Lands and Lives Intern

The Nature Conservancy•Charlottesville, VA

9h•$18•Hybrid

About The Position

Join TNC Virginia as a STEP Intern! The goal of STEP is to create pathways for people seeking to gain experience with a conservation focused organization. We currently offer paid internships in a range of disciplines across our Virginia Teams. With a focus on recruiting and developing a diverse staff, we strive to create an environment where people of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities feel welcomed to participate in conservation. Wherever you are in your educational journey; community college, technical school, four-year program, or graduate school, STEP may have an opportunity for you to consider! All STEP interns will attend an orientation, professional development webinars, and one group field trip. Along the way, interns will have the opportunity to broaden their experiences through interactions with The Nature Conservancy staff and partners. At the end of their internship, STEP interns will give a short presentation about their time at TNC to the Virginia staff. This position will close on February 15, 2026, at midnight. Zoom interviews will occur in early March with final hiring decisions made by March 31. Schedule: 35 hours/week for 10 weeks from May 30 – August 9, 2026 Orientation: All interns are required to attend a two-day orientation in Charlottesville on May 28-29, 2026 Pay: $18.25/hour Location: Charlottesville or Richmond, VA Housing: A housing stipend is available, as needed, for these locations We’re Looking for You: Virginia Marketing and Communications is looking for an intern to continue the work of our Lands and Lives project that started in 2022. Reporting to the Director of Marketing and Communications for Virginia, this person will research selected places where TNC works in the state, helping enhance our understanding of the experiences of Indigenous peoples, African Americans, and other communities and voices important to these protected area. Collaborating with the team, the Land & Lives intern will have the opportunity to identify one or more personally meaningful topics to develop, from conducting initial research to crafting a bylined piece (or pieces) suitable for TNC channels or external media. The intern will gain exposure to all facets of our marketing and communications work— from social media to earned media to storytelling—and may assist with other general marketing tasks. This position is research and storytelling focused, with the goal of more deeply understanding the histories and communities of and near TNC landscapes, and sharing stories that more deeply engage diverse audiences. The work developed will be appropriate for channels such as our website, e-newsletter, StoryMaps or external media. During research-related field trips, photo and video capture may also be needed to support story development. The Intern will also engage in information gathering/social media posts on fellow conservation interns in the Virginia cohort, which may include scheduling and leading short interviews and capturing images/video of other interns and their summer experiences. This position allows for a hybrid work schedule and encourages travel to TNC sites as it related to research being conducted. All interns will dedicate 5% of their time to professional development activities through STEP.

Requirements

Current college student (anticipated graduation 2026-2027) or recent graduate (within one year)
Majoring in the humanities or social sciences, including history, communications, journalism, political science, anthropology, or related fields
Experience, coursework, or interest in conservation, history, environmental justice, or similar issues
Excellent written and oral communication skills
Experience in research, writing, and editing
Close attention to detail
Access to a reliable internet connection

Nice To Haves

Coursework and/or exposure related to communications/marketing, history, and/or social/environmental justice
Self-starter, taking initiative, and demonstrating confidence to ask questions and seek input
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
Knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet software, with the ability to construct and produce reports
Demonstrate a commitment to contributing to the diversity of The Nature Conservancy by bringing multi-lingual, multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience with an ability to work together across differences and an understanding of the issues of human diversity, equity, and conservation.
Self-starter, taking initiative, and demonstrating confidence to ask questions and seek input
STEP is designed for people early in their careers or with limited prior professional experience.

Responsibilities

Conducting research to identify/enrich stories about people’s lives, past or present, in selected places where we work
Collecting and organizing resources (documents, photos, etc.) uncovered during research
Capture photo/video related to story development
Helping integrate Lands and Lives throughout our marketing and communications portfolio
Conduct interviews and gather information/photos/video of fellow interns and their summer experiences in Virginia
Supporting the marketing and communications team with occasional general marketing tasks and/or events during the summer season