Internship - Workshop

The Workshop Interns will assist in coordinating a wide range of sustainable living and renewable energy workshop priorities, including curriculum preparation and revisions, workshop hosting and coordination, instructor support, support for hands-on activities, and promotion.

• preparing equipment and materials
• creating and distributing promotional materials
• web postings and radio announcements
• direct mailings and email blasts
• helping to write press releases
• social media networking to promote courses
• keeping website current with course offerings
• workshop setup, hospitality and cleanup
• training and overseeing volunteer hosts
• entering evaluations and sending summary to staff and instructors
• administrative/ office support (data and file management, photocopying, etc)
• customer service (answering phones, responding to inquiries, directing students to appropriate workshops, and helping to answer queries and resolve problems)
• attend various weekly meetings

These interns, depending on skills, could also help with garden management, natural building projects, animal (chickens and bees) care, and other systems related to sustainable living and renewable energy workshops.

BENEFITS

Through hosting workshops and SLI events, these interns will have access to many educational training opportunities as well as to helpful contacts within the sustainable community and renewable energy industry. Depending on their skills and interests, successful interns will be prepared for the renewable energy job market as system installers and/or designers and will develop skills within the logistical and hands-on implementation of educational experiences centered on sustainable living. Interns will also acquire additional skills in marketing, event planning and program management.

QUALIFICATIONS

We are seeking dynamic, organized and enthusiastic persons with a combination of administrative and customer service skills with practical knowledge about gardening, animal care, natural building, and permaculture. These interns are expected to maintain high standards, take ownership and pride in responsibilities and respectfully represent the Solar Living Institute in manner and appearance at all times. These interns will be highly depended upon and should come in with focused career goals. Some event planning and/or volunteer coordination experience is beneficial. Multitasking and detail management is a large part of the responsibilities. These interns are critical to the quality and overall success of SLI workshops. Therefore, the workshop interns must be self-motivated, thorough and professional with little supervision. Applicants should be flexible, energetic, comfortable sitting at a computer for long periods of time as well as in front of various groups of people. They would be able to manage a broad diversity of challenges simultaneously. A good sense of humor, positive and enthusiastic attitude, and willingness to learn are essential attributes of prospective interns. These interns need to be in good physical condition, able to lift 50 pounds consistently, have their own cell phone and dependable vehicle (car or truck), and be comfortable working outdoors in hot or cold weather. While training will be provided in all areas as necessary, prerequisite/preferred qualifications include:

• Event planning and volunteer coordination experience
• Knowledge of, and experience in, computer internet systems and programs – including online registration and tracking systems, Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook etc.
• Knowledge of, and experience in social media and search engine optimization
• Knowledge in basic gardening, natural building, permaculture, and animal care
• Marketing and direct promotion experience
• Graphic design experience
• Customer service and administrative experience
• Time management and organizational skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work with changing priorities as needed
• Ability to be self-motivated and follow through on projects with little supervision
• A passion for gardening, natural building, permaculture, animal care, and natural building systems.
• Ability to have fun and remain flexible while maintaining organization and attention to detail.

We look for adventurous people who can balance work and play, are very flexible and have positive attitudes about life and work, and can enjoy life in a rustic setting.