Latin America Project Intern, Natural Resources Defense Council – Washington, DC
Organization: Natural Resources Defense Council
Position Title: Latin America Project Intern
Location: Washington, DC
Hours and Compensation: Unpaid
Description: NRDC is seeking an intern to work with the International Program’s Latin America team in our Washington, D.C. office on research, analysis and advocacy related to NRDC’s work on climate change, energy and sustainable coastal communities in Latin America. As our team prepares for the UN climate conference (COP20) in Lima in December, as well as the expected commitments from countries leading up to the conference in Paris in 2015, the intern will help our team develop reports, fact sheets and blogs. S/he will also be assigned a specific research project to develop over the course of the internship; we will discuss possible topics and appropriate products during the first days of the internship. Recent interns’ projects have included:
Reviewing existing research and new literature about drivers of deforestation in Latin America, and drafting an issue brief about the issue;
Researching and analyzing climate change adaptation efforts underway Peru and Mexico;
Researching black carbon and diesel pollution in Latin America; and interviewing country representatives about vehicle emissions and fleets, fuel quality regulations, and air quality regulations and monitoring.
Responsibilities: Work with the Latin America team specifically and others in the institution to help NRDC prepare for the UN Climate Conference in Lima in December. This includes contacting partner groups, helping to create and execute communications strategies, collaborating on fact sheets and reports we may release at the conference, and assisting with logistical coordination for travel and events for our team while at the conference.
Research a specific topic—to be developed in consultation with the Latin America team at the beginning of the internship—and produce an appropriate final product (to be determined at the same time as the topic). This will require working independently, while checking in with our team on a regular basis for group discussions. We expect the intern to be able to conduct research professionally via the internet, telephone, skype, etc.
On a weekly basis, work with the Latin America team to identify and read relevant Spanish articles, and then summarize them in English for inclusion in our weekly news blog.
Assist the Latin America team with any other needs that may come up, from social media requests to ad hoc quick research needs.
Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences or a related subject area;
Previous research experience is a plus;
Excellent written and verbal communications skills;
Strong interpersonal skills;
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with the capability to handle multiple tasks, work well under pressure and be detail-oriented;
Ability to work independently as well as with a team;
High degree of proficiency with Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint;
The position requires working in both English and Spanish so applicant is expected to be bilingual, or a native speaker of one language and highly proficient in the other. Familiarity with Latin America, especially Chile or Mexico, is a plus. Graduate or very committed undergraduates are preferred.
This is an unpaid internship, but school credit can be arranged.
How to Apply: To apply, please visit www.nrdc.org/jobs and upload your resume and cover letter through our online portal. Please no phone calls, emails, faxes or in-person resume drop-offs. Please reference where you saw this posting.
