Part-Time Conservation Communications Intern

Penn State University • Benner Township, PA

1d

About The Position

The Penn State Agriculture and Environment Center (AEC) was founded in 2008 by the College of Agricultural Sciences to enhance the communication and integration of science to inform policy and improve and build partnerships that benefit working landscapes across the Commonwealth. Over the last two decades, the AEC has helped establish Penn State as a leader in complex environmental problem solving, particularly related to agriculture and water quality, through initiatives such as the Ag 101 training modules, the Conewago Creek Initiative, Greening the Lower Susquehanna, the Lower Susquehanna Regional Partnership, and Pennsylvania in Balance. The AEC’s vision is to embody Penn State University’s land grant mission by integrating the College’s education, research, community outreach, and Extension assets to facilitate collaborative, partnership-based problem solving related to agriculture and the environment at multiple scales. The focus of the AEC’s work is one of the great environmental problems we face today: nonpoint source water pollution caused by land use and land management. This focus on the land and water interface helps position the College as a leader in land and water research, engaged scholarship, and extension and outreach. The AEC has two offices located at the University Park Campus and the Harrisburg Campus (Lower Susquehanna Office). Much of our Lower Susquehanna work takes place at the College’s Southeast Agricultural Research and Extension Center (SEAREC) in Lancaster County. The AEC is in need of a summer conservation communications intern stationed at either its University Park Campus or Lower Susquehanna (Harrisburg Campus) office. The intern will work collaboratively in a cohort of student summer interns at the AEC and the related Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training (CACAT) at Penn State Extension. The communications intern will assist the AEC Director and other staff in development and delivery of strategic and comprehensive public communications to help tell the story of AEC and the work that we do to increase its profile and reach.

Requirements

• relevant coursework, concentration or major in marketing/public relations, journalism, digital multimedia design, videography, or related field, and a passion for and interest in conservation and the environment
• Students with majors in water resources, natural resources, and environmental and/or agricultural sciences and a passion for and skills and experience in multimedia science communications would also be qualified candidates
• Candidates should be undergraduate upper-class or in early stages of graduate school (rising third year and above, but all are encouraged to apply and will be considered based on experience/background)
• have excellent writing and communication skills
• have ability to work from home
• be willing to work outside in variable weather and site conditions
• be able and willing to conduct occasional travel (valid driver’s license and reliable vehicle required)

Responsibilities

• in collaboration with the AEC Director and other staff, develop and deliver a strategic communications plan for the AEC
• under direction of staff, lead an update and refresh of the AEC website and other partnership websites
• reinvigorate and actively establish and grow the AEC’s social media presence
• develop outreach and educational materials using graphic design software
• attend AEC events to take photos and videos and produce and post photos and for public consumption
• collaborate with other interns and staff to write regular news articles to tell our story and keep AEC news content fresh
• write news releases and actively pitch stories to news media outlets
• assist the AEC Director and other staff

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees