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Location

Huntington, VT | United States

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Job description

The National Audubon Society is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects birds and the places they need today and tomorrow. We work throughout the Americas towards a future where birds thrive because Audubon is a powerful, diverse, and ever-growing force for conservation. Audubon has more than 700 staff working across the hemisphere and more than 1.5 million active supporters.

North America has lost three billion birds since 1970, and more than 500 bird species are at risk of extinction across Latin America and the Caribbean. Birds act as early warning systems about the health of our environment, and they tell us that birds – and our planet – are in crisis. Together as one Audubon, we are working to alter the course of climate change and habitat loss, leading to healthier bird populations and reversing current trends in biodiversity loss. We do this by implementing on-the-ground conservation, partnering with local communities, influencing public and corporate policy, and building community.

Audubon is committed to a culture of workplace excellence, where our talented and diverse staff are deeply engaged with a strong sense of belonging. The birds Audubon pledges to protect differ in color, size, behavior, geographical preference, and countless other ways. By honoring and celebrating the equally remarkable diversity of the human species, Audubon brings new creativity, effectiveness, and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.

Audubon Vermont seeks candidates with a background and demonstrated interest in environmental law or policy to serve as a paid intern for the spring 2024 semester. The person in this position will work to advance environmental policy while learning how to apply law, science, and policy for the protection of birds and the places they need to thrive with guidance from our interim Executive Director. The internship is designed to provide a range of administrative and programmatic experiences with a focus on conservation issues facing Vermont and Northern New England.

 

During this internship, the policy intern will gain valuable experience interacting with the professional scientists, educators, and advocates at Audubon, as well as with other environmental professionals and leaders in Vermont. This internship will contribute to the goals of Audubon Vermont through supporting one or more policy campaigns in one or more of the areas of climate mitigation and adaptation, wildlife conservation, public and working lands, and watershed protection. This internship will include a mix of working environments including remote and in-person.

 

This position is overseen by our Youth Conservation Leadership Coordinator. The intern will work a total of 305 hours throughout the semester from early March through the end of May 2024, averaging 16-20 hours/week.

 

This is a hybrid position with remote working and in-person meetings at the Green Mountain Audubon Center.

 

Compensation:

$16.00 / hour

Intern Responsibilities and Learning Objectives
During the internship, you will work with the Audubon Vermont staff to:

• Conduct policy research through the analysis and summary of environmental law and policy at both the state and federal level including administrative initiatives, draft regulations, proposed legislation, and federal projects.
• Develop briefing papers, reports, and comments to support Audubon Vermont’s positions on public policy proposals.
• Draft factsheets, blogs, webpage content and other outreach materials to support Audubon Vermont’s policy campaigns.
• Attend meetings with public officials, environmental leaders, scientists, and volunteers to support Audubon Vermont’s participation and contributions.
• Collaborate with other youth leadership program participants to host a “Tough Conversations” webinar where we highlight something complex or controversial by inviting experts to a panel facilitated by youth.
• Attend staff meetings as they fit with the applicants schedule.

Internship Benefits
Interns will gain experience and knowledge in the following:

• The application of law, science, and policy for the protection of birds and the places they need to thrive.
• Network with environmental professionals from organizations all over the state through groups like the Biodiversity Coalition, Forest Partnership, and the Pollinator Working Group.
• Exposure to field work in line with policy priorities, for example: observing Bird and Bee Friendly Farming farm visits.
• A new set of communication and policy skills and tangible achievements through hands-on work and responsibility. 
• Contributing meaningfully to the success of our policy work through research, special projects and implementation. 

Intern Schedule
Schedule is flexible depending on the applicant chosen. The intern will complete 16-20 hours of work each week and must be able to commit to at least two days per week. The intern is expected to spend one day a week at the Audubon Vermont office, ideally staff meeting days that fall on the second Thursday of each month.

 

Projected Start Date
Early March through the end of May 2024.

• Self-starter with a creative, resourceful spirit.
• Strong work ethic.
• Dedicated and excited about working in a dynamic, fast-paced nonprofit organization.
• Appetite for learning and growth.
• Either received or working towards a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies, political science, or conservation science preferred but not required. Both undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to apply.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Well organized and an ability to focus on details.
• Genuine interest in environmental protection and conservation, the mission of the National Audubon Society, and social and environmental justice.
• Must have reliable transportation.
• Experience or strong knowledge of and/or interest in environmental issues and conservation strongly preferred.

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.

The National Audubon Society endeavors to keep our careers site accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact [email protected] . This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

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