Learning Intern Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, seeks a OECM and ITT Intern.

At WWF, we are working to create an organization where the richness of all our unique views, experiences, and backgrounds combine to create the most sustainable and inclusive conservation outcomes possible, bringing the greatest benefit to the planet and every person who lives on it.

Position Summary

The Intern will support the WWF-US Conservation Areas Team (CAT) in advancing effective and inclusive implementation of Target 3 with a focus on other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) and Indigenous and traditional territories (ITTs).  

The role combines technical research, coordination support, and knowledge-management tasks. The intern will engage with international and national conservation initiatives, contribute to knowledge products, and support management of the OECM Platform, a global knowledge hub of practical guidelines and resources on OECMs. 

The intern will report to the Lead Specialist, Conservation Areas. At the end of the internship, the intern will submit a report summarizing their contributions and key learnings. 

Please note: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired willbe required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.  

Technical and coordination support for OECMs and ITT 

• Provide technical, coordination, and logistical support to regional exchanges on OECMs and ITTs. 

• Support research on enabling conditions for national OECM implementation, identifying cross-country patterns and practical lessons. 

• Support the development and monitoring of consultant agreements and partner grants, helping ensure timely delivery of products and compliance with required documentation. 

 OECM platform management 

• Collaborate with the OECM Platform Manager and CAT to effectively update and maintain the OECM Platform. 

• Research and add new publications, papers, guides, training materials, and films to its Resource Library. 

• Research and add news to Newsroom. 

• Research and publish new external case studies, if any. 

• Help review and publish submissions of publications, papers, guides, training materials, films, and news through the contact form.   

• Help prepare update emails and send out.   

• Help review any emails that come through the contact page.    

• Help review success metrics. 

• Systematize and keep track of any problems with the website to report them back to web developers. 

• Bi-weekly meetings with the OECM Platform WWF team. 

Minimum requirements:  

• Undergraduate student or recent graduate in environmental sciences, social sciences, political science, public policy, environmental law, communications, or a related field. 

• Demonstrated interest in protected and conserved areas. 

• Strong communication skills (written and verbal) in English. 

• Strong analytical and organizational skills. 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (especially Word, PowerPoint, and Excel/Google Sheets).

• Detail-oriented, reliable, and eager to learn.

• Identifies and aligns with WWF’s core values:

• • COLLABORATION – We deliver impact at the scale of the challenges we face through the power of collective action and innovation.
  • INTEGRITY – We live the principles we call on others to meet. We act with integrity, accountability, and transparency, and we rely on facts and science to guide us and to ensure that we learn and evolve.
  • RESPECT – We honor the voices and knowledge of people and communities that we serve, and we work to secure their rights to a sustainable future.
  • COURAGE – We demonstrate courage through our actions, we work for change where it’s needed, and we inspire people and institutions to tackle the greatest threats to nature and the future of the planet, which is our home.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Prior experience related to protected and conserved areas and/or OECMs and/or ITTs.
• Experience conducting comparative analysis or literature reviews.
• Spanish proficiency.
• Experience with content management workflows.
• Experience organizing digital content libraries and tracking performance metrics. 

Learning outcomes 

• Expanded understanding of Target 3, OECMs and ITTs, with exposure to global, regional, and national processes. 

• Gained practical experience in OECM knowledge management, including content curation and publication workflows for a global platform. 

• Strengthened skills in research synthesis, policy analysis, and knowledge product development. 

• Enhanced competencies in project coordination, stakeholder engagement, and collaborative work in an international conservation environment while engaging and supporting national efforts on Target 3.  

Location: Washington, D.C. metropolitan area