Engagement Intern

Position Summary

Intern works directly with the Audubon Great Lakes (AGL) Engagement staff serving as a support pointofcontact that engages Audubons chapter and membership network in conservation and policy initiatives.

This position will report to the Engagement Manager and indirectly support the Engagement Director and Engagement Coordinator with a primary focus to connect the vast network in the region of dedicated Audubon chapter leaders conservationists birding enthusiasts stewards advocates and volunteers to Audubon Great Lakes programs conservation priorities and policy efforts through virtual communications.

The intern will be a valuable contributor to the network team at Audubon Great Lakes a regional office of the National Audubon Society by collaborating with the AGL staff teams chapters and partners in support of Audubons conservation policy and community engagement work.

Audubon is seeking candidates who are undergraduate or graduate students majoring in social sciences urban planning environmental studies or another related field. The projects will vary and will be dependent in part on the interns interests and skillsets. The intern will gain the following skills: partnership building project management virtual meeting and webinar hosting introduction to environmental conservation and policy and stakeholder communications and learn about equity diversity and inclusion in the conservation field. The intern will have opportunities to network with Audubon staff and volunteers in Great Lakes region and will leave with tangible work samples to add to their portfolio. The internship lasts 8 weeks at 20 hours per week Tuesday to Thursday with some required evenings or weekend fully remote with an opportunity to visit the Chicago office during the internship in addition to attending bird walks in the Chicago area with Audubon staff. Start and end dates are negotiable during the internship interview and the internship period is 8 weeks in spring/summer 2025.

Applicants should submit a onepage cover letter and onepage resume describing their interest in the position and relevant experience.

Essential Functions

• Serve as a support pointofcontact support with Audubon chapters and membership across Illinois Indiana Michigan Ohio and Wisconsin as it relates to variety of projects monthly gatherings and conservation initiatives.

• Assist with organizing virtual engagement opportunities for chapters and members that may include council meetings education programs conservation presentations and policy briefings.

• Help develop virtual programs and content in collaboration with Audubon Conservation Policy and Communication staff chapters and partners.

• Develop a capstone project in partnership with one chapter that may include support on an event or program series research bird science or communications in collaboration with other AGL teams

• Recruit Audubon members for virtual advocacy opportunities such as authoring letters to the editors meetings with legislators and other advocacy events.

• Draft presentation slides surveys and informational emails to send to the chapter network.

• Track monthly engagement progress.

• Participate in project meetings spanning multiple divisions within Audubon to engage the network.

• Author blog posts that spotlight volunteer leaders in the Great Lakes by conducting interviews.

• Support stakeholder engagement strategies with diverse groups including local communities business NGOs government agencies private landowners and academic institutions.

• Network with Audubon staff across the nation to gain a better understanding of working at a large nonprofit.

• Other duties as needed and assigned.

Qualifications and Experience

• Completed coursework and/or a bachelors degree in environmental studies urban planning social sciences or another related field.

• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills.

• Interest in working at the intersection of conservation restoration stewardship policy and communications.

• Ability to understand complex conservation and policy information and communicate it to the chapter network.

• A selfstarter with a collaborative mindset one who is motivated and able to work in a decentralized environment.

• Fluency with Microsoft Suite and ability to learn new computer systems.

• Commitment to Equity Diversity and Inclusion access to nature and birding.

EEO Statement

The National Audubon Society is a federal contractor and an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity national origin disability or protected veteran status. We are committed to a policy of nondiscrimination inclusion and equal opportunity and actively seek a diverse pool of candidates in this search.

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