter and resum, summary of classwork and grades (cope of unofficial transcript is fine), together two writing samples, preferably one from social media and the other from traditional media or campaign work using the links at http://www.edf.org/jobs. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Due to the volume of employment applications and queries received, EDF is unable to respond to each application individually. Applicants will be contacted directly if selected as a candidate.

Environmental Defense Fund is an Equal Opportunity Employer

(April 11, 2013)