Lands and Lives Intern
The Nature Conservancy
What We Can Achieve Together:
Join TNC Virginia as a STEP Intern!
The goal of STEP is to create pathways for people seeking to gain experience with a conservation focused organization. We currently offer paid internships in a range of disciplines across our Virginia Teams. With a focus on recruiting and developing a diverse staff, we strive to create an environment where people of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities feel welcomed to participate in conservation. Wherever you are in your educational journey; community college, technical school, four-year program, or graduate school, STEP may have an opportunity for you to consider!
All STEP interns will attend an orientation, professional development webinars, and one group field trip. Along the way, interns will have the opportunity to broaden their experiences through interactions with The Nature Conservancy staff and partners. At the end of their internship, STEP interns will give a short presentation about their time at TNC to the Virginia staff. This position will close on February 15, 2026, at midnight. Zoom interviews will occur in early March with final hiring decisions made by March 31.
Schedule: 35 hours/week for 10 weeks from May 30 – August 9, 2026
Orientation: All interns are required to attend a two-day orientation in Charlottesville on May 28-29, 2026
Pay: $18.25/hour
Location: Charlottesville or Richmond, VA
Housing: A housing stipend is available, as needed, for these locations
We’re Looking for You:
Virginia Marketing and Communications is looking for an intern to continue the work of our Lands and Lives project that started in 2022. Reporting to the Director of Marketing and Communications for Virginia, this person will research selected places where TNC works in the state, helping enhance our understanding of the experiences of Indigenous peoples, African Americans, and other communities and voices important to these protected area. Collaborating with the team, the Land & Lives intern will have the opportunity to identify one or more personally meaningful topics to develop, from conducting initial research to crafting a bylined piece (or pieces) suitable for TNC channels or external media. The intern will gain exposure to all facets of our marketing and communications work— from social media to earned media to storytelling—and may assist with other general marketing tasks.
This position is research and storytelling focused, with the goal of more deeply understanding the histories and communities of and near TNC landscapes, and sharing stories that more deeply engage diverse audiences. The work developed will be appropriate for channels such as our website, e-newsletter, StoryMaps or external media. During research-related field trips, photo and video capture may also be needed to support story development.
The Intern will also engage in information gathering/social media posts on fellow conservation interns in the Virginia cohort, which may include scheduling and leading short interviews and capturing images/video of other interns and their summer experiences.
This position allows for a hybrid work schedule and encourages travel to TNC sites as it related to research being conducted.
All interns will dedicate 5% of their time to professional development activities through STEP.
Main responsibilities include:
Conducting research to identify/enrich stories about people’s lives, past or present, in selected places where we work
Collecting and organizing resources (documents, photos, etc.) uncovered during research
Capture photo/video related to story development
Helping integrate Lands and Lives throughout our marketing and communications portfolio
Conduct interviews and gather information/photos/video of fellow interns and their summer experiences in Virginia
Supporting the marketing and communications team with occasional general marketing tasks and/or events during the summer season
What You’ll Bring:
Required Qualifications:
Current college student (anticipated graduation 2026-2027) or recent graduate (within one year)
Majoring in the humanities or social sciences, including history, communications, journalism, political science, anthropology, or related fields
Experience, coursework, or interest in conservation, history, environmental justice, or similar issues
Excellent written and oral communication skills
Experience in research, writing, and editing
Close attention to detail
Access to a reliable internet connection
Desired Qualifications:
Coursework and/or exposure related to communications/marketing, history, and/or social/environmental justice
Self-starter, taking initiative, and demonstrating confidence to ask questions and seek input
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
Knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet software, with the ability to construct and produce reports
Demonstrate a commitment to contributing to the diversity of The Nature Conservancy by bringing multi-lingual, multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience with an ability to work together across differences and an understanding of the issues of human diversity, equity, and conservation.
Self-starter, taking initiative, and demonstrating confidence to ask questions and seek input
STEP is designed for people early in their careers or with limited prior professional experience.
Salary Information:
We’re proud to offer a work-environment that is supportive of the health, wellbeing, and flexibility needs of the people we employ!
Pay: $18.25/hour
STEP Interns are eligible for limited benefits including: Housing assistance, 401(k) employer match, paid time off (sick and personal), paid holidays, workers comp disability coverage, employee assistance program, employee discounts, and other life and work wellbeing benefits. Learn more about our benefits at in the Culture Tab on nature.org/careers.
Who We Are:
The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our mission and guided by our values, which include respect for all people, communities, and cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s many reasons to love life inside TNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor.
One goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. In addition to the requirements in our job postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job and consider each applicant’s unique experience. Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and stay for the people.”
What We Bring:
Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and partners, we impact conservation around the world!
TNC offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work well-being benefits. Learn more about our Benefits and Perks here.
We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports of the health and well-being of the people we employ.
Our recruiting process includes a rolling interview process to ensure we engage applicants in a timely manner. This means we may review applications in the order in which they are received. Once a strong candidate pool is identified, the role will be unposted. The timeline may vary depending on the expressed interest in the role, so we highly encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible.
The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to equal employment opportunity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.
The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.
Do you have military experience? Visit our U.S. Military Skills Translator to match your military experience with our current job openings!
TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to applyhelp@tnc.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.
