Internships

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Gain Practical Nonprofit Experience with Northwest Steelheaders

We are a small nonprofit working to conserve salmon and steelhead in the Pacific Northwest through advocacy, conservation education, and recreational angling. We are powered by hundreds of volunteers in 11 chapters across Oregon and Washington and a few staff members, centered in Portland.

We offer two part-time, unpaid internships for students. Our Digital Content and Communications Internship is catered to undergraduates, while our Advocacy and Organizing Internship is built primarily for graduate students, though seniors in an undergraduate program with pertinent experience are invited to apply. Due to Covid-19, these internships will be remote for 2022. There are opportunities for internship extensions with additional benefits for qualifying interns.

APPLICATION PERIOD EXTENDED: Advocacy and Organizing Internship applications will be accepted until April 8 @ 11:00 p.m.
Application period for spring 2022 Digital Content and Communications Internship is OPEN

Your application should include a resume, cover letter, transcript, and any samples of work you feel are relevant to the position. Your cover letter should describe why you are qualified, as well as how this internship will help you achieve your professional goals.

Digital Content and Communications Internship

You will assist the Operations Manager with drafting content for our social media, blog, newsletter, and email. This internship is 10-15 hours per week for 3 months for a total of 120-180 hours, depending on the intern's availability. We will be flexible with your schedule and we are happy to coordinate with your college/university so you may receive academic credit for your work. Please send your application to Operations Manager Tamsin Fleming at tfleming@anws.org.

Position Description

Digital media management:
- Social media: make daily posts, scroll for content/collaboration, engage with followers, etc.
- Blog: one blog post per month on our website. Content includes: advocacy updates, appeals for action, member features, program promotion, event announcements, etc.
- Newsletter: draft the monthly newsletter.
- Email: draft mass emails to our members
- Other duties as requested by Operations Manager or pitched by intern.

Qualifications

- Junior or senior undergraduate student in marketing, communications, environmental studies, or another related field.
- Self-starter. Must be able to propose ideas and take initiative on new projects.
- Skilled multitasker. Must be able to manage various projects at once.
- Strong research and writing skills.
- Excels at using social media platforms.
- Eager to learn!
- Experience in photography and videography, marketing and communications, office administration, and/or conservation is preferred.

Advocacy and Organizing Internship

As the Advocacy and Organizing intern, you will be assisting the Advocacy and Campaign Manager in developing, implementing, and evaluating advocacy campaigns and action alerts related to salmon and steelhead conservation in Oregon. This position will involve a substantial amount of research and writing, as well as communications and outreach. This internship is 10-15 hours per week for 3 months for a total of 120-180 hours, depending on the intern's availability. We will be flexible with your schedule and we are happy to coordinate with your college/university so you may receive academic credit for your work. Please send your application to the Operations Manager Tamsin Fleming at tfleming@anws.org.

Position Description

- Locate, read, and interpret scientific articles and policies about various river- and fishery-related issues (i.e., water rights, access, ecological impacts, endangered species)
- Synthesize complex and technical environmental policies and scientific data into engaging content (e.g., blog posts, articles, webpages)
- Develop engaging social media content and campaigns that prompt our members to act (e.g., graphics, posts, stories)
- Engage with supporters and members on social media platforms
- Build action alert digital campaign infrastructure using Salsa software
- Call members, supporters, and active advocates to encourage active participation in campaigns
- Other duties as assigned by the Advocacy and Campaign Manager

Qualifications

- Graduate student or senior undergraduate student with significant experience in Communications, Marketing, Environmental Science, or another related field.
- Self-starter. Must be able to propose ideas and take initiative on new projects without a great deal of guidance.
- Skilled multitasker. Must be able to manage various projects at once.
- Strong research and writing skills.
- Excels at using social media platforms.
- Experience in communications, synthesizing complex information, and environmental conservation is required.

 

Benefits

  • Gain foundational knowledge of non-profit advocacy, outreach, and communication.
  • One-on-one mentorship with staff.
  • Up to $300 allocated to intern-specific professional development. May include training, online courses, conferences, or other resources that will help the intern achieve their specific career goals.
  • Networking opportunities with other environmental non-profits and government agencies.
  • Participation in a variety of Northwest Steelheaders and National Wildlife Federation events, including free fishing trips.
  • Self-led final project, pitched and executed by the intern based on personal and professional interests. Past projects have included the development of a photo archive and an in-depth profile on a long-time member and volunteer.

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    Past Interns


    Brittany Leffel
    Advocacy and Organizing Intern
    Fall 2020

    "Interning for the leading voice of the recreational angling community was invaluable. It was easy to be inspired when the team was eager to create positive change for the fishing community. Despite being a virtual internship, the team felt like family and they were able to provide the resources to be successful. The skills I learned are able to translate to a wide-range of professional skills that include nonprofit operations to advocacy campaigns and legislation. I felt like I was a part of a grassroots effort to advocate for the fishing community, and that was really cool. The Advocacy and Campaigning internship was easily the highlight of my undergrad experience."

     
    Ben Kayser
    Digital Content and Communications Intern
    Fall 2020

    "This internship has been an amazing learning opportunity for me. During my time I've been able to further develop my skills in social media management and communications. As someone who has been fishing my entire life, being able to work with an organization that focuses on fish conservation has been extremely personally fulfilling. I feel that my contributions are helping us as an organization achieve our goals and build a base of support that will keep us thriving for years to come."

     
    Dominic Triolo
    Digital Content and Communications Intern
    Summer 2020

    "Spending this summer as an intern with the Association of Northwest Steelheaders has been educational and practical in equal parts. I gained valuable experience in social media management and copywriting while building a content portfolio and assisting in the execution of advocacy campaigns. As I finish this internship I feel better prepared to enter the workforce. If you want to get a taste of social media management, this is the internship for you. If you want to put Hootsuite and Salsa proficiency on your resume, this is the internship for you. Most importantly, if you want to have a hand in preserving our rivers and the fish that call them home, this is the internship for you."

     
    Cat Cox
    Digital Content and Communications Intern
    Winter 2020

    "I had a great experience interning for Northwest Steelheaders. Being able to learn about local policy issues and the inner workings of a nonprofit was incredibly valuable, not to mention getting to work closely with people who are just as passionate about the environment as I am."