Graduate Intern- Energy and Environment Program, New York, NY

Organization: The Aspen Institute

Title: Graduate Intern- Energy and Environment Program

Location: 271 Madison Avenue, New York, New York

Hours and Compensation: Unpaid

Application Deadline: October 31, 2011

Posted On: Oct 5, 2011

Overview

The Aspen Institute mission is twofold: to foster values-based leadership, encouraging individuals to reflect on the ideals and ideas that define a good society, and to provide a neutral and balanced venue for discussing and acting on critical issues.

The Aspen Institute does this primarily in four ways:

• Seminars, which help participants reflect on what they think makes a good society, thereby deepening knowledge, broadening perspectives and enhancing their capacity to solve the problems leaders face.
• Young-leader fellowships around the globe, which bring a selected class of proven leaders together for an intense multi-year program and commitment. The fellows become better leaders and apply their skills to significant challenges.
• Policy programs, which serve as nonpartisan forums for analysis, consensus building, and problem solving on a wide variety of issues.
• Public conferences and events, which provide a commons for people to share ideas.

The Institute is headquartered in Washington, DC, and has campuses in Aspen, Colorado, New York and on the Wye River near the shores of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland.

The Energy and Environment Program has achieved a highly regarded reputation for constructive nonpartisan dialogue on complex policy issues. In addition to timely and successful policy forums, the Program produces roundtable discussions and dialogue series on issues of critical environmental importance.

Description

The EEP Graduate Intern works directly with the Executive Director and provides secondary research and writing to support the Aspen Institute’s Energy and Environment Program. We are specifically seeking a mature, self-managing intern capable of working independently with the program’s Executive Director on analytical policy-oriented program research and foundation proposals in the areas of sustainable development, conservation, and/or marine conservation. Additional research and writing will focus on developing concept notes, program narratives and sponsorship opportunities for programmatic activities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Experience with fundraising and program development and design; access to strategic leadership and philanthropic networks desired.
• Development experience researching and generating foundation proposals or grants highly desirable.
• Prepare and manage funding narrative reports in timely manner
• Prepare solicitation letters and perform relevant research for preparing funding proposals
• Excellent computer skills, particularly Microsoft Office Suite, PPT, contact databases, and Web research.
• Strong administrative skills; the ability to plan, organize and follow through with staff and a variety of constituencies.
• Ability to work with diverse audiences and diverse work styles.
• Thrives in high performing environment and capable of working closely with exacting, entrepreneurial Executive Director.

KNOWLEDGE, EDUCATION, AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s degree or equivalent; minimum of two to three years of related environmental and NGO experience, preferably in the nonprofit or business. Current or recent graduate student preferred.
• Extensive content knowledge and/or familiarity with issues areas and key players in U.S. and international environmental policy particularly in environmental governance, marine protection, conservation and sustainable development.
• Strong demonstrable writing and editing skills; environmental politics savvy and awareness; track record of effective communications that engage audiences from private, public and non-profit sectors.
• Possess entrepreneurial acumen and drive; ability to work autonomously and with a small team; mature and capable of self-managing workload; ability to see and translate programmatic opportunities.
• Internalized understanding of the need for prolonged attention to detail; ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, including a desire to learn and the ability to be flexible.

• Excellent research skills.
• The ability to plan, organize and follow through with staff and a variety of constituencies.
• Very strong written and oral communications skills.

How To Apply

Qualified applicants must submit cover letter, resume, and two writing samples for the Graduate Intern position.  Cover letter and writing samples can be uploaded at Step 5 of the online application process online.