About the Communications Internship: 

The Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation, dba Children's Science Center, conducts internship and youth leadership programs for college students to learn professional skills and to embed these skills in their everyday behavior. The Communications Internship will focus on creating communications and assist with events for members and customers as well as implement a variety of customer communication strategies for the Children's Science Center Lab.

The Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation, is seeking an adaptable, creative, articulate, dynamic and highly motivated individual to join our team in the role of Communications Intern. The communications intern must be an enthusiatic individual that whole-heartedly embraces the mission and vision of the science center and works to promote the organization, support our members and customers, and improve communication to our broad audience. This position reports to the Director of Communications.

COMPENSATION

The Hourly rate for this position is $17.00

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

The Communications Intern's primary responsibilites will be to support communications and membership activites working closely with the Communications Team and across departments to drive general attendance and program sales for the Children's Science Center Lab and offsite programs.

Specific duties will include:

• Draft articles for e-newsletter promotion of special events, activites, exhibits, and programs;
• Respond via email to general information inquries regarding membership;
• Assist with planning members only events and other special program events at the Lab;
• Create content for social media posts and assist with social media campaign planning;
• Assist in maintenance of web content for special events, activities, exhibits, and programs;
• Enagage in direct community marketing via information tables at events and preparing the marketing bins with collateral, signs, banners, and other information;
• Other administrative activies as needed;
• Assisting with graphic design projects as able.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Pursuing a 4 year degree at a Virginia college or university with a focus in Marketing, Communications, Advertising, or similar;
• Successful completion of a criminal background check.
• Successful completion of a national background check and drug screening may also be required.
• Be 18 years or older;
• Possess and maintain a valid driver’s license/ID and have reliable transportation to/from work;
• Be able to lift 50 pounds;
• Be able to stand for an extended period;
• Be available for an in-person internship at the Children’s Science Center Lab located in the Fair Oaks Mall and our Business Office in Fairfax;

QUALIFICATIONS:

The ideal intern candidate will:

• Possess a “can do” attitude with a “will do” work ethic;
• Excellent written and oral communications;
• Strong organizational, and interpersonal skills;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher
• Desire and ability to work in a fast-paced, unpredicatable and growing environment;
• Experience with social media and online marketing channels a plus;
• Experience with Adobe Suite products preferred;
• Ambition to excel and advance based on a desire to go above and beyond;
• A professional, creative, fun-loving, imaginative, and innovative spirit;

PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB:

These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an intern to successfully perform the essential funcations of the job. Reasonable accomodation can be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the described essential functions of the Communication Intern position. While performing the responsibilities of the Communications Intern, the employee is regulary requried to talk, hear, and use their hands to do acitivities like computer use, typing, phone use and filing. The employee is sometimes required to be on their feet for up to four (4) hours at a time; stand; walk; sit; reach with arms and hands; move or lift at least thirty (30) pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT OF THE JOB:

While performing the responsibilites of the job, these work environment charartistics are representative of the environment the Communications Intern encounters. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the jobs. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outdoor weather conditions.

CONCLUSION

This internship description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the Communications Intern position and it is not intended to be an exhaustive list of skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities, or working conditions associated with the position. The Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation reserves the right to revise duties as needed. Successful completion of a criminal background check is required.

The Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation is committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified candidates and employees pursuant to applicable law. We value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. If you require reasonable accommodation as part of the application process please contact hr@childsci.org.

The Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation participates in E-Verify. We will provide the Social Security Administration, and if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security, with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. Please note that we do not use this information to pre-screen job applicants.

 

Internship Outline:

The Communications Internship is a program that takes place at the Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation Business Office, 3957 Pender Drive Suite #100, Fairfax, VA 22030 and at the Children's Science Center Lab located at the Fair Oaks Mall, 11948L Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax VA 22033. 

This position will primarily work Monday through Friday between 9:00am-5:00pm. Occasional weekend day may be required to support special events. Scheduling is flexible and will be coordinated with the intern.

The intern will work approximately 25 hours per week.

Start Date: On or around May 4, 2026

End Date: On or around August 19, 2026

INTERVIEWS

Selected applicants will be invited for an in-person interview at the Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation Business Office. 

TO APPLY

This application will remain open until a candidate has been selected. 

Before you begin your application, please have the following items ready:

Resume
Cover Letter 
You will not be able to submit an application without uploading a Resume and Cover Letter. Resume and Cover Letter must be submitted as pdf files. 

The following questions are optional and are used for collection purposes only. They will not be used in the decision making process.