Work at Wild Animal Initiative
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About us
Wild Animal Initiative (WAI) is a fully remote 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to accelerating science that helps wild animals. We are at the forefront of the emerging field of wild animal welfare science. Our team of researchers, communicators, and nonprofit professionals is dedicated to understanding and improving the lives of animals in the wild. Our work spans multiple scientific disciplines, including ecology, animal behavior, conservation science, and welfare biology.
We foster an inclusive work environment and strongly encourage people from historically marginalized communities to apply. Diversity of backgrounds and perspectives is essential to the success of our mission, and we integrate these values into all aspects of our work.
Apply today! Application details and instructions can be found below. Questions can be directed to hiring@wildanimalinitiative.org
Requests for accommodation: If you are an individual with a disability, we welcome requests for disability-related accommodations throughout the application process. You can request reasonable accommodations by contacting Hiring Manager Emily Sharp at emily.sharp@wildanimalinitiative.org.
Internship overview
As an intern with Wild Animal Initiative, you'll play an active role in advancing our outreach efforts while developing valuable skills applicable across multiple fields. You’ll learn the basics of wild animal welfare science from experts in the field. You'll work alongside our dedicated team of scientists and professionals, gaining hands-on experience in event coordination and community engagement, while receiving exposure to the emerging field of wild animal welfare science that isn’t available in any classroom. You’ll also engage in networking and mentoring opportunities with professionals in various fields and provide critical feedback to improve our internship program.
Eligibility: As a partnership with Unity Environmental College, priority will be given to current students at Unity.
Duration: 3 months from April 1–July 1, 2025 (flexible)
Hours: 130–195 hours total. Anticipate spending roughly 10–15 hours per week on internship work.
Compensation: $16.28 per hour
Technology and support:
Must have reliable internet and a computer
We will provide access to Airtable and Discord (training provided)
Confidentiality: Interns will sign a contract and non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to ensure privacy and data protection. Additionally, the organization has a strict anti-harassment policy to ensure a respectful and safe work environment for all employees and interns.
Reports to: You’ll receive guidance and feedback from your mentor, a member of our science team, usually weekly. Additional support will come from other team members as needed.
Location:
Remote
Accepting applicants who have legal authorization to work in the US without employer sponsorship, or international students in the US who are holders of F-1 visa status with proper authorization for internships.
This program is ideal for students interested in:
Engaging with a unique field that combines science and community building
Developing professional skills applicable to outreach, event coordination, and content creation
Networking with researchers dedicated to advancing wild animal welfare
Gaining hands-on experience in promoting and supporting a growing scientific field
What will you learn and do?
As an Outreach Intern, you’ll play an active role in supporting Wild Animal Initiative’s services for researchers while gaining valuable skills in outreach, communication, and community engagement. Specifically, you will:
Enhance our outreach platforms: Learn how to update Airtable resources, our events calendar, and our opportunities board to help us serve our community better.
Lead an outreach initiative: Develop your outreach skills by organizing and coordinating one event, such as a monthly meetup, seminar, or symposium in collaboration with our staff and other organizations.
Strengthen community engagement: Hone your communication skills by posting updates, responding to members, and fostering dialogue in our Discord forum.
Develop professional content: Learn to communicate clearly about our work by drafting a blog post for the Wild Animal Initiative website or refining existing content for publication.
Interact with teams: Connect with team members to understand the various roles in a research-based non-profit, increasing your understanding of our work and careers in wild animal welfare science.
You’ll also have the option to engage with and learn from our other departments as your interests dictate, including:
Development: Learn nonprofit fundraising strategies
Operations: Understand nonprofit management
Strategy: Learn how organizations strategize to fulfill their mission and track progress toward achieving it
Research: Engage with scientists in the field of wild animal welfare science, perhaps contributing to a literature review
Grants: Learn about research funding and evaluation
Services: Learn how nonprofits build and maintain partnerships, facilitate knowledge-sharing, and tailor support to meet the needs of students, researchers, and collaborators.
Executive: Learn how nonprofits decide on organizational structures and strive for a positive and inclusive culture
Communications: Learn how organizations shape their messaging, engage with various audiences, and promote our mission.
What should you bring to our internship program?
We are looking for interns who are passionate about making a meaningful contribution to the field of wild animal welfare science and developing their skills through hands-on experience. We believe internships are valuable opportunities to learn, gain experience, and develop skills. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds who are eager to grow and contribute. We’d love to learn more about your potential and interest in our work.
You would be a great fit for our internship program if you have the following:
Authorization to work: You are a student authorized to work in the U.S. or have proper visa authorization for internships.
Relevant career interests: You’re pursuing a degree or career in communications, nonprofit management, sustainable business, biology, ecology, animal welfare science, or a related field and are eager to apply your academic learning in practical, impactful ways.
Communication: You can communicate in English in a way that allows you to ask questions, share updates, and collaborate effectively with colleagues and members of our Discord community in an all-remote workplace. You are comfortable receiving feedback and contributing to team discussions to help achieve project goals.
Attention to detail: You’re thorough and precise in completing tasks, which is critical for updating resources and managing content.
Adaptability: You’re flexible and excited to learn new tools like Airtable, Mailchimp, and Discord.
Dependability: You are reliable and committed, following through on tasks and meeting deadlines, which is critical to supporting ongoing projects and collaborating with our team.
Organization: You can manage multiple responsibilities effectively and meet deadlines consistently.
Physical requirements:
Ability to work at a computer for extended periods (1-2 hours at a time, several times per week).
How to apply
Application deadline: 9:00 am EST March 10, 2025
Application materials:
Please submit an application using this form. You are welcome to preview all questions before beginning. We suggest that you spend no more than one (1) hour preparing your application.
The form will ask you to provide some information about yourself, your availability, and the following:
Answers to 3 short answer questions related to:
Your interest in wild animal welfare science or related fields
How this internship aligns with your career goals and skills
The unique perspectives you will bring to our team
Application process & timeline:
Application - You can expect to hear back within two weeks of the application deadline, regardless of when you applied.
Depending on the number of applicants, candidates who clear the application stage may be asked to complete a short written assessment or interview.
Target start date: April 1, 2025 (flexible)