Position Summary

Want to be part of a team of passionate and resourceful organizers who are building power to resist attacks on the environment? Do you want to help elect environmental champions and Black, Indigenous, and people of color to local and state offices? Come join our team!

Washington Conservation Action (WCA) is seeking talented individuals who believe in the power of the people to elect environmental champions to office and make a difference in local communities. Our Community Engagement & Campaign Interns will work as a team with our Field Organizers on targeted voter contact and volunteer recruitment. Interns will engage in WCA’s efforts to elect environmental champions to office and support programs such as voter recruitment, community outreach on the Drax wood pellet facility in Longview, supporting the Lower Snake River Dams removal, and more! This internship will be largely online and with a few in-person events, in key geographies during election season.  Applicants must be based in Washington and we encourage people in the following counties to apply: King, Cowlitz, Clark, and Yakima. 

This internship will support campaign work through the general election on November 7, 2023. The work will then shift to cleaning up and distilling information in our databases and advocacy work. Someone who is excited about meeting with and talking to new people will find this work extremely rewarding. Interns will have weekly staff supervision meetings in addition to training, professional development, and networking opportunities. Interns will receive grounding in racial justice principles, develop their understanding of the intersection between the environment and social justice, and gain skills to successfully organize. This internship is open to undergraduate students and recent graduates; however a degree is not required to apply.

About our organization

Washington Conservation Action (WCA) is a statewide environmental advocacy organization that advances environmental policies and pushes for actions that equitably address climate pollution, restore Puget Sound, sustain our state’s forests, and protect our democracy. For Washington to remain a national leader on environmental issues, we need environmental champions in elected office and to hold our leaders accountable. To keep our environment protected, healthy, and vibrant, we are committed to supporting Native candidates, candidates of color, and environmental leaders seeking election.

We are committed to a representative, 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 especially encouraged to apply. We continue to advance the application of a racial equity lens to our work and are led by a CEO who is a citizen of the Confederated Tribe of Warm Springs, Oregon.

Internship Hours, Timeframe, and Stipend:  

The Community Engagement & Campaign Intern will work 10 to 15 hours per week from October 9   through December 8, 2023. The week of Thanksgiving (11/20-11/24) will be off. Interns will join one to three virtual meetings per week, including a weekly check in with their supervisor. Interns should be available for occasional evening shifts and infrequent weekend shifts. Schedule is flexible and will vary weekly based on our field opportunities. This internship can count as course credit if approved by your academic institution.

A $1,820 stipend will be provided. We offer a $100 wellness benefit, and reimbursement(s) for any work related travel will be provided. We will also provide work-from-home technology such as a laptop, headset, etc. if needed.

Primary Responsibilities

• Recruit, train and mobilize activists to take action with endorsed candidate campaigns through direct voter contact such as phone banking, text banking and canvassing
• Represent WCA at events, like tabling at community events or candidate forums
• Conduct civic engagement activities, including Get Out the Vote phone calls and digital canvassing 
• 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
• Support with drafting and producing content for social media
• Other tasks to support WCA’s field activities

Qualifications and Required Skills

Previous organizing experience is not required. Candidates should have:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills in person, by phone and over video conference
• Ability to work well individually and as part of a team
• Comfort with Microsoft Office applications, web searches, documents and email 
• Ability to multitask, meet deadlines, and join remote meetings in a timely manner
• Ability to talk with others and shrug off cold responses while maintaining a professional and considerate demeanor
• Discretion and integrity to work with and maintain confidentiality of sensitive personal information
• Interest in protecting the local environment and understanding of environmental justice, tribal sovereignty, and racial justice
• A passion for civic engagement, voting rights, politics, and social change

Desirable Skills

• Bilingual abilities 
• Knowledge of Washington state environmental policy and politics 
• Interest in protecting the local environment and environmental justice

To Apply

Please submit a cover letter, resume and your typical availability here. Please submit applications by Sunday, September 24. We will begin scheduling phone and video interviews on Thursday, September 28.

WCA is an equal opportunity employer committed to dismantling structural racism and creating a welcoming work environment. WCA does 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.