Header

US Communications Internship - Mercy Corps Action Center

INTERNSHIP TITLE: Communications Intern, Mercy Corps Action Center

INTERN WORKSITE LOCATION: Portland, OR - Global Headquarters

DATES OF INTERNSHIP: Beginning Fall or Winter; Negotiable, (option academic year internship)

LENGTH OF INTERNSHIP: 3 months - 9 months

THE MERCY CORPS ACTION CENTER:

In 2009, Mercy Corps opened the Action Center, the agency’s public space devoted to global literacy through a variety of programs including a series of mostly on-site K6-12 workshops, and adult programming that includes lectures, seminars, exhibits and cultural presentations. The Action Center’s primary goal is for all visitors to walk away having learned something new about a country, an issue, a culture. Since opening, the Mercy Corps Action Center has reached over 30,000 visitors, including nearly 10,000 middle and high school students. The primary audience for the Action Center is middle and high school youth, and the general public living in the Portland metropolitan area.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: International Relations; Education; Nonprofit Management; Marketing

The Action Center’s mission is to explore global issues through a variety of programming informed by Mercy Corps’ work around the world in 40 countries. This internship offers a broad scope of content area in the field of international relations and humanitarian work including climate change, food security, governance, economic development, conflict and more. The youth education programs offer exposure to the tenets of activities-based, experiential learning along with an insider’s view of curriculum design. Working to market AC programs with professional staff not only teaches the fundamentals of marketing and public relations, but also provides a workplace overview of nonprofit operations.

OBJECTIVE: Increase visibility and outreach for Action Center programs

  • Support the Action Center Program Director with marketing strategy and implementation
  • Support Facebook and Twitter and other viable social media accounts for Action Center
  • Build the Action Center mailing list
  • Support event implementation
  • Develop and implement strategy for better internal communications of AC programs and mission
  • Plan and implement grassroots marketing campaigns
  • Plan and execute event /workshop flyers and other relevant collateral
  • Work in concert with Global Citizen Corps (www.globalcitizencorps.org) marketing intern as needed

DELIVERABLES:

  • Database of contacts and outreach strategy for events
  • Ongoing social media implementation to better facilitate Action Centers needs
  • Excel document of online tools to continue building marketing capacity
  • Relevant print materials and the distribution of print materials as needed

IDEAL CANDIDATE SHOULD POSSESS THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Excellent writing, editing and basic graphic design skills
  • In depth strategic understanding of outreach using Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites
  • Experience in marketing youth events and workshops
  • Experience with marketing lectures, exhibits, other events
  • Experience with PPT, Word, Google docs, Excel
  • Strong organizational skills
  • Initiative and ability to identify needs, especially in a busy environment
  • Ability to follow and execute plans
  • Ability to effectively manage time and meet deadlines
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team environment

LIVING CONDITIONS: Intern is responsible for their own accommodation inPortland,OR

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Staff are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.