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 Communications Manager.

General 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:

• Be 18 years or older;
• Pursuing a 2 or 4 year degree in Marketing, Communications, Advertising, or similar;
• Available for a 12 week internship program

Disclaimer: By submitting an application you are verifiying you meet the eligible requirements of this internship program. Failure to meet these requirements can result in your application being voided.

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;
• Successfully complete a criminal background check upon selection.

Physical Demands of Job:

These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee 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 Internship 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 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.

This internship is unpaid. Contact hours can be used to meet volunteer hour requirements for school and/or extracurricular involvement. 

This internship accepts applications on a rolling basis. Applicants will be considered for the upcoming cycle.

Mandatory Orientation:

The Communications Intern must attend an in-person orientation session at the lab or the business office. The selected candidate will be contacted to schedule an orientation at their convenience before the start of the internship program.

Internship Outline:

The Communications Internship requires a minimum of 12-weeks that can be extended based off availability. The internship program 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. 

Intern will be required to work a minimum of 10 hours per week. Scheduling is flexible and will be based on experience and availability.

To Apply:

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Applicants will be considered for the upcoming internship cycle. The internships cycles are:

• January - April
• May - August
• September - December

Applications must be submitted at least 2 weeks prior to the start of the internship cycle. Applications submitted within 2 weeks will be considered for the following internship cycle. Internship start date and end date vary and will be determined with the selected applicant. 

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.