Penn State Looking for Communications “Eco-Author” Writing Intern Full Time

Job Number: REQ_0000043296

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

• CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Are you a passionate wordsmith with a green heart? The Sustainability Institute (SI) wants YOU to join our communications team to help spread the word about Penn State’s statewide sustainability advancements!

As our Communications “Eco-Author” Student Intern, you’ll play a vital role in creating engaging written content that showcases Penn State’s sustainability achievements to a broad public audience. In this position, your primary function will be writing articles for Penn State News, Our Nature (SI’s student opinion blog), Research Spotlights, and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Snapshots. Plus, you’ll develop a high-quality body of work that can be used to develop your professional portfolio!

This opportunity is available for an immediate start date and will run through the end of the Spring 2024 semester, with the option to renew for the 2024-25 school year (preferred). During the academic year, you’ll work an average of 15 hours per week (more or fewer hours can be negotiated depending on your capacity), and during the summer, you can work up to 40 hours per week (again, based on your availability). Most work can be performed remotely with regular Zoom check-ins; however, we want to ensure that your internship experience connects you with a cohort of similarly engaged student interns. As such, some in-person hours are required in order to facilitate connection and engagement with the group. 

We’re looking for a passionate, dependable, organized individual with strong previous writing experience, who will be comfortable interviewing and interacting with high-level visitors, researchers, and leadership. A strict commitment to meeting deadlines is a must. Occasionally nights and weekends may be required in order to perform interviews, photographs, or live streams at sustainability-related events. 

As a part of your responsibilities, you’ll work closely with our Communication Director to:

• Pitch and prioritize writing assignments.

• Reach out to potential subjects for interviews, and craft high-quality articles that promote sustainability initiatives, advancements, achievements, and ideals to various audiences. 

• Develop and rework stories for SI’s Biennial Report.

• Occasional attendance at sustainability-focused events to assist with communications-related needs. 

• Candidates will not be considered without submitting a cover letter, resume, and 2-3 writing samples.

Candidates will not be considered without submitting a cover letter, resume, and 2-3 writing samples. References will be asked for after your initial interview.

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and sustainability in all of its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, foster a culture of inclusion that supports both broad and specific diversity initiatives, leverage the educational and institutional benefits of diversity in society and nature, and engage all individuals to help them thrive. We value inclusion as a core strength and an essential element of our public service mission.

University Park, PA

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applications without regards to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.