Internship Opportunities

The Conservancy depends on the support and efforts of its volunteers to accomplish its goals. We are always looking for Interns in various positions to assist our permanent staff and ensure the success of the Conservancy's efforts. These positions are unpaid, but can be used as college internships for credit, Work Study or Co-op positions.

• Project Assistant Intern
• Communications and PR Intern
• Development Intern

Project Assistant Intern

The Emerald Necklace Conservancy is seeking a student who qualifies for work-study funds. Intern should be self-motivated and hard worker to join our office for exciting work in preserving, maintaining, and protecting the historic Emerald Necklace park system. We operate a busy six-person office in Jamaica Plain and are looking for a Project Assistant (or two) for our Project Managers.

Responsibilities include:

• Assist with volunteer events: plan; recruit; prepare materials; manage data bases
• Work with volunteers in park restoration, invasive plant removal, clean-ups, etc.
• Order materials, such as tools and plants. Estimate costs, track delivery
• Monitor and document conditions in the parks
• Provide administrative support for Project Managers

Experience/skills wanted:

• Basic administrative skills, including reasonably fast and accurate typing
• Prior experience coordinating volunteers and organizing events
• GIS proficiency
• Landscape maintenance or horticulture helpful
• Good writing skills
• Bike ownership would be VERY helpful
• Familiarity with Windows Operating System including Microsoft Office

Interns will gain experience and understanding of a non-profit organization by collaborating with other staff members to meet goals and deadlines. Interns are responsible for support on many projects as well as taking the lead on others. By implementing their own ideas and receiving feedback candidates will grow and develop in ways only possible outside the classroom.

About the Emerald Necklace Conservancy:

The Emerald Necklace Conservancy was created to protect, restore, maintain and promote the landscape, waterways and parkways of the Emerald Necklace park system as special places for people to visit and enjoy. Our programs focus on:
- parks restoration and maintenance
- public education including presentations, exhibits and publications
- constituency-building and park advocacy
- volunteer and other activities which promote parks stewardship
- improvement of public access to and through the park system, among other activities.

Start Date: after Labor Day 2009

Hours: 28 hrs/week preferred but flexible; 9 to 5 with occasional evenings and Saturdays as needed. (Students with work-study funds may inquire about a reduced schedule.)

Volunteer Intern: $8.00 to $10.00 based on experience if student qualifies for work-study positions. Otherwise this is a volunteer intern position.

Location: Jamaica Plain, MA. 5-minute walk from #39 bus. 15-minute walk from Orange Line Forest Hills station.

Please send a brief note and resume to: Don Eunson, Sr. Project Manager at deunson@emeraldnecklace.org or Emerald Necklace Conservancy | 891 Centre Street Jamaica Plain, MA 02130. No phone calls please.

Communications and PR Intern

The Emerald Necklace Conservancy, a private, nonprofit organization, dedicated to preserving, maintaining and protecting the historic Emerald Necklace parks in Boston in collaboration with public sector partners, has an internship opportunity in communications & development.

The intern will work closely with both the public education and development departments in a variety of activities that promote the mission of the Emerald Necklace Conservancy. We are a small, very busy office doing exciting work in support of 1,000 acres of open and green space, waterways and woodlands, diverse habitat and unique structures that make up this treasured urban resource.

The intern will assist in developing and distributing Emerald Necklace publications such as the monthly e-newsletter, bi-weekly e-event notices and alerts, press releases and other materials, including layout and design, researching and writing articles and setting deadlines. The intern will also assist in grant writing and research, respond to public inquiries by phone and programs; maintain a database of volunteers and donors; and update website and media book.

We offer the opportunity to learn and work in a congenial, supportive environment with a dedicated and enthusiastic staff.

Qualifications for this position include:

• Excellent communication skills and experience in publications writing and design. Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite2 Premium (including Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign) is a big plus.
• Knowledge of Microsoft applications Word and Excel.
• Familiarity with database maintenance a plus.
• Publications design, and the ability to work well independently and as part of a team. Also, experience in setting and meeting deadlines and attention to accuracy in detailed work is required. Interest in the environmental and/or public parks is desirable.

Application Deadline: Open
Start Date: ASAP
Hours: Flexible schedule; 8-16+ hours per week. Could include work from home.

To Apply: Send letter of interest and resume to: jeanine@emeraldnecklace.org

Development Intern

We are a small non-profit organization. We are currently seeking one undergraduate or graduate student to assist the Development Director in grant research and other tasks. Students seeking internships for college credit are strongly encouraged to apply, as are those students eligible for workstudy who may be paid for the internship through their institution.

Other responsibilities include:

• Maintaining the donor database
• Compiling and arranging mailings
• Assisting with events preparation
• Some writing for publication or grants
• Some graphic design work possible
• Adding material to and maintaining the website

Qualifications for the job include:

• Familiarity with Windows operating systems, including Microsoft Office applications Word and Excel.
• Knowledge of GiftMaker Pro or other databases is helpful, but not necessary.
• Please be a fast learner and able to tackle multiple tasks at once, working with basic self-sufficiency.
• Students with experience researching and writing grants strongly desired.
• Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite2 Premium (including Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign) is a big plus.

To Apply: Send letter of interest and resume to: sknight@emeraldnecklace.org