About the Position
The Illinois Environmental Council works to ensure a healthful environment for all Illinoisans through education, communication, and collaboration. IEC is looking for a Lobby Day Intern to support IEC’s lobby day planning, particularly for the POWER Act Lobby Day on Saturday, May 30. This role will mainly focus on reviewing registration data, drafting correspondence to registrants, responding to participant inquiries, and supporting day-of logistics. The intern will also provide administrative support to other staff involved in Lobby Day planning as needed.
This is a unique opportunity to see firsthand how IEC uses collective action and lobbying to advance environmental policies.
This is a part-time position, and candidates must reside within Illinois. Candidates who can report in-person to the Chicago or Springfield office for the duration of their internship are preferred, but remote candidates within Illinois will be considered. However, it is essential that candidates are available to be in Springfield from at least May 28 to May 30 to prepare for and attend POWER Act Lobby Day. This position will last approximately 8 weeks or until Lobby Day’s completion.
Responsibilities
- Ensure POWER Act Lobby Day registrant data integrity, track Lobby Team meetings with legislators, support participant transportation management
- Support the administrative functions of Lobby Day preparations, including drafting correspondence to registrants and acting as one of the points of contact with event participants
- Support note-taking for internal and external partner coordination meetings for Lobby Day.
- Oversee the creation of informational packets for dissemination to Lobby Teams on Lobby Day
- Support development, ordering, and maintenance of event supplies and materials
- Support in-person preparations for POWER Act Lobby Day on May 28 and May 29
- Support the day-of execution of POWER Act Lobby Day on May 30
- Join IEC staff and partners in meetings and events with legislators and other key stakeholders
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications
- Educational or work experience related to environmental issues and/or general public policy.
- Event planning experience is a plus!
- Excellent communication skills.
- Strong time management skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work with diverse groups and people.
- Commitment to and knowledge of equity, diversity, inclusion, and allyship work.
- Proficiency using both the Microsoft and Google software suites
- Highly organized.
- Ability to coordinate multiple tasks and work independently.
- Knowledge of sustainable office practices, such as plastic reduction and recycling.
- Interest in environmental issues and policies.
Physical Requirements — Have the ability to:
- Operate a computer.
- Work at a desk for extended periods.
- Ability to participate in meetings, events, or activities, including outdoor settings, that may extend over long periods
- Communicate and exchange information.
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 Our Pay and Benefits
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 10-20 hours of work per week, for 8 weeks.
- Location requirements: In-person
- Compensation: $16 per hour
Hours per week: Estimated 10-20 hours per week - Duration: 8 Weeks
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.
IEC/IECEF is an equal-opportunity employer.
Applications must be received by March 16, 2026.
To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to:
Hannah Dembosky, Operations & Events Associate, hdembosky@ilenviro.org
About IEC
Since 1975, the Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) and Illinois Environmental Council Education Fund (IECEF) have 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 and over 600 individuals in the state, IEC carries out its mission to advance equitable public policies that ensure a healthy environment across Illinois through collaboration, building power, and advocacy.
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 and resources 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.