Job Title: Strategic Communications Intern

Team: Development, IRC Bay Area

Location: Hybrid with in-person content days in San Jose

Length of service: Negotiable (6-9 months commitment preferred)

Schedule: Flexible

 

Primary Responsibilities 

 

Story Development & Story Sharing

  • Work with IRC staff to identify compelling client, volunteers, partner, donor, and program stories that demonstrate the impact of IRC Bay Area’s work.
  • Support the storytelling process from start to finish, including identifying story opportunities, preparing interview questions, conducting interviews when appropriate, drafting content, and coordinating internal review and approval.
  • Help ensure stories are shared in ways that center the dignity, voice, agency, and experiences of the people and communities represented.
  • Organize approved stories, photographs, quotes, and other content so they can be effectively used across social media, fundraising, newsletters, web content, and other communications.
     

Content Creation & Digital Communications

  • Develop engaging short-form content for social media, including posts, captions, graphics, short videos, and other digital content.
  • Support the development of longer-form content, including client and program stories, website features, newsletters, donor communications, and community updates.
  • Help maintain a communications calendar highlighting programs, events, client stories, community partnerships, relevant awareness days, and fundraising opportunities.
  • Create and adapt graphics and communications materials using Canva and other approved tools.
  • Repurpose longer stories and program updates into engaging content appropriate for different digital platforms and audiences.

 

Media & Community Outreach

  • Research Bay Area journalists, publications, community outlets, newsletters, and other media opportunities relevant to IRC programs and the communities we serve.
  • Maintain and strengthen local media lists and support outreach around events, client stories, program milestones, and other opportunities.
  • Assist with drafting media pitches, talking points, event descriptions, press materials, and other external communications.
  • Identify opportunities to amplify IRC Bay Area’s work through community partners and other local networks.

Analytics & Communications Strategy

  • Track social media and digital engagement metrics, including reach, impressions, engagement, audience growth, and content performance.
  • Help identify trends in which stories, topics, formats, and campaigns resonate most strongly with different audiences.
  • Prepare regular, concise summaries of communications performance and recommend opportunities to improve future content.
  • Use analytics and audience insights to help the Development team refine content strategy, messaging, and communications priorities.

 

Learning Objectives

 

  • Gain hands-on experience developing and implementing a nonprofit communications strategy.
  • Build skills in short- and long-form writing, social media, digital storytelling, interviewing, graphic design, and content planning.
  • Learn how ethical and client-centered storytelling is developed within a humanitarian organization.
  • Gain experience using analytics to evaluate communications performance and inform strategy.
  • Develop an understanding of how communications supports nonprofit fundraising, donor engagement, media relations, community partnerships, and program visibility.
  • Build a portfolio of communications work across multiple formats and audiences.

 

Requirements

  • Gain hands-on experience developing and implementing a nonprofit communications strategy.
  • Build skills in short- and long-form writing, social media, digital storytelling, interviewing, graphic design, and content planning.
  • Learn how ethical and client-centered storytelling is developed within a humanitarian organization.
  • Gain experience using analytics to evaluate communications performance and inform strategy.
  • Develop an understanding of how communications supports nonprofit fundraising, donor engagement, media relations, community partnerships, and program visibility.
  • Build a portfolio of communications work across multiple formats and audiences.

 

Working Environment

  • Hybrid. Due to the content creation responsibilities of this role, the IRC will provide the intern with a laptop and mobile phone to support photography, video, social media, and other communications activities.
  • Intern must have a workspace they can effectively complete their service from during regularly scheduled work hours (any time zone in the U.S.).
  • All positions are contingent upon clearing a background check vetting process.

 

Compensation

This is an unpaid internship but can qualify for many university programs offering academic credit or other funding. Recognizing circumstances that prevent many applicants from pursuing unpaid opportunities, this position’s schedule and number of hours are flexible to allow for other life commitments, including variable work schedules.

 

Standard of Professional Conduct

The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

 

Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.

 

 

To apply follow this link (resume and cover letter are required): Apply through Golden Here