About the Position
The Illinois Environmental Council is looking for a Conservation and Agriculture Intern to support the team in analyzing conservation and agriculture state data to inform IEC’s Legislative Power Analysis and policy agenda for 2026. The intern would also assist the staff with admin during coalition meetings, including note taking and agenda planning. In addition this role would take on projects relating to conservation power building, factory farm research, and assist with legislative tour planning to take decision makers out to farms and conservation properties in-district.
This position will be located in Springfield, IL, and will require in-person collaboration at IEC’s Springfield Office.
About You
We’re looking for a self-motivated individual excited to bring their data analytics experience to educate decision-makers and lawmakers about the conservation and agriculture policies IEC/IECEF are advocating for in 2025. We are looking for someone who is organized, has strong communication skills, and can turn hard data into narrative conversation for community members and decision-makers.
Project/Deliverables
IEC is a trusted environmental voice in Illinois and strong influence in Springfield and the City of Chicago. You will have an opportunity to engage and network with statewide environmental organizations, gather data and develop educational materials on the state of clean and renewable energy developments.
- Analyzing conservation and agriculture state data to inform IEC’s Legislative Power Analysis and policy agenda for 2026
- Assist the staff with administrative tasks during coalition meetings, including note taking and agenda planning
- Conservation Land Trust power Building Project – Design toolkits that help land trust ID and build relationships with the legislators that cover their properties
- Perform research regarding factory farming concerns
- Assist with legislative tour planning to take decision makers out to farms and conservation properties in-district
“Must-have” Qualifications
- Experience working with data analytics tools and software
- Strong time management skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work with diverse groups of people
- Commitment to and knowledge of equity, diversity, inclusion, and allyship work
- Proficiency with Microsoft and Google software
- Self-starter on projects
“Nice-to-have” Qualifications
- Experience with Conservation and Agriculture policies
- You have worked with nonprofits, workforce development organizations, companies, or community organizations before
- You have experience in analyzing hard data and transforming it into detailed narratives
- You have facilitated or organized meetings in prior work
Employee Benefits/Important Requirements
The internship is a part-time in-person position located in Springfield, IL. Candidates must reside in Illinois. Compensation for this position is $16/hr for at least 30 hours of work per week, up to 40 hours.
- Location requirements: In-person
- Compensation: $16 per hour
- Hours per week: Estimated 30 hours per week
How to Apply
Introduce yourself to us as a colleague in your cover letter. Show us your future here! We value great writers, so be yourself and take your time with the application. Stock cover letters won’t do. Tell us why you want this job.
Applications must be received by March 31, 2025.
To apply, please send a cover letter and resume by email to Chad Wallace at chad@ilenviro.org.
Equal Opportunity Employer
IEC/IECEF is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, gender expression or identity, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, marital status, protective order status, veteran status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, genetic information, ancestry, religion, pregnancy, certain arrest or criminal history records, homelessness and use of lawful products outside of work during non-working hours or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.
Equity, Allyship, and Powerbuilding Values
IEC/IECEF is always working to ensure that everyone on our team feels engaged and supported in all areas of the organization’s operations as we work to become a fully inclusive, multicultural, and anti-racist organization. We are only as powerful as the people in our movement and those we serve. Building power for people and our environment in Illinois requires us to actively combat social and political power dynamics that disenfranchise marginalized communities across a broad range of issues beyond those that fall squarely within traditional environmental policy. When marginalized communities are empowered, environmental protections become more possible. Thus we are called to stand in solidarity as allies with those fighting for justice and to strengthen our democratic institutions where power drives policy change.
About IEC
Since 1975, the Illinois Environmental Council has worked to safeguard Illinois—its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends by building power for people and the environment. Representing over 130 environmental organizations, IEC carries out its mission to advance public policies that create healthy environments across Illinois through education, advocacy, and movement building.
IEC advances sound environmental laws and policies at all levels of government by bringing together the Illinois environmental community to influence decision-makers and ensure clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. From lobbying at the State Capitol to building consensus around an annual environmental agenda, IEC takes pride in leading our environmental movement in Illinois. We coordinate our affiliate member organizations to share resources, mobilize supporters, and respond quickly to the most pressing issues facing the environment in Illinois.
IEC also supports environmental activists across the state, building programs to cultivate the next generation of environmental leadership, such as our Young Professionals Board, Community Council, annual environmental scorecards, and other educational programs like our Civics for Environmentalists and Lunch & Learn series.