To be successful in our mission, The Nature Conservancy is embracing the integration of innovation methodologies into its work. This work at the intersection of people and nature requires new perspectives, skillsets, and an agile approach. Within a learning environment, the conservation innovation intern will provide a novel and fresh perspective to conservation planning and thinking in New York State.

The graduate winter Conservation Innovation Intern will work for 10-12 weeks (18-35 hours/week) to develop our internal innovation program. The Graduate Conservation Intern will be paid $20.00 per hour.

The intern will work remotely with New York Division or innovation network leadership and field staff to help identify, design, and implement innovative approaches to our work to enhance the impact of our projects. They will bring their background and expertise – perhaps in technology, analytics, design, art, activism, social change, management, etc – to significantly advance innovation in conservation. This could include creating processes and training platforms, and /or introducing new methods and best practices into our day to day operations and work. The project’s content is dependent on the intern’s academic interests, unique skillset, and the needs of the program.  The conservation areas in which the intern may work could span climate change, water, equity, and lands.

• Will work toward developing a functional and enhancing component of TNC’s internal innovation program at the highest level of performance.
• Scope of work includes New York State and the internal innovation network’s global initiatives.
• Perform research to support the component’s design, implementation, and assessment.
• Work to deliver the component within the division.
• Engage as a thought partner with conservation and science teams, and work across other functional areas such as marketing, operations, HR, development (philanthropy) and technology as necessary.