GAIN EXPERIENCE MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Spend a term working with the nation’s leading endangered species advocacy non-profit and help fight global warming, turn back political attacks on our nation’s environmental laws, and protect some of Earth’s most imperiled plants, animals, and habitat.

Interns assist with all aspects of the Center’s activities, from legal and scientific work to fundraising, outreach, and publications.  The Center offers a dynamic, flexible work environment with excellent mentoring opportunities.  Typically, positions are filled on a rolling basis and require a minimum three-month commitment, although shorter term or project-specific internships may be accommodated.   A small stipend may be available for qualified candidates, or alternatively, hourly work-study compensation for interns with confirmed federal work-study financial aid awards.  Internships are not limited to students; all interested qualified parties should apply.

Current internships are indexed by region.

ABOUT THE CENTER

INTERNSHIP DESCRIPTIONS

TUCSON, ARIZONA

Mexican Gray Wolf Campaigner
Full time (40 hours per week)
Requires extensive travel throughout Arizona and New Mexico

General position overview:
Facilitate communication in public outreach campaign to reform the Mexican gray wolf recovery program and extricate this highly imperiled species from livestock industry supported governmental persecution.

Duties:
(1) Organize and staff letter writing tables at Center booths at fairs and festivals in Arizona and New Mexico; (2) Organize public outreach events; (3) Investigate public lands in areas of wolf-livestock conflict to document violations of grazing standards; (4) Perform data entry and other office work.

Qualifications:
Excellent verbal and writing skills; basic computer literacy; ability to operate independently; time flexibility for travel; ability to hike and camp in primitive settings; photographic skills; common sense.

Application process:
Please send a résumé and a short (2-4 pp.) writing sample to Michael J. Robinson by mail, fax or email:
Center for Biological Diversity
P.O. Box 53166
Pinos Altos, NM 88053-3166
Phone: (575) 534-0360
Fax: (575) 534-0876
michaelr@biologicaldiversity.org

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

Clean Air Cities Campaigner
Full or part time

General position overview: 
The Center for Biological Diversity’s Climate Law Institute seeks a motivated, creative and experienced organizer/intern dedicated to defending the Clean Air Act and its ability to curb global warming pollution and slow climate change. The intern would work with our Climate Campaign Director to implement the Center’s Clean Air Cities campaign.

Main duties:
The Clean Air Cities Campaigner will work with Climate Campaign Director to create a dynamic work plan to implement the Center’s Clean Air Cities campaign, a nationwide campaign calling on cities around the United States to support the Clean Air Act and push the Obama administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to use the Act to reduce carbon in our atmosphere to no more than 350 parts per million — the level scientists say is needed to avoid catastrophic climate change.

The Clean Air Cities Campaigner will recruit and support the Center’s volunteer advocates in taking action to urge their cities to pass Clean Air Act resolutions by, for example,

• researching city elected representatives,
• adapting fact sheets and background information to a city, 
• writing letters to the editor or op-eds,
• giving talks about the Clean Air Act,
• supporting advocates in meeting with their elected representatives, and
• building coalitions in support of resolutions.

The Clean Air Cities Campaigner will support the Climate Campaign Director in engaging and coordinating our network of grassroots groups, including environmental groups, faith organizations, social justice organizations, public health groups and others to defend and promote a strong Clean Air Act.

Finally, the Clean Air Cities Campaigner will assist in maintaining and updating Climate Law Institute databases.

Qualifications and skills desired:

• Experience in community organizing or campaigning.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• A high comfort level talking to people in person and by phone.
• Experience working with a team and independently.
• Experience in coalition-building.
• A passion for and knowledge of protecting the natural world, biodiversity and the Clean Air Act.
• Experience with Microsoft Access and maintaining databases.

Areas in which skills and experience will be gained:

• Community organizing.
• Coalition-building.
• Public speaking.
• Media relations.
• Database management.

Application process:
Please send a cover letter, a résumé, references and a short writing sample via email (no paper) to Rose Braz, rbraz@biologicaldiversity.org, “Attn: Clean Air Cities Campaigner.” The position will remain open until filled. No telephone calls, please. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

Legal Intern
Fall 2013 or spring 2014 — full time (40 hours per weeek) or part time (20+ hours)

General position overview:
The San Francisco office is a hub of legal activity with attorneys working on cutting-edge environmental law issues. Legal interns are likely to work on projects concerning ocean protection, climate change, public lands and urban wildlands. Legal interns will assist with the preparation of litigation aimed at protecting imperiled species and habitat. Full time positions are 40 hours per week; part time positions require a minimum of 20 hours per week.

Duties:
Legal interns will conduct legal research and writing. Legal interns may prepare legal memos, assist with brief writing, prepare filings, investigate new cases and draft official policy comments. On occasion, legal interns may have opportunities to observe court arguments or attend agency hearings.

Qualifications:
The legal internship requires strong legal research and writing skills. Creative, motivated and good-humored law students are encouraged to apply. Background in environmental or biological studies or related experience is preferred. All legal internships are unpaid, but students with federal work-study eligibility may be accommodated under special circumstances. The Center qualifies for externship credit for most law school programs.

Application process:
Please submit a cover letter explaining your interest in working at the Center, a résumé, a writing sample, a transcript and references to: sfinternship@biologicaldiversity.org. Please provide your name and the position you're applying for in the subject line. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Interviews are conducted on a rolling basis. You will be notified if you're selected for an interview. No telephone calls, please.

Toxics Research and Communications Intern
Part time

General position overview: 
The Center for Biological Diversity’s Toxics and Endangered Species campaign seeks a motivated, creative, and industrious research and communications intern dedicated to protecting wildlife and the environment from the impacts of toxics and contamination.  The internship is unpaid, but it will provide valuable experience with one of the nation’s most respected and cutting-edge environmental organizations.

Main duties:
The Toxics Research and Communications Intern will work closely with the Toxics and Endangered Species Campaign Director to help implement the Center’s ongoing campaign to address the threats of contamination on wildlife and the environment.  The position requires two main focal areas: 1) compilation and synthesis of published and unpublished reports, papers, information and news items on the harms of toxic contamination, and 2) written reports, outreach materials, website content, and advocacy materials on the threats that toxic contamination poses on the environment.  Interns will have the opportunity to work on one or both of those focal areas depending on interest and experience.

Qualifications and skills desired:

• Excellent internet and library research skills using scholarly databases and online tools.
• Strong writing and organizational skills.
• A high comfort level talking to people in person and by phone.
• Computer proficiency, including experience with Microsoft Office programs, especially Word and Excel.
• Experience working with a team and independently.
• A passion for and knowledge of protecting the natural world and biodiversity.
• A background in environmental, biological or natural resource studies or related experience is preferred.

Areas in which skills and experience will be gained:

• Research and writing.
• Exposure to a range of environmental topics and organizations.
• Exposure to information on laws, regulations and science relating to contamination and the environment.
• Advocacy and outreach.
• Media relations.

Application process:
Please send a cover letter, a résumé, references and a short writing sample via email (no hard copies) to Jonathan Evans, jevans@biologicaldiversity.org, “Attn: Toxics Research and Communications Internship.” The position will remain open until filled. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.  No telephone calls, please.

ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA

Legal Intern
Summer 2014 — full time
Fall 2013 and spring 2014 semester — full or part time

General position overview:
Legal interns will work on cutting-edge environmental law issues concerning endangered species, ocean protection and climate change in the Southeast. 

Duties:
Legal interns will conduct legal research and writing. Legal interns may prepare legal memos, assist with brief writing, prepare filings, investigate new cases and draft comments. On occasion, legal interns may have opportunities to observe court arguments or attend agency hearings.

Qualifications:
The legal internship requires strong legal research and writing skills. Creative, motivated and good-humored law students are encouraged to apply. A background in environmental or biological studies or related experience is preferred. Legal internships are unpaid and occur over a duration of 8-10 weeks in the St. Petersburg, Fl., office.

Application process:
Please submit a cover letter explaining your interest in working at the Center, a résumé, a writing sample, a transcript (unofficial is fine) and references toJacki Lopez at jlopez@biologicaldiversity.org. In the subject line, please provide your name and the position for which you're applying. Incomplete applications won't be considered. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. You'll be notified if you're selected for an interview. No phone calls, please.

PORTLAND, OREGON

Conservation Biology Intern
Full or part time

General position overview:
The Center for Biological Diversity’s Endangered Species Program seeks motivated and organized interns dedicated to protecting biodiversity and thwarting the extinction crisis. Interns will work with Center scientists to
gain protections for imperiled species. The internship provides a small stipend as well as valuable experience with one of the nation’s most respected and cutting-edge environmental organizations.

Duties:
Interns will research and compile information from the scientific literature and government publications to produce documents to gain federal protection for endangered species or to support litigation to protect already listed species.

Qualifications:

• Strong verbal and writen communication skills.
• Excellent Internet and library research skills using scholarly databases and online tools.
• A bachelor’s degree in biology, environmental science or related fields.
• Excellent organizational and computer skills.
• A passion for and knowledge of protecting biodiversity.

Application Process:
Please email a cover letter explaining your interest in working at the Center, a résumé, a writing sample and references to ConservationIntern@endangeredearth.org. Paper copies and incomplete applications will not be considered. Interviews are conducted on a rolling basis. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. No telephone calls, please.

Law Clerk Positions
Full time or part time (20+ hours per week)
Fall 2013 or spring 2014 internships or externships

Are you interested in groundbreaking biodiversity conservation legal work with weekend access to the Cascade Mountains and Oregon’s coast from an alternative northeast Portland neighborhood?  Then a clerkship with the Center’s Portland office might be right for you. We’re accepting applications for fall 2013 and spring 2014 law clerk internships and externships.  

General position overview:
Law Clerks will work with attorneys in the Center’s Endangered Species and Oceans programs on cutting-edge litigation to protect imperiled species and their habitat. Law clerks will assist attorneys with ongoing litigation, including brief-writing, discovery, preparation of memos, legal research and cite-checking, as well as helping investigate new cases, drafting comments to administrative agencies, conducting field work, and coalition building. Full-time positions are 40 hours per week; part-time positions require a minimum of 20 hours per week.

Qualifications: 
Strong legal research and writing skills are required, as are a sense of humor and the ability to think creatively and communicate effectively. A background in environmental studies, biology and/or related fields is preferred, as is a demonstrated commitment to the preservation of biodiversity. All legal internships are unpaid. We will, however, aid law clerks in applying for funding, work with you to obtain school credit (the Center qualifies for externship credit for most law school programs), or in special circumstances accommodate federal work-study eligible students.   

Application process:
Please submit a cover letter, résumé, writing sample (no more than 10 pp.) and list of three references to: LegalInternPortland@endangeredearth.org. Please include your last name, “Portland Law Clerk,” and “fall” or “spring” in the subject line. Applications will be accepted until all positions are filled.  

Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.  No paper applications will be considered.  Incomplete applications will not be considered, nor will those by applicants who contact our office without invitation. No phone calls or emails, please.