Communications Intern

• Type: Full-time internship

• Salary: €1040.40/month

• Location: Brussels, Belgium

Description

Fern is a European NGO with a global focus. We hold the EU to account for its impact on forests and the communities living in and around them, worldwide. We influence and improve EU policies, always informed by those on the ground. We are a small organisation spread between three offices (UK, France and Belgium) and we work horizontally, meaning we take decisions by consensus.

The communications team ensures that Fern’s research, policy proposals and campaign messages reach the right eyes and ears and make a difference. Fern showcases original research and videos highlighting the voices of communities in forested countries and the impact EU policies have on climate change and forests. Our material also explains the problem with deforestation-driven commodities (such as soy, palm oil, cocoa and beef) and monoculture plantations; and explores new ways to mitigate climate change such as continuous cover forestry and forest restoration. We constantly produce new content, but older content still remains relevant, and we don’t want all our previous products to get swept aside.

Help Fern initiate, develop and disseminate its content and increase Fern’s reach

Fern’s communications internship programme is an opportunity for an individual hoping to work in NGO communications to gain experience of writing, dissemination, social media, strategy and non-hierarchical management structures.

We are therefore looking for an imaginative and creative intern to join the team for six months, to help us find ways to transform our publications and videos into content that will reach the target audiences and to implement our dissemination plans.

Specific tasks to be completed by the intern

Exact tasks will be agreed with the successful intern and their Fern contact point, but indicative tasks could include:

• Working with the team to disseminate new reports, publications and visual material

• Co-managing Fern’s website and social media pages

• Producing compelling visuals

• Investigating ways to improve dissemination to reach new audiences and allies

• Supporting the development and dissemination of potential future videos

• Supporting the development of search engine-optimised content

• Supporting the production and dissemination of Fern’s Forest Watch newsletter

• Analysing and define target audiences

• Supporting meeting, webinar and event logistics

• Supporting campaigners with ad-hoc requests

• Supporting internal communications, office and administration tasks and investigate ways to improve Fern’s internal communications

• Learning how Fern works by reading our House Rules, annual reports and relevant publications and by participating in relevant internal meetings

What will Fern offer you?

This is an exciting paid opportunity to gain strong work experience in a campaigning organisation and learn how to promote material to different audiences.

Fern will ensure you have a computer and desk to work from in our Brussels office.

You will also get an overview of our campaign areas; the opportunity to join communications team meetings – with the chance to influence Fern’s communications – and other internal meetings to ensure you are introduced to our non-hierarchical structure; and support to get the most out of your time with us.

Requirements

Essential:

• Relevant qualification or experience in a communications environment

• Interest in environmental and/or social justice issues

• A solid understanding of core design principles and how to apply them

• Attention to detail

• A good understanding and experience of using social media

• English language proficiency

Desirable:

• Knowledge of an additional language

• Good writing and/or editing skills

• Knowledge of image editing or video editing software (previous experience with Canva is a plus)

• Knowledge of content management systems (previous experience with Typo3 is a plus)

• Knowledge of customer relationship management and email marketing systems (previous experience with HubSpot is a plus)

• Basic understanding of how the EU institutions work

If you are excited about this role but don’t meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply.

Timeline and logistics

This is a Brussels-based and full-time position. Candidates must be eligible for a Belgian Convention d’Immersion Professionnelle (CIP) contract.

Fern has funding to pay €1040.40/month for this role and will also cover travel costs incurred during the internship.

The start date will be discussed with the selected candidate. The duration of the internship is six months, with the potential possibility of a six-month extension.

How to apply

To be considered for the internship, your application should contain:

• Your CV

• An email explaining your interest in working with Fern

• Confirmation of your eligibility to work in Belgium (under a CIP contract)

• An indication of when you could start

• Optional: A portfolio of your previous work related to writing/editing, design and social media

Deadline

Please submit your application to [email protected] by Friday 6 June at 23:59 CEST.

Timeline

Qualified candidates will be invited to an interview and asked to complete a short assignment in June.