Global Toxics Intern (Fordham IPED Students Only)

NRDC (the Natural Resources Defense Council) works to safeguard the Earth its people its plants and animals and the natural systems on which all life depends. NRDC combines the power of more than 3 million members and online activists with the expertise of some 800 policy advocates lawyers scientists and communication experts to confront the climate crisis protect nature ensure the rights of all people to clean air clean water and healthy communities. As an international nonprofit environmental organization NRDC is working to address the worlds most urgent environmental challenges and advance innovative science-based and enforceable solutions.

Since our founding in 1970 NRDC has helped craft and deliver many of Americas foundational environmental laws including the Clean Air Act Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. Today we continue to lead in advancing and defending strong environmental protections at the local state federal and international levels as well as through the marketplace. Our team works across the United States and around the world from offices in Chicago Los Angeles New York City San Francisco and Washington D.C. as well as in Beijing and New Delhi (a subsidiary of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd.).

Supported by our members and online activists NRDC is driving impactful solutions that confront the climate crisis defend nature and safeguard public health acrossAsia Africa and the Americas. At NRDC we believe lasting change happens when people bring their talent passion and expertise together for a common purpose: to build a cleaner healthier and more resilient world. Learn more at

As a global leader on the issue of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASGM) and mercury NRDC is executing a global knowledge management and communications project under the Global Opportunities for Long-term Development (GOLD) in ASGM program (aka planetGOLD). In alignment with NRDCs strategic focus on healthy and thriving communities both in the US and internationally the planetGOLD program strives to control mercury pollution and other environmental impacts from mercury-based ASGM by replacing this widespread practice with safer mercury-free methods without undermining critically needed livelihoods.

This is a 10-week summer internship opportunity that is only open to graduate students from Fordhams IPED program. This intern will work with NRDCs International team in our Washington D.C. or New York office.

Working with the Knowledge Management Coordinator the intern will carry out research and synthesize existing information and examples on a key ASGM topic falling under one of the pillars of the program: formalization access to finance technology transfer and responsible supply chains. Responsibilities will include:

• Research collate and document available information relevant to key ASGM topic (s) to be chosen in collaboration with the Knowledge Management coordinator. Topics may include:
  • Rehabilitation best practices for ASGM sites
  • Reducing carbon emissions from ASGM
  • Case studies documenting interactions between ASGM and Indigenous Persons
  • Challenges and successes in increasing access to finance for women in the ASGM sector
  • Other topics as identified
• Produce at least one white paper/research paper on the chosen topic(s) to be published as a report on the planetGOLD website.
• Participate in planetGOLD knowledge exchange events (webinars/meetings) as time permits.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Currently a graduate student from Fordhams IPED program.
• Experience with research deriving from formal peer-review literature as well as grey literature as well as through interviews.
• Excellent writing skills.
• Self-motivation and ability to work efficiently and meet deadlines with limited supervision.
• High proficiency with Microsoft Office including Word and Outlook.
• Fluency in Spanish and/or French a plus.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position within thedescribed work environment.

Frequently:Perform desk-based computer tasks

Frequently:Ability to interact and communicate with employees and others as necessary

Frequently: Attendplanned meetings and collaborate with management and coworkers

Occasionally:Ability to attend events and activitiesin the office or offsite

Work issometimesperformed primarily noise level in the work environment is usually quiet in office settings and moderate in other of employment may sometimes require working flexible and/or longer hours including nights and weekends whennecessitatedby job includeswork-related situations such as those involving challenging important urgent time-sensitive or multiple matters.

NRDC is committed to advancing diversity equity and inclusion both in our work and in our workplace. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming diverse voices and perspectives is essential to solving the planets most pressing environmental problems and we encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the environmental movement.

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race color religion gender gender identity or expression marital status sexual orientation national origin citizenship age disability veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal state or local law. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

This position is: a paid internship with a stipend equivalent to $10000.00 paid bi-weekly over the course of the assignment.

The incumbent will not qualify as an employee fellow volunteer or independent contractor of NRDC nor will the incumbent be guaranteed employment at the end of the internship term.

NRDC operates under a hybrid work model. Interns are required to come into the office 2 days/week.

As a science-based organization NRDC aims to do our part to help contain the COVID-19 public health crisis. For the sake of health safety and equity we ask that people be vaccinated unless they have an approved medical or religious accommodation or other exemption in accordance with state and local law. We consider a person to be vaccinated two weeks after receiving one full course of a CDC-approved accordance with state or local law new hires will be asked to attest to vaccination. Those wishing to do so may request medical or religious accommodations or other exemptions. NRDC treats all vaccination-related data confidentially in keeping with local state and federal laws.

To apply visit and upload your résumé and cover letter. Please mention where you saw this posting and upload any additional materials that showcase your abilities. Due to the high volume of applications we will contact only those candidates we would like to interview. Please no phone calls emails or in-person résumé drop-offs.

If you experience technical problems while applying or if you are a person with a disability and need assistance applying online please reach out to iCIMS Customer Care at 1-.

For more about NRDC visit .

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