Community Outreach and Political Internship

Position Summary:

We are looking for four interns to provide support to our field team during the Spring build up to primary elections and our climate and clean energy outreach. This is a part-time, hands-on, fast-paced internship that will involve critical thinking, office work, and will focus on voter education through innovative outreach & engagement opportunities. These interns will also be responsible for helping plan and coordinate volunteer phone banks, doorbell days and signature gathering events for endorsed candidates and to build support for a statewide climate campaign. These internships are a great opportunity for someone who is invested in protecting and restoring Washington’s environment and excited to gain experience in community organizing, environmental advocacy, political process and building grassroots power for the environment.

We provide our interns with weekly check ins with a supervisor, on-the-job training, professional development opportunities and a chance to build your network.

Washington Environmental Council and Washington Conservation Voters are nonprofit, statewide advocacy organizations that drive positive change to solve our state’s most pressing environmental challenges. For 50 years, WEC has been at the forefront of environmental protection in the state, securing laws and policies that safeguard the health of our families and our environment. WCV is the statewide political voice for the environment, working to elect environmental champions to state and local offices and hold officials accountable for their environmental actions.

By effectively combining the policy know-how of WEC with the political know-how of WCV, we have reshaped how environmental protection is achieved in Washington State. Combined, we have a staff of 30 and work in a LEED-certified building in downtown Seattle with a view of Elliott Bay. We are committed to a diverse, socially just, and welcoming work environment. Young people, people of color, people with varying abilities, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. We seek to apply a social and racial justice lens to all of our work.

 Internship Hours/Timeframe/Stipend: 

The Community Outreach and Political Internship will serve 15 hours per week from April 30—August 10 (14 weeks with a one-week vacation), culminating in the Washington State primary election on Tuesday, August 7th.  Schedule will vary weekly based on our field opportunities. Schedule is flexible, but interns should expect to work one evening per week and up to two weekend shifts per month. This internship can count as course credit if approved by your institution. An $800 stipend and transit pass will be provided.

To Apply

Please use this online form to apply. We will be accepting applications up to April 6th but will be scheduling interviews as we receive applications and may fill the positions before that date.

WEC and WCV are an equal opportunity employer committed to dismantling structural racism and creating a welcoming work environment. WEC and WCV do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, creed, gender, religion, marital status, veteran’s status, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation. People of color, people with disabilities, and people of all gender identities are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

  • Recruit, train and mobilize activists to take action with the campaign through direct voter contact (phone banking and doorbelling)
  • Conduct civic engagement activities including Get Out the Vote and voter education
  • Build enthusiasm and support for an equitable, comprehensive, statewide climate and clean energy ballot measure campaign
  • Coordinate volunteer opportunities and outreach events with targeted audiences
  • Engage volunteers from existing member lists and implement innovative outreach techniques to grow our activist base
  • Maintain and organize data in various databases including Salesforce and the Voter Activation Network
  • Other tasks to support WCV’s political field activities and WEC’s issue advocacy campaigns and coalitions

Desired Qualifications

Qualifications

  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills by phone and in person
  • Ability to work well individually and as part of a team
  • Comfort with Microsoft office applications, web searches, email and computers
  • Ability to multitask and meet deadlines
  • Enjoys talking on the phone, can shrug off cold responses easily while maintaining a professional and considerate demeanor
  • Positive attitude and has fun while working efficiently
  • Discretion and integrity to work with and maintain confidentiality of sensitive personal information
  • A passion for civic engagement, voting rights, politics, or social change

 

Desirable Skills

  • Bilingual abilities
  • Interest in Washington state environmental policy and politics
  • Experience in a multiracial setting