Summer 2024 – Digital Content Intern, Communications & External Affairs

Who we are:

The Vera Institute of Justice, founded in 1961, is a nonprofit criminal justice organization that strives to build just government institutions and safe communities free from the scourge of racism, white supremacy, profit, and inequity that is pervasive in this country’s legal systems. We are an “inside” lane organization that drives change at scale with ambitious public sector leaders who share our commitment to building anti-racist, reparative systems that deliver justice. We leverage our access to government to transform these systems and work collaboratively with stakeholders across many movements—including advocacy, grassroots, and grasstop organizations. Our role is to pilot solutions that are transformative and achievable, harness the power of evidence to drive effective policy and practice, and use advocacy and communications to change narratives and norms.

Vera has a staff of 300 people and offices in New York City, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, and New Orleans. We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity in the workplace. We expect our staff to embody respect, independence, collaboration, commitment, anti-racism, and equity—both in our outward-facing work and the internal culture of our workplace. We value a range of experiences in people’s educational backgrounds and encourage people who have been directly impacted by the criminal justice system to apply.

Who you are:

The Communications and External Affairs Department inspires people to take action by sharing stories and evidence-based solutions that center the voices and experiences of people impacted by the criminal legal and immigration systems using editorial, digital, media, creative, and external affairs strategies. The team promotes Vera’s mission, coordinates messaging across all areas of work, and develops campaigns to help shift the narrative and realize Vera’s strategic goals. 

Under the supervision of the Digital Content Editor, the Digital Content intern will support a team of strategists, writers and graphic designers in achieving Vera’s programmatic and communications goals. The intern will have the opportunity to develop their own project throughout their time at Vera and collaborate on ongoing social media projects and initiatives. 

What you'll do:

Independent Project 

• Take ownership of an independent social media project focused on a specific aspect of Vera’s work. This project should demonstrate creativity, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of Vera's mission and audience. Work closely with supervisors to conceptualize, plan, and execute the project from start to finish, including setting goals, developing a timeline, creating content, and measuring impact. Present findings and outcomes to the team and provide recommendations for future initiatives. 

Research 

• Stay informed about current events, trends, and developments in the criminal justice field and on social media and identify opportunities for Vera’s digital team to contribute to the conversation and leverage digital trends to promote Vera's message and engage with our audience.  

Campaign support 

• Assist members of the digital team in the development and execution of social media campaigns to promote Vera's initiatives, events, reports, and advocacy efforts. 

Content creation 

• Participate in monthly pitch in which you pitch digital content ideas aligned with Vera’s mission and goals and collaborate with team members to brainstorm innovative content for social media platforms.

Platform and community management 

• Monitor social media channels, respond to comments, messages, and inquiries. 

Analytics 

• Utilize social media analytics tools to track and analyze key performance metrics, including engagement rates, and clickthrough rate. 

What qualifications are we looking for?

Preferred: 

Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program in a communications, human rights advocacy, or government focused program OR a demonstrated interest in digital content creation, new reporting, or blogging AND a proven commitment to advancing systemic change to criminal legal and immigration systems 

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you'll bring: 

• Passion for social justice and a commitment to Vera's mission.  
• A deep knowledge of and passion for social media. You know what people are talking about, where they’re talking about it, and how Vera can add our voice to the conversation.  
• Familiarity with major social media platforms and trends, as well as best practices for content creation, community management, and audience engagement.  
• Creative thinking and problem-solving abilities, with a willingness to experiment and try new approaches. 
• Exceptional digital communications skills. You have the ability to distill complex topics into accessible, concise, and persuasive copy. 
• Microsoft Office Suite  

Location:

Please note this role will report to our Brooklyn office. Vera interns and employees adhere to a hybrid schedule and are in-office on an alternating schedule. Full-time positions generally amount to 10 days per month. Part-time positions generally amount to 5 days per month.

Schedule:

The intern should be available to work up to 35 hours per week during the summer. The dates will be between June 3rd and August 9th, with some flexibility to accommodate personal and academic schedules.

Compensation:

The compensation range for internships is $16.00 - $25.00 per hour. Actual compensation will vary depending on factors including but not limited to experience and performance. Applicants may choose to receive academic credit. For those who need to earn academic credit, Vera will gladly assist in working with the school or program to make arrangements and meet requirements.

How to apply:

Please submit cover letter and resume. In your cover letter, please explain why you are passionate about criminal justice reform and what you hope to gain from this internship.

Applications may also be faxed to:

ATTN: People Resources / Summer 2024 – Digital Content Intern, Communications & External Affairs
Vera Institute of Justice
34 35th St, Suite 4-2A, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Fax: (212) 941-9407
Please use only one method (online, mail or fax) of submission.
No phone calls, please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

In order to ensure a healthy and safe work environment, Vera Institute of Justice is requiring all employees to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccine before their start date. Employees who cannot receive the vaccine because of a disability/medical contraindication or sincerely-held religious belief may request an accommodation (e.g., an exemption) to this requirement.

Vera is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status. 

Vera works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission. 

For more information about Vera, please visit www.vera.org