Government Relations Intern

The Government Relations team at The Wilderness Society (TWS) is seeking highly motivated students and post-graduates to join us for our year-round internship sessions. Our team is dedicated and passionate about protecting wild places across the US and we do the work behind TWS’ public advocacy strategy. Our priority campaigns include work on defending public lands, designation of new wilderness areas, appropriating federal funds for conservation programs, ensuring equitable outdoor access, protecting cultural heritage stories and sites, responsible and renewable energy development on public lands and outdoor recreation. We work with numerous political players and partners, from Congress, to green group coalitions, to the Department of the Interior, to the White House to set strategy and priorities across all of our issues.  

The Government Relations team offers internships and volunteer opportunities to those who wish to gain hands-on experience working closely with dedicated staff on public lands issues.  

This position plays an important role in supporting an inclusive organizational culture that is grounded in trust and accountability to shared goals and outcomes. TWS has made diversity, equity, and inclusion strategic priorities for the organization and the Government Relations Intern will integrate these priorities throughout our work. Across our team, we aspire to be campaign oriented, nimble, collaborative, innovative, transparent, and supportive of staff – our greatest asset.  

Essential Duties & Responsibilities 

· This is an active, often fast-paced internship. You will be working on legislative issues, visiting government offices and keeping up with the legislative events on Capitol Hill--not going on coffee runs! 

· Process Congressional reports and pending legislation, attend Congressional hearings, and participate in advocacy events relevant to TWS mission and work 

· Conduct research on and writing about Members of Congress, Hill activities, and items that contribute to TWS’ advocacy strategy, for example: prepare blogs, advocacy letters, and fact sheets 

· Conduct “Hill Drops” of materials to Congressional and administration offices 

· Track legislation, from introduction to passage, as well as reporting on status of legislation 

· Attend lobby meetings and coalition meetings, help with lobby days and trainings, make calls to activists and like-minded organizations 

· Perform general administrative duties in support of assigned project work  

QUALIFICATIONS
Experience, Competencies, and Education 

· Undergraduate and graduate students and recent graduates encouraged to apply 

· Must have excellent oral and written communication skills 

· Basic computer skills; Microsoft Office experience is a plus! 

· Must be a team player and willing to work in a collaborative environment 

· Most of all – candidate should be willing to have fun while producing great work! 

Desired Characteristics 

· Demonstrated desire to learn about and work on public land issues and policies 

· Willingness to adapt and remain flexible as projects and priorities change 

· Self-motivated, passionate, and professional 

· Independent and collaborative

• Ability to function at a high level under pressure and tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment with many simultaneous moving pieces.     

As an organization, we aspire to be inclusive in the work that we do, and in the kind of organization we are. Internally, this means working as a team that listens to different points of view, recognizes the contributions of every employee and empowers each employee to bring their whole selves to work every day. Externally, this means ensuring that public lands are inclusive and welcoming, so that our shared wildlands can help people and nature to thrive. We are committed to equity throughout our work, which we define as our commitment to realizing the promise of our public lands and ensuring that all can share in their universal benefits. 

To learn more about our commitment, please see http://wilderness.org/our-commitment-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-wilderness-society