Forests Communications Intern

EDF internships offer high-quality experiences—including relevant projects and networking—to help individuals serious about pursuing an environmental career. Many team members are remote, with intern supervisors in California and New York.

About the role

Forests are vital to stabilizing the global climate, sustaining livelihoods, and preserving biodiversity. The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) advances solutions that strengthen Indigenous agency, shift wildfire management from reactive to proactive, and unlock critical finance to halt forest loss. Since 1967, EDF has worked to create a world where both people and nature thrive, with healthy forests central to this vision.

The intern will advance EDF’s expert voices and thought leadership around wildfires and forest conservation, focusing on researching opportunities and developing tactics to engage audiences. The role provides practical experience in strategic media and social media planning, communications campaigns, and coordination of internal communications needs.

Responsibilities

• Support the development and implementation of strategic marketing and communications planning.
• Research and monitor the media landscape for opportunities to pitch journalists about wildfires and forest conservation; develop targeted media lists.
• Attend weekly Forests team and communications meetings to align on priorities and content planning.
• Assist with writing, editing, designing, securing approval for, publishing, promoting, and monitoring public-facing content (e.g., social media posts, web content, media pitches, blogs) under tight deadlines.
• Support video podcast production for the On (Wild)fire series, including facilitating interviews, selecting promotional clips, and writing social media content.
• Assist with event and workshop planning and promotion, including uploading media to the EDF Library, creating social media invitations, and developing post-event content.
• Create basic report layouts and social media graphics using Canva and EDF’s Brand Styleguide.
• Participate in advancing EDF’s organizational effectiveness and culture goals, ensuring inclusivity and alignment with EDF values.
• Perform other Global Climate Cooperation and MarComm duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Enrolled in or a recent graduate of an undergraduate program in communications, marketing, environmental studies, journalism, or related fields with demonstrated interest in climate advocacy.
• Coursework in strategic communications, public relations, writing, digital/social media marketing, or graphic design recommended.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Proficiency in drafting and posting content across social media platforms (e.g., LinkedIn, Twitter).
• Basic knowledge of graphic design, especially with Canva, preferred.
• Well-organized, motivated, and detail-oriented.
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work in a team setting and independently when projects are due.
• Demonstrated self-awareness, cultural competency, inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse backgrounds.
• Demonstrated initiative and problem-solving skills.

Schedule

• Part-time (20 hr/week) or full-time (35 hr/week).
• Term: Fall 2026.

Pay

Compensation is paid at a rate competitive with leading non-profits: $18/hour or the local minimum wage if it exceeds $18/hour.

Location

U.S. Remote with the option to be hybrid out of an EDF office in New York.