Agricultural Policy Intern

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What We Can Achieve Together

This internship is an hourly position, paid at a rate of USD $24/hr. We anticipate this internship to be from December 2025 through April 2026 (estimated 22 weeks). The estimated level of effort is approximately 10 hours per week over the duration of the internship.

The Policy & Public Funding Intern supports The Nature Conservancy’s conservation goals by producing two high-impact policy briefs that will help communicate TNC’s value proposition to decision-makers and funders, strengthen uptake of policy tools, and advance TNC’s internal alignment and external visibility on agricultural subsidies as a strategic policy lever to meet its 2030 goals: improving agricultural management in 95M hectares, benefiting 40M people, and unlocking $2B in repurposed incentives.

Under the supervision of TNC’s Senior Policy Advisor for Agricultural Support Mechanisms, the Policy & Public Funding Intern will produce original, bilingual (English- Spanish) knowledge products and presentation materials that communicate the rationale, opportunities, and tools for redirecting harmful subsidies toward regenerative, equitable, and climate-smart food systems. They develop one policy brief aimed at public-sector decision makers, articulating TNC’s perspective on agricultural subsidy reform as a catalyst for achieving CBD Target 18 and TNC’s broader 2030 goals. The brief should be drafted in both English and Spanish. They also develop one policy brief on the TAFP+ tool, positioning it as a practical solution for scaling productivity-enhancing, nature-positive subsidies. The brief should include practical examples and be produced in both English and Spanish. They develop two bilingual presentation decks (one per policy brief) in keynote-style format for high-level internal and external audiences.

We’re Looking For You

The challenges facing our planet today require comprehensive solutions that address the well-being of people and nature and lay the foundation for future conservation efforts. Promoting policies that provide benefits to both people and nature is critical to securing lasting conservation outcomes. The work and expertise of The Nature Conservancy’s Policy and Public Funding (“PPF”) programs are integral to this effort. The Policy and Public Funding business unit is helping to shape the government policies that help make possible achievement of transformative conservation outcomes to address climate change, enhance protection of lands, waters, and the ocean, and provide food and water sustainably. We have an awesome task at hand, and the work that you do here will have a direct impact on our success.

We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. To implement these priorities, we collaborate actively in a non-confrontational manner with public sector agencies, NGOs, academia, business and the finance sector.

What You’ll Bring

  • Demonstrated experience in policy analysis, diplomacy, or government affairs. Experience in environmental and/or agricultural policy is highly desirable
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, with proven ability to synthesize complex topics for both technical and policy audiences.
  • Familiarity with multilateral frameworks such as the UNFCCC, CBD, and SDGs, and their relevance to agricultural policy.
  • Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills, with the ability to work effectively in virtual, globally distributed teams.
  • Commitment to advancing equitable, science-based solutions for regenerative agriculture and climate resilience.

Salary Information

This position may be based in any country where TNC has an established entity, taking into consideration legal restrictions, such as non-national ratios and immigration processing times. Preference is for time zones comparable to U.S. East Coast. For U.S. based applicants only, the starting pay range for this position is generally within the range of $24 per hour is based on location, qualifications, specific skills, and experience. This range only applies to candidates whose country of employment is the USA. For all other applicants, pay ranges will be in local currency, the pay range will be based on the local labor market, and not tied to the above pay range. Your geographic location will be confirmed during the recruitment and used to determine your actual pay range. Additionally, for all applicants, actual pay will fall within a range based on a variety of factors including, for example, the candidate’s qualifications, specific skills, and experience.

Who We Are

The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that we can create a world in which people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our mission and guided by our values, which include respect for all people, communities, and cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there’s many reasons to love life inside TNC. Want a better insight to TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube to hear stories from staff or visit Glassdoor.

One goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. In addition to the requirements in our job postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job and consider each applicant’s unique experience. Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote a popular saying at TNC, “you’ll join for the mission, and stay for the people.”

What We Bring

Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and partners, we impact conservation around the world!

TNC offers a competitive, comprehensive benefits package including health care benefits, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan with an 8% employer match, parental leave, accrued paid time off, life insurance, disability coverage, employee assistance program, other life and work well-being benefits. Learn more about our Benefits and Perks here.

We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports of the health and well-being of the people we employ.

Our recruiting process includes a rolling interview process to ensure we engage applicants in a timely manner. This means we may review applications in the order in which they are received. Once a strong candidate pool is identified, the role will be unposted. The timeline may vary depending on the expressed interest in the role, so we highly encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to equal employment opportunity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

The successful applicant must meet the requirements of The Nature Conservancy's background screening process.

Do you have military experience? Visit our U.S. Military Skills Translator to match your military experience with our current job openings!

TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to applyhelp@tnc.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.