BR-2337 Agrifood Innovation Undergraduate Intern

Overview

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

WWF Impact is refining our food systems strategy, focused on farm and food chain innovations. This internship will research inefficiencies in the agriculture and food industries, including one or more of the following: financial tools for producers, technology for small farms, farm waste management, and produce packaging. The intern will formulate creative insights on these markets and the opportunities they represent for WWF Impact. The intern will work primarily with WWF Impact. This work is integral to WWF Impact’s developing strategy and will directly influence the investment decisions that WWF Impact makes, offering the intern a hands-on opportunity to shape WWF Impact.

Responsibilities

Internship Description:

• Research: research themes, trends, and findings to draw creative and unique strategy outcomes for WWF Impact.

• Investment Analysis: prepare materials with a summary of key market trends and top investment opportunities to share with the Impact team.

• Collaboration: work across teams and cross functionally within WWF and with external groups.

• Communication: communicate with various subject matter experts across the WWF organization and amongst the Impact team, distilling salient points and sharing findings at the end of the internship.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

• Must be an actively enrolled student and not received degree at time of internship start date.

• Pursuing an Associate’s or Bachelor’s program.

• Interest in agriculture, food systems, or aquaculture.

• Excellent research skills (desktop and interview).

• Attention to detail.

• Organized and self-motivated.

• Systems thinker.

• Identifies and aligns with WWF’s core values: Courage, Integrity, Respect, and Collaboration:

• Demonstrates courage by speaking up even when it is difficult, or unpopular.

• Builds trust with colleagues by acting with integrity, owning mistakes, and holding oneself accountable.

• Welcomes other points of view and ideas, recognizing and embracing different and contrary perspectives with kindness, curiosity, and encouragement.

• Makes conscious efforts to promote cooperative practices, behaviors, and ways of working across many groups and individuals.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Background in business plans, startups, or tech.

Learning Outcomes

• Knowledge of the food chain, from agriculture inputs to CPG and the key players and processes throughout.

• Understanding of the trends in food system innovation, including gaps, opportunities, and investment areas.

• Development of a thematic investment thesis.

• Familiarity with systems for tracking pipeline, dealflow, and the investment process.

• Fluency with the terms, processes, and objectives of venture capital and impact investing.

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, Wyoming.

Compensation:

Paid - $17 per hour (full-time, 35 hours per week)

Internship Dates:

Internship will run from June 5, 2023 to August 11, 2023

How to Apply:

Please submit a resume & cover letter through our Careers page, Requisition# BR-2337. 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 intern must have U.S. work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa.

WWF is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy workplace and requires all US-based staff to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. WWF will consider requests for accommodation from the vaccine requirement based on disability, medical contraindication, sincerely held religious belief, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

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.