2016COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INTERNSHIP

Position Summary

The Island Institute seeks qualified candidates for an unpaid summer internshipposition focused on increasing awareness of the Island Institute’s mission and programs and extending the capacity of the Donor Relations team during critical summer visitor months. The Community Engagement intern will support assessment of the organization’s current level of visibility, identification of opportunities for growth to membership segments, and suggest strategies to boost engagement to current and potential members. The person in this position will also serve as an ambassador for the Island Institute at local events.

This internship augments department efforts to increase awareness about the work of the Island Institute, develop new channels for engaging prospective supporters, and cultivate a sustainable revenue base. Our needs are both intangible (data analysis, research, fresh ideas) and tangible (distributing organizational materials to key locations, presence at community events, etc).

The anticipated weekly schedule is approximately 15 to 20 hours and the duration of the internship is eight to 10 weeks, although this is flexible and can be tailored to the intern’s academic schedule. The intern will be supervised by the Institute’s Membership Manager, Jlynn Frazier.

Anticipated Learning Outcomes

  • Real-world experience in the development and implementation of direct community engagement strategies;
  • Opportunities to learn about the Island Institute’s mission and programs as well as the comprehensive donor relations program that supports the organization’s work;
  • Experience in working with the Institute’s professional staff at outreach events and observing how various members of the development and programs teams present the organization’s identity to donors, the general public and other audiences;
  • Greater awareness and understanding of Maine’s island and remote coastal communities and the sustainability issues they face.

Essential Responsibilities

  • Late May/early June:

-Develop an understanding of Maine’s island and remote coastal communities and the Institute’s work in each of its five program areas;

-Become familiar with the current engagement priorities, assist in developing strategies, and set up process for tracking and evaluation

  • June/July:

-Participate in summer donor and membership activities and events

-Gather anecdotal and quantitative data on engagement strategies to boost membership

  • Early/mid-August:

-Present engagement reflection consisting of data analyzed and newly collected over the summer and along with recommendations for improving engagement to the Donor Relations team

Desired Qualifications

  • Initiative and the ability to develop and execute a workplan to meet agreed-upon objectives;
  • A high level of comfort and confidence when interacting with the public in person, on the phone, or through online channels;
  • The ability to effectively communicate an organization’s mission and work;
  • Innovative, strategic thinking;
  • Enthusiasm for the mission of the Island Institute.
  • Demonstrated experience in outreach, community engagement, and project leadership

Direction and Support for Internship

  • A comprehensive week-long onboarding process that will include developing a draft work plan flexible enough to be modified throughout the course of the internship as needed;
  • Weekly meetings with the Membership Manager, either in person or by phone/video conference;
  • Participation as a member of project team that includes II staff and other summer interns;
  • Opportunities for constructive feedback through a two-way evaluation process;
  • Experience working in a highly collegial and collaborative work environment.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an intern to successfully perform the essential responsibilities of this placement. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  • Physical demands:
  • While performing the responsibilities of this placement, the intern must be able to sit, enter data using a computer keyboard and mouse, stand, walk, bend over occasionally and move about the office space as well as between building floors.
  • Flexibility to work outside typical business hours for events
  • There is no requirement to lift and/or move weights of more than 20 pounds.
  • Work environment: The noise level in the office work environment is usually minimal, but that of other venues and offsite locations may vary. There may be uneven terrain and variable weather conditions associated with off-site work.

How to Apply

Please submit a cover letter, current résumé, and the names and contact information of at least two academic and/or professional references.

If possible, please combine all of the above materials into a single PDF emailed to Nancy McLeod Carter, Human Resources Specialist, at .

The internship placement will remain open until filled, but preference will be given to applications received by Friday, April 1, 2016. Please contactNancy at the email address above or 207-594-9209 x133 if you have questions.

2-3-16