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
40 hours per week
Requires extensive travel throughout Arizona and New Mexico

Description: 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: 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
Full or part time
Fall 2012 or winter/spring 2013 semester

The Center's summer 2012 law clerk program in San Francisco is now full.  We had an outstanding pool of applicants this year; thank you for your submissions.

We are currently accepting applications for fall 2012 and winter/spring 2013 legal internships in the San Francisco office.     

The Center will invite applications for the summer 2013 San Francisco law clerk program in the fall of this year.

Description: 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.

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.

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'll be notified if you're selected for an interview. No phone calls, please.

ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA

Legal Intern
Full or part time
Fall 2012 or spring 2013 semester

Description: The Center recently opened its Southeast Regional office in St. Petersburg, Fl., and is accepting applications for placement during the coming school year. Legal interns will work on cutting-edge environmental law issues concerning endangered species, ocean protection and climate change.

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.