Individual Placement-Alaska-Visual Communications & Visitor Services

Student Conservation Association•Fairbanks, AK

17d

About The Position

Design, interpret, and explore the Arctic - one summer, many hats! Do you dream of a slower-paced life in the wild - but know your way around digital media like a pro? We’ve got Starlink. You’ve got graphic design talent. If you’ve ever struggled to choose between very different internships, this is your chance to experience it all. As a Visual Communications & Visitor Services intern with the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, you’ll support nearly every aspect of the summer season. Application Requirement: Please include a link to your online portfolio or attach a PDF portfolio with your application to be considered.

Requirements

Adaptable & Positive: Thrives in remote, challenging environments
Emotionally Intelligent: Works well in collaborative, public-facing settings
Resilient: Comfortable with limited cell and Wi-Fi connectivity, 24-hour daylight, and rugged conditions
Self-Directed: Takes initiative while contributing to a team-oriented, macro-management approach
Adventurous: Ready to embrace both the challenges and rewards of living in the Arctic

Nice To Haves

Experience in storytelling and crafting copy that is clear, authentic and emotionally resonant
Ability to plan and create visual graphics for print, digital, and web
Skilled in collaborating with staff and partners to develop messaging and coordinate deliverables
Familiarity with preparing electronic files for commercial printing
Organized, creative, and collaborative - capable of managing projects from concept through final product
Proven ability to translate complex ideas into clear, compelling visuals and texts
Strong proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator), Canva, and Microsoft Suite.
Interest or experience in public lands and conservation messaging
Have interest and skills in visual media - such as creative writing, photography, and graphic design
Enjoy connecting with people and helping them build their own connection to nature through formal and informal interpretation
Are organized and detail-oriented, especially in planning and communication
Thrive on variety and like work that changes from day to day
Are motivated, self-directed learner
Comfortable in backcountry wilderness settings

Responsibilities

Using your graphic design skills to create impactful educational and interpretive products for visitors
Interpreting the Arctic for guests at the Arctic Interagency Visitor Center (AIVC), where the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and National Park Service (NPS) collaborate to steward some of America’s wildest landscapes
Spending time in the field, supporting biological work, law enforcement and visitor use management
Creating written, photographic, and design content to reach and communicate with Arctic Refuge’s visitors
Assisting refuge management with summer field logistics
Use Adobe Suite to design or improve interpretive products - brochures, posters, exhibits, or print PDFs
Write compelling copy for websites, publications or other audiences
Conduct archival research and produce an educational webpage to document and interpret the historical significance of Lake Peters Research Station on Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Welcome and assist visitors at the AIVC front desk
Deliver weekly formal interpretive programs and daily pop-up talks and guided walks (training provided)
Share knowledge about Arctic, Yukon Flats, and Kanuti National Wildlife Refuges and nearby treasures like Gates of the Arctic National Park and the Dalton Highway Corridor
Inspire travelers to make personal connections with these extraordinary places
Lead the refuge’s gear organization and maintenance efforts
Transport gear and supplies to study sites
Assist staff with preparations for field work or biological studies
Assist with biological surveys, law enforcement patrols, or refuge clean-up projects
Document refuge structures for historic preservation