Environmental Advocacy Fellowship

The Virginia Conservation Network (VCN) is an environmental non-profit organization working statewide to advance climate action, restore the health of our rivers and streams, increase access to parks and trails, ensure environmental justice for all, and more. Guided by its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice Commitment, VCN is actively implementing key initiatives to foster a movement that is both just and inclusive.

Starting in the summer of 2022, the Environmental Advocacy Fellowship was established to develop a pipeline for a more racially diverse group of environmentalists to join our conservation movement. It also serves as an opportunity for individuals aspiring to launch their careers in the environmental sector, particularly those who may not have had the means to pursue an unpaid internship.

The application process starts in January and closes in March, with offers sent out in April. The Fellowship runs from June to August.

VCN offers a comprehensive list of compensation & benefits for our Fellows, such as:

• Short-term, hourly position paid at $15 an hour
• Paid time off and sick days
• Use of a VCN-provided work laptop, if needed
• Opportunity to work from VCN’s office in downtown Richmond or remotely from other parts of the state
• Travel reimbursements for work-related events throughout the state based on VCN’s standard travel reimbursement policy

We encourage you to apply if you:

• show commitment to advancing climate and environmental justice policy
• express interest in outreach within the environmental and conservation sphere
• seek professional and networking support from Virginia’s environmental leaders
• aim to launch a career in the environmental movement with a passion for inclusivity and justice

Additionally, we acknowledge that those in the environmental community all bring a variety of knowledge and backgrounds to their work. As a result, we also encourage those who have a background not directly related to the environment, to apply for the fellowship. As long as you have a desire to work in the environmental field, we would love to receive your application!

Fellows must commit 10 weeks during the months of June-August. The fellowship is 40 per week, hours are standard office hours (9am – 5pm) with some limited flexibility to match schedules. Fellows must be based in Virginia during the summer and have access to high speed wireless internet and a quiet place to work. Fellows based in or near Richmond are welcome to work from VCN’s office in person. Fellows not based in Richmond must have the flexibility to travel to VCN’s main office in Richmond at least once during the summer (with travel costs covered).

For any questions about the fellowship or application process, you can email fellowship@vcnva.org.

The Environmental Advocacy Fellowship aims to build up the next generation of environmental leaders with focus on increasing the racial diversity of experienced candidates looking to break into the non-profit environmental field. We highly encourage current students and recent graduates of color to apply.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of Virginia Conservation Network to consider all candidates equally without regard to age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or other non-merit factors.