Frontline Resource Institute Research Intern

Overview

Put your passion and skills to work for the planet. Climate change is the most urgent issue of our time, and we need people like you to help us build a vital Earth — for everyone.

We’re Environmental Defense Fund, a fast-paced nonprofit with a growing staff of more than 850 people in nearly 30 countries. We deliver game-changing solutions that cut climate pollution and strengthen people’s ability to thrive despite the effects climate change is already having. We work wherever we can have the most impact, from local communities to top companies to governments worldwide, and even in space.

Our culture, values and commitment to diversity make EDF an exciting and meaningful place to work. Every job here makes a difference. Won’t you join us?

Responsibilities

Program/Department Overview

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is on a journey to integrate justice and equity into its organizational structure, strategies, and values. In 2020, EDF re-focused its justice and equity efforts, forming an internal EJ Council and hiring a new VP for Environmental Justice and Equity. In 2021, EDF committed to an Equity and Environmental Justice Vision and a set of principles to guide all work. Since then, the Justice and Equity team has been focusing its efforts on establishing an understanding of baselines across the organization, which has contributed to the organization’s inaugural Environmental and Climate Justice Strategic Plan released this year. The team continues to work toward a more systematic and impactful integration of justice and equity into EDF’s core program work by focusing on four main pillars: organizational readiness, partnerships, systemic change, and external capacity building. More info: https://www.edf.org/about/equity-and-environmental-justice-edf

A basic principle of ecology is that diversity in an ecosystem fosters strength and resilience. At EDF, we believe that by creating a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion in both our staff and our programmatic work, we can help to foster greater strengths and resilience in EDF and the communities in which we work.

Overall Function

EDF’s Justice and Equity Team has just launched the Frontline Resource Institute (FRI), a new platform to support frontline communities working to advance environmental justice and climate justice. FRI aims to do so by providing the necessary resources and technical assistance so communities can do what they do best: advocate for their fundamental rights to safe, healthy, and sustainable environments. The Justice and Equity Team provides in-kind support to FRI, including staff capacity, grants management, fundraising, meeting facilitation, and other organizational needs.

Key Responsibilities

Tasks will include but are not limited to:

• Research on environmental and climate justice community needs, peer organization frameworks, and potential FRI partnerships.
• Work with the team’s Tom Graff Fellow to prepare facilitation materials for monthly committee meetings.
• Produce and draft communications materials, including website content and blog posts, etc.
• Monitor and draft FRI’s engagement on a multitude of media, including on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and the organization’s website.
• Synthesize material from committee meetings, independent research, and conversations with partners.
• Provide support to the team in day-to-day organizational activities.
• Participate in advancing EDF Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion goals in which people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected, included, and empowered to address the environmental and organizational challenges in alignment with EDF values.

Qualifications

• Must be enrolled in/be a recent graduate of an undergraduate program.
• Demonstrated interest in environmental justice, climate justice, frontline justice, and/or public health
• Coursework in environmental science, social science, and/or communications preferred.
• Experience with community organizing and/or community engagement a plus.
• Experience drafting communications materials and managing social media a plus .
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Must be well organized, motivated, and detail-oriented.
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work in a team setting and have the ability to work independently when projects are due.
• Demonstrate self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds.
• Demonstrate initiative and problem solving skills.

Location

U.S Remote strongly preferred, with option to work in the Washington D.C. office or other EDF office

Term

September – December 2022

Hours

Full-time (35 hours per week) but part-time can be considered.

Compensation

This internship would involve either compensation for work paid at a rate competitive with leading non-profits at $17/hr or academic credit. Students are encouraged to seek academic credit or funding through their college/university and EDF will ensure that any and all paperwork needed to secure academic credit is completed.

Application Materials

Interested applicants should attach their cover letter and resume to the EDF application, together with a writing sample.

Pay Ranges

The pay range for this role is shown below.

Please note that pay ranges are country specific. As a result, the stated currency is not meant be converted into any other currency.

Minimum Salary

USD $17.00/Hr.

Maximum Salary

USD $17.00/Hr.

EEO Information

Environmental Defense Fund is an equal opportunity employer where an applicant's qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by law.