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Sierra Club Careers
Internship Opportunities
Washington, D.C. Legislative Office
Currently Not Accepting Applications
How to Apply: Please email resume, cover letter, and a two to five page writing sample to Leslie.Bratton@sierraclub.org. Please indicate your specific interest and your availability dates. Upon receipt of all the information, your application will then be considered by the relevant issue team. Thank you for your interest. No phone calls please! We are unable to retain unsolicited or general applications on file.
Thank you for your interest in a Sierra Club internship. With over 1.4 million members, the Sierra Club is one of our nation's largest grassroots conservation organizations. We seek to accomplish our mission statement, to explore, enjoy and protect the wild places of the Earth, through active education and promotion of the responsible use of the Earth's ecosystems.
Pivotal in this endeavor, the Washington DC Legislative office concentrates on monitoring legislative activities and public policy decisions of environmental concern, while also educating Congress, the public, and Sierra Club members regarding the quality of the natural environment.
Our year-round issue internships provide a hands-on opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the field of environmental protection and the specific role that the Sierra Club plays in it. An intern may be expected to conduct research, gather and analyze information, help develop background information on a specific issue, write summaries and fact sheets, and prepare briefing materials, among many other tasks. D.C. Office Interns also learn firsthand how Congress works and the role of other non-governmental organizations in Washington as they help prepare Congressional testimony, accompany staff on visits to Congressional offices and monitor Congress. Interns are selected on the basis of their interests, education and experience in related fields. We especially seek interns who have been directly involved in conservation work and have good communication and writing skills. Our normal intern rotations are in the fall, winter/spring, and summer but we are flexible with other starting dates.
The Washington DC Legislative office of the Sierra Club offers issue internships in the following areas only:
Beyond Natural Gas Campaign: Fossil fuels have no part in America's energy future -- coal, oil, and natural gas are literally poisoning us. The emergence of natural gas as a significant part of our energy mix is particularly frightening because it dangerously postpones investment in clean energy at a time when we should be doubling down on wind, solar and energy efficiency. Natural gas drillers exploit government loopholes, ignore decades-old environmental protections, and disregard the health of entire communities. "Fracking," a violent process that dislodges gas deposits from shale rock formations is known to contaminate drinking water and pollute the air. Natural gas production and use also threatens our climate with dangerous carbon dioxide and methane air pollution. The Sierra Club's Beyond Natural Gas campaign aims to stop dirty and destructive drilling and eliminate most natural gas use in our nation.
More information about this program.
Internship information.
Beyond Oil Campaign: Americans consume 25 percent of the world's produced oil, yet our nation has less than 3 percent of the world's proven oil reserves. If left unchecked our appetite for oil will continue to grow, and the costs of this dangerous addiction are high. Every year we send billions of dollars overseas, much of it to hostile regimes that do not share America's values. Our addiction to oil puts the entire nation at risk and leaves our economy vulnerable to price shocks. Oil is a leading source of smog, particulate matter, and other toxic pollution that contributes to tens of thousands of deaths each year. Our addiction is the cause of oil spills in our rivers and oceans, poisoning our drinking water sources, polluting our communities and destroying fragile ecosystems. It's time to break Big Oil's stranglehold on our nation. The Sierra Club's Beyond Oil campaign aims to cut America's addiction to oil by stopping destructive and dirty fossil fuels and promoting real solutions such as smart transportation systems, clean cars, and clean, renewable energy that won't run out.
More information about this program.
Internship information.
Media Department:The Media team promotes Sierra Club's mission with the production of press releases and statements, social media content, and other press materials for use by national reporters, editors, and producers.
Internship information.
Labor and Trade: To meet surging demand for cheap products, our natural resources have been exploited while the rights of workers, communities and the environment are pushed aside to make way for corporate profit. The Labor and Trade Program wants trade that is clean, green, and fair, where peoples' lives and livelihood's are protected.
More information about this program.
Environmental Justice: The Environmental Justice committee aids communities as they tackle many issues caused by industrial pollution such as contaminated drinking water due to coal industry's mountaintop-removal mining.
More information about this program.
Environmental Law: The Sierra Club is the nation's leader in grassroots environmental litigation. The Sierra Club's Environmental Law Program directs legal strategy for the Sierra Club's climate recovery campaigns and chapters. The Environmental Law Program's docket covers the entire range of environmental issues, from local fights over polluting coal plants to cases of national significance on greenhouse gases, toxic pollution, clean air, clean water, and wilderness preservation.
More information about this program.
Summer 2013 internship information.
Fall 2013 internship information
Environmental Quality: The Sierra Club wants to foster vibrant, healthy communities with clean water and air that are free from toxic chemical threats. Our goals include protecting drinking water sources, preventing sewage pollution, protecting communities threatened by mountaintop removal mining, promoting clean water in rural communities, and addressing climate change and its impacts on water resources.
More information about this program.
Public Lands: Sierra Club's Lands Protection Program works to preserve, protect, and restore America's natural heritage by informing the public about issues related to the Sierra Club's land and wildlife protection agenda; promoting policies that protect our nation's natural heritage; as well as promoting the biological, scenic, recreational, and cultural values of America's special places.
More information about this program.
Coal: Coal is one of the most polluting sources of energy available, jeopardizing our health and our environment. To abate the damaging effects of coal on the climate and the environment, the Coal team actively works to stop coal production while encouraging clean energy investing in wind, solar, and other renewable energy.
More information about this program.
Global Warming and Energy: Global Warming and Energy team works to improve vehicle fuel economy, while promoting the increased use of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, and reducing overall emissions as part of a comprehensive national energy plan.
More information about this program.
Political Department: The Political Department manages the Club's participation in elections, including making political endorsements and contributions, organizing local volunteer efforts in elections, conducting research on candidates, and training volunteers.
More information about this program.
The Sierra Student Coalition (SSC): SSC organizes with high school and college students across the country to advance campaigns for environmental progress. As the generation with the most to lose from inaction on environmental and energy policy, the SSC encourages future leaders through its commitment to building and advancing the movement for a more just and sustainable future.
For more information visit www.ssc.org.
Mission Outdoors: Mission Outdoors is working to reconnect America with the outdoors. People are spending less and less time outdoors than ever before. Today's children especially are growing up detached from the natural world. Sierra Club's Mission Outdoors program is working to reverse this trend by ensuring all people have opportunities and encouragement to explore and enjoy the outdoors and the natural world. The Washington, DC-based Mission Outdoors internship will focus on partnerships and policy to increase access and opportunities for more people, from all walks of life, to explore and enjoy the planet.
More information about this program.
Polling & Research: The Communications Department relies on the latest polling and research to guide the Club's communication strategy and messaging.
Internship Information.
Operations: The Sierra Club team is looking for a student interested in non-profit administration to join their DC Operations team for a fall internship. This internship is focused on the behind-the-scenes work of a large environmental non-profit including budget, logistics, risk management, training, compliance, and administration. Typical responsibilities would include:
- Supporting the coordination of office financial, business, and administrative services
- Helping to process and track business related expenses and invoices
- In coordination with DC Operations team, ensuring compliance with financial and administrative requirements
- Helping to plan and coordinate meetings and trainings
- Assisting in the implementation and maintenance of automated reimbursement tools
- Supporting general services within the office
Applicants should be proficient with Microsoft word and excel. Knowledge of basic non-profit administration and/or finance rules is preferred. The desire to learn about balancing the best business interests of an organization with the complex strategies and goals of campaigns, Chapters, and volunteers is a must!
Strategic Partnership Internship Program (Accepting for Spring 2013 Only): The Sierra Club is the country's oldest and largest environmental non-profit committed to promoting sustainability and protecting our country's lands. The Strategic Partnership Program utilizes key relationships with political champions, union allies, youth activists and environmental justice partners in all aspects of our work. Working closely with these four programs we strive to build unified coalitions across various organizations that work together to achieve our common goals.
Internship Information