Conservation Intern - London

Marine & Freshwater Conservation Intern - #OneLess

The Zoological Society of London (ZSL), a charity founded in 1826, is a world-renowned centre of excellence for conservation science and applied conservation. ZSL’s mission is to promote and achieve the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats. This is realised by carrying out field conservation and research in over 50 countries across the globe and through education and awareness-raising at our two zoos, ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, inspiring people to take conservation action.

Role Profile

The Zoological Society of London is seeking an intern to join the Marine and Freshwater Conservation Team based at ZSL London Zoo, to provide support to the #OneLess project. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work within an exciting, multi-NGO collaborative campaign, focusing on the issue of marine plastic pollution.

This four-month long internship will include compilation and analysis of different datasets to monitorand evaluate the impacts of the #OneLess campaign across London, as well as compiling case studies of #OneLess supporters. A key component of the role will be working with multiple partners and stakeholders and supporting communications relating to the campaign.

Candidates should be self-motivated and possess skills in data management and analyses, as well as excellent communication skills, as they will be tasked with writing reports and translating findings into varied outputs. Knowledge of marine plastic pollution and its environmental impacts is desirable. There may be opportunity to carry out Thames-based field-work within this internship; a willingness to carry out river shore and boat-based sampling is therefore necessary.

Additional tasks include; working with ZSL’s ‘Lose Your Bottle’ team to evaluate ZSL’s plastic footprint, research and information dissemination on topical issues, assisting with the digital communications of the #OneLess campaign, and providing general support to the #OneLess project team.

The successful candidate will gain unique experience interning within a globally respected conservation organisation as part of a major collaborative project, working with multiple NGOs and cross-sectoral external stakeholders.

The internship will be four months long, ideally starting 25 October 2017. The role is part time (four days per week) and is based at ZSL’s Conservation Programmes department in Regent’s Park. 

Main Duties and Responsibilities

 In this role, the successful candidate will benefit from:

• Experience of working on an exciting, innovative and collaborative marine conservation campaign
• Experience in data analysis, report writing and communication material development. Some clear report outputs will be produced during the period of the internship
• Experience interacting with a range of stakeholders working in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the marine plastic pollution field, including other NGOs, academic institutions, Thames conservation stakeholders and London businesses
• Training and support from the Marine and Freshwater Conservation team
• Interaction with staff across ZSL, particularly from the Conservation Programmes department, with opportunities to engage more widely with members of the local conservation community
• Regular opportunities to attend scientific talks by professional researchers and practitioners in science and conservation
• Access to ZSL facilities including the Library and both zoo sites (ZSL London and ZSL Whipsnade) for the duration of the internship

Person Specification

• A university background in marine biology/conservation sciences (or equivalent)
• Strong attention to detail
• Good knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research methods
• Experience in data management
• Strong analytical skills
• Excellent written communication skills
• Strong IT skills
• Experience in using GIS software is desirable
• Self-motivated, and particularly good at problem solving
• Knowledge of and interest in marine conservation issues