Social Media/Public Relations Internship

LEAFLIGHT http:www.leaflight.org/is a ten year old educational and scientific, charitable and religious 501 (c) 3 North Carolina non‑profit corporation whose mission emblazons principles and practices for sustainable development by bringing forth environmental responsibility, social justice, economic development, and ethics. The Leaflight's services include research, education, planning and policy for local, regional, state and federal agencies, non‑profits, businesses, and citizens. Since inception its major efforts and focus has been sustainable development and community food systems. Across the region we are enhancing the local/regional food system through systematic and programmatic community food security projects. Community food security is "a condition in which all community residents obtain a safe, culturally acceptable, nutritionally adequate diet through a sustainable food system that maximizes community self-reliance and social justice."

Our flagship program is N.C. 21st Century Farmers' Markets. LEAFLIGHT is the largest non-profit solely serving North Carolina's farmers' markets.

We're currently seeking a Social Media/Public Relations Intern at our Chapel Hill headquarters. If you live in Raleigh, Durham or Chapel Hill, or greater triangle area, this position is convenient for travel.

"The Social Media/Public Relations Internship is a high profile three month volunteer position. The position requires leadership experience in community outreach and media communications. Successful candidates are organized self-starters, have excellent oral and written communications skills, and are passionately committed to building sustainable and just food systems.

Intern responsibilities include:

• Keeping the website up-to-date with content about current projects, and status updates on agency developments, and successes
• Communicating exciting social media news about markets participating in the 21^st Century Farmers' Markets program
• Putting together monthly newsletters for FNS program recipients, FMNPIP counties, market customers, and 21^st Century Farmers' Markets program supporters
• Advertising our program through social media outlets as well as email listservs, news feeds
• Monitoring and improving the functionality of social media accounts that are already in existence, including the creation of internal documents regarding social media efforts as well as introducing our name to new or not previously utilized outlets
• Performing techniques to optimize the existing content of the site and producing original optimized content for article warehouse sites or blogs
• Posting blogs and articles, updating information on profile, monitoring and responding to various posts on different forums, researching on the content that is to be published and creating new content as well
• Monitoring and responding (if necessary) to comments and suggestions from the public
  • Development of marketing and social media communications plan for N.C. 21^st Century Farmers' Markets Ambassadors Program (linking university students with farmers' markets in their home towns and counties)
  • Executive Office Representation to Ad Hoc Committee projects.
    • Community & Volunteer Outreach Committee
    • Innovations & Technology Committee
    • Economics, Finance, & Accounting Committee
    • Fundraising Committee
    • Other duties deemed necessary for successful community and media relations

Desired skills and qualifications:

• A passion for supporting local, healthy food systems and social justice for rights to local and healthy foods
• A team player who is able to take instruction from upper management and staff, while working independently with other interns and volunteers.
• A self-starter who can takes initiative with little to no direction
• A resourceful specialist with excellent time management
• A quick learner with ability to thrive in a fast-paced, flexible environment
• Strong communication and organizational skills and the ability to foster lasting community relationships
• Strong skills with Microsoft Office (including Outlook, Business Contact Manager, Word and PowerPoint)
• Proficiency in handling online network and publishing sites and tools like LinkedIn, Facebook, Word Press, YouTube, My Space, Twitter, Google+, etc.
• Experience writing professional newsletters and blogs
• Website design skills

The internship is ideal for junior professionals with bachelors and students seeking masters or PhDs whose background or experience, degree and majors include Agriculture & Earthcare; Environmental Studies & Science; Public Health and Nutrition: Social Work; Mass Communication & Journalism; Business Communications, English, Marketing, Advertising, Graphic Design, and/or related areas.

THE LEAFLIGHT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

WOMEN AND MINORITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY