Job Application

Beach Programs Intern | Digital Community Organizer Fall 25’

Internship Overview:
Heal the Bay’s Beach Programs team is recruiting a Digital Community Intern with an interest in marine science education and environmental outreach. Specifically, they will support the growth and engagement of Heal the Bay’s Beach Collective Discord server, helping it evolve into a vibrant and inclusive online community for volunteers, beach advocates, and community members. In addition to digital engagement, the intern will support general Beach Programs operations, including staffing marine debris cleanups and data entry.

The Beach Programs Intern will gain experience in online community building, program coordination,and non-profit work with a reputable NGO that has been established for over 35 years. Heal the Bay staff are experts in their fields and have strong partnerships with multiple local agencies, non-profits, and aquariums throughout Los Angeles County and nationwide. As Los Angeles’s leading
ocean conservation nonprofit, Heal the Bay strives to educate the public on the impacts of plastic pollution, mitigate the effects of climate change stressors on the Los Angeles environment, and promote equity and environmental justice in all environmental spaces.

Expected Working Environment:
The Digital Community Intern will work under the supervision of our Beach Programs Manager and is expected to work approximately 10-20 hours per week. Although this is a hybrid role, the intern is expected to work a minimum of 4 hours a week in the main office in Santa Monica and attend numerous in-person volunteer events at various coastal locations in Los Angeles County on select weekends.

The intern is expected to start the week of September 15 and must have access to a computer and internet to complete remote work, as well as reliable transportation for in-office and field work. Some evening and weekend work will be required. The intern’s expected end date is flexible within the month of December, with the possibility of extending the internship into Spring, depending on performance throughout the Fall.

Physical Requirements:
This internship will, at times, require spending 2-3 hours outside and a willingness to work in variable weather conditions, with potential exposure to heat, wind, and inclement weather while on the beach.

Primary Responsibilities:
• Create and schedule interactive posts, community prompts, and digital engagement activities
• Monitor and moderate Discord activity to foster a lively, mission-aligned environment
• Develop a plan to substantially grow the Discord community
• Cold outreach to influencers and networks to promote Discord
• Share updates about Heal the Bay events, programs, and volunteer opportunities
• Support the creation of digital appreciation shoutouts, polls, and conversation starters
• Assist with Discord onboarding for new members and gather user feedback
• Assist the Beach Programs team with ongoing operations (e.g., staffing cleanups, data entry, volunteer programming coordination, and execution)
• Attend Heal the Bay volunteer program events as a representative of Heal the Bay
• Develop an independent project, present a summary of your work, results, and impact at the Intern Symposium at the end of the internship.

Qualifications:
• Recently graduated or currently enrolled in a higher education program at a college or university in a degree program of Environmental Science/Studies, Sociology, Communications, Marketing, Psychology, Digital Media, Public Relations, or a related field.
OR
A strong, dedicated interest in working in the environmental non-profit field.
• Articulate and creative verbal and written communication skills.
• Familiarity with online community platforms
• Well organized and detail-oriented; ability to complete tasks promptly and completely
• Flexible and willing to adapt as necessary to shifting work environments
• Ability to respectfully communicate with volunteers of all ages, ethnicities, exceptionalities, gender identities, religions, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Discord; Proficiency in Trello, Salesforce, and/or Canva is a plus.
• Ability to pass a Live Scan background check if 18 years and older

Compensation:
This is an unpaid internship; however, please contact your college or university to inquire about potential opportunities for college credit or scholarships. This internship is designed to support professional growth, offering the intern opportunities to network with renowned environmental professionals and develop valuable skills in outreach and digital community building. The culmination of this internship will be the presentation of a personal project to Heal the Bay staff and related stakeholders. At the end of the internship, interns will be able to request a letter of recommendation.

How to Apply:
Submit a cover letter and resume to Tayler Locke, Beach Programs Manager, at tlocke@healthebay.org by Sunday, August 31st, 2025 for your application to be considered.
Please use the phrase “BP Digital Community Internship 25” in the email subject line.