COMMUNICATIONS INTERNSHIP DESCRIPTION
Background
Friends of the San Francisco Estuary is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to
protecting, restoring, and enhancing the health of the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary. The
organization, founded in 1993, runs outreach and education programs and public awareness
campaigns. In 2013, Friends initiated the Freshwater Flows program to increase awareness of the
importance of freshwater flows to the Estuary. More information on our organization and the
Freshwater Flows program can be found online at www.friendsofsfestuary.weebly.com.
Internship Description
We are seeking a highly motivated, mission-driven intern with strong written and social media
skills to help develop our online outreach program. You will work closely with the Freshwater
Flows Program Manager on a variety of projects, including:
Outreach Program:
o Active involvement in developing and executing our social media strategy;
o Produce engaging, original content for Friends' website, blog, and social media
channels, as well as research new social media outlets;
o Create and manage calendar of social media content for posting to all social
media channels, including coordinated cross-channel flow posting between social
media sites;
o Promote blog posts, press releases, videos, etc. across multiple social media
outlets.
Website Development:
o Expand/redevelop existing website to increase outreach, recruitment, and online
donation capabilities;
o Create and manage online conference program and registration;
o Promote website to increase traffic and visibility.
Special Events: help plan Friends’ Freshwater Flows September conference, including
conducting outreach to elected officials, recruiting volunteers, and other tasks.
Required Qualifications
Strong verbal and written communications skills
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build strong professional relationships
Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite: Word, Excel, PowerPoint
Proficiency with social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter
Familiarity with online e-mail newsletter platforms (MailChimp, ConstantContact,
VerticalResponse, etc.)
Ability to create, compose, and edit written materials; with concise, informative,
conversational writing
Superb proofreading and editing skills
Excellent organizational and time management skills
Proactive work ethic and willingness to learn new tasks
Ability to multi-task, work well under pressure, and seek appropriate support when
needed Ability to work well both collaboratively and independently with minimal supervision
Reliable and self-motivated
Additional Desired Qualifications
Enthusiasm for the health and protection of the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary
Familiarity with environmental issues in the San Francisco Bay Area and California,
particularly related to water, fish, and/or wildlife
Knowledge of California water politics and history
Academic background or work experience in biology, ecology, environmental studies,
environmental anthropology, natural history, or other related fields
Website development experience
Dates and Schedule
June-August 2014; dates negotiable with selected intern for a total of 12 weeks.
Additional Information
The Communications Intern will work out of the Friends’ shared office space in downtown
Oakland, during office hours Monday-Thursday. Occasional attendance at meetings offsite may
be required. The weekly commitment is 10-15 hours/week.
The Communications Intern will receive a $1,500 stipend for the duration of the internship. This
will be reported as income and will result in a 1099 generated and mailed at the end of the year.
This is primarily a part-time, volunteer position. College credit may be available depending on
college or university requirements. No housing assistance is available.
To apply:
Please send your resume, cover letter, relevant writing samples and links to any online writing
samples and social media to friendsofsfestuary@gmail.com. Phone calls are discouraged.