Marketing and Communication

Position Description

The communications and marketing intern plays a vital role in promoting Cornell Botanic Gardens’ events and expertise, and raising awareness of its brand and strategic objectives during the busy summer season. The intern works closely with professional communications, interpretation, and education staff to plan and implement projects to advance communications objectives.

He/she also works independently to execute numerous critical tasks. The intern will gain skills and expertise in the broad areas of:
•    Event promotion
•    Social media strategy and execution
•    News and blog writing
•    Video concept development, taping, and editing
•    Tourism marketing
•    Content strategy and execution
•    Media relations

Critical tasks include:

•    Identifying and scheduling mission-aligned and owned content on social media platforms
•    Uploading events on four online community calendars
•    Writing assigned articles, blurbs, and blog posts
•    Planning and executing short video projects
•    Information gathering/research
•    Develop mid- and longer-term social media calendar
•    Other projects, as assigned

The intern will end the summer with one or more portfolio items to support individual career objectives. In the past, these have included:

•    By-lined news stories in the Cornell Chronicle
•    By-lined blog stories in PeriodiCALS (alumni magazine of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences)
•    By-lined articles for Cornell Botanic Gardens’ newsletter/website
•    Short videos highlighting Cornell Botanic Gardens’ staff expertise, physical spaces, and mission

Requirements:

•    Able to work independently to complete tasks and projects
•    Possess solid writing skills
•    Willing to learn new skills and approaches
•    Comfortable in reaching out to partner and campus organizations, via e-mail, phone, and in-person
•    Able to commit to the full summer-long internship period
•    Able to work full-time, 8 hours/day for 5 days/week
•    Currently enrolled or accepted Cornell University student

Preferred skills:

•    Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
•    Experience with social media platforms
•    Basic understanding of video editing using iMovie

Work Environment

Primarily office based work in the Lewis Education Center of Cornell Botanic Gardens Each Monday interns will participate in Learning Mondays, a series of workshops that may include field trips or educational activities about the diverse work of a public garden. All interns will do weekly documentation of learning and skill development, Capturing Your Experience. This portfolio or field record will be shared with all staff on the last official day of the internship, Farewell Friday.

This is a full-time, 39/hour per week, 12 week internship.  Typical schedule is M-F 8am - 430 pm. Might be asked to work the Saturday of Reunion Weekend.