Strategic Communications & External Engagement Intern

*Please note this is a paid internship role with a hybrid model to include remote and in-office work. See below for specific details regarding applicant location eligibility.

About Rare

Rare inspires change so people and nature thrive. For over 45 years, across 60 countries, we have inspired and empowered millions of people and their communities to shift their behaviors and practices to protect our shared planet.

We are a global leader in driving social change for people and nature. We facilitate solutions that help individuals, their communities and their local leaders tackle global environmental challenges, manage their resources, and take charge of their futures. And we believe that the cumulative power of individual and community action is a vital pathway to safeguarding and restoring our shared waters, lands, and climate.

Rare’s organizational culture is results-oriented, entrepreneurial, and defined by our five core values: Courage to Take Risks, Commitment to Accountability, Mindset of Solutionology, Investments in People, and Spirit of Celebration. We are working toward ambitious goals and creating measurable social change.

Position Overview

Rare’s coastal fisheries program, Fish Forever, is an innovative global movement to transform the management of near-shore ecosystems and fisheries. It has ambitious goals to combat chronic overfishing, recover fish stocks and protect the most biologically diverse marine habitats, while building local leadership capacity to ensure sustainability. The impact of this work can increase the economic value of local fisheries, ensure food security, and contribute to the climate change resilience of some of the world’s most vulnerable communities.

The Strategic Engagement team enables the success and scale of the program through impactful global engagement and positioning with diverse stakeholders. The team collaborates with departments across the organization to lead several functions for the global program, including fundraising, driving partnerships for scale, expansion to new countries, and global Coastal 500 network coordination. In partnership with the Global Policy team, we also advance global ocean policy priorities and strategic program engagement at global events.

The Fish Forever Strategic Communications & External Engagement Intern will support the growth and impact of Coastal 500, a global network of coastal leaders advancing ocean, climate, and biodiversity solutions. This internship offers hands-on experience supporting a global initiative, with exposure to strategic communications, network governance, and capacity building.

The intern will gain valuable insight into how international networks are built and sustained, while deepening their understanding of the critical role local government leaders play in driving environmental action at scale.

This is a great opportunity for anyone looking for experience in network management, capacity building, and strategic communications with a global non-profit conservation organization.

Core Responsibilities:

Strategic Communications

• Support the implementation of Coastal 500’s communications strategy across channels and platforms.
• Plan and draft regular posts and updates to drive engagement and momentum within the Coastal 500 WhatsApp community.
• Contribute to the growth of Coastal 500’s social media presence by developing compelling content and helping develop templates for long-term content planning.
• Collaborate with Rare’s Communications team and in-country partners to draft at least one case study highlighting network impact for publication on the Coastal 500 website.

Capacity Building & Learning Resources

• Support the development of learning resources and tools for Coastal 500 members.
• Assist with planning and coordination for Coastal 500’s 2026 Global Summit, which will bring together mayors from across the globe to learn and exchange best practices.

Network Governance

• Work with the team to strengthen network governance by providing assistance with the following:
• Refine Coastal 500’s charter and data for the digital member roster.
• Communications and coordination with the Global Steering Committee and Advisory Council.

Are you a policy- or communications-oriented student or recent graduate interested in a career in conservation or international development? Do you enjoy using your writing and social media skills in your work? Are you a lifelong learner interested in helping to develop learning resources for local leaders?

We want to hear from you!

Targeted Education, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Pursuing or completed an undergraduate or graduate degree in communications, public policy, public affairs, environmental science, international development, or related field
• Dynamic personality ready to contribute where needed
• Well organized, self-starter, and able to manage deadlines independently
• Excellent understanding of MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint, familiarity with Canva a plus
• Savvy social media user
• Eager and quick to learn new systems and software
• Excellent editing, writing and communications experience
• Cross-cultural understanding
• Superb attention to detail and proven ability to execute highly specific tasks
• Interest in conservation/environmental issues through coursework, work experience, or extracurricular activities
• Native or near-native written and spoken English language skills required, fluency in Spanish, Portuguese or Bahasa Indonesian a plus.

Important commitments

• To Rare’s mission and values

Application and Selection Process:

Rare’s Talent team will contact candidates directly for interviews and finalize hiring decisions between the end of April and mid-May. Please keep in mind that not all candidates will be contacted for interviews. Due to the volume of applications, we do not confirm receipt of applications. You can confirm submission of your application by logging back into iCIMS via our Career Page.

*The selected candidate must have current residence in the following states:

• Virginia
• Maryland
• DC

Rare is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic.