Research Associate Intern

Job Overview

Fall 2025 Green Finance Intern, New York

Research Associate Intern, NRDC New York Office – Remote Position

Join the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) as a Green Finance Intern for Fall 2025! This remote internship offers a fantastic opportunity to contribute to vital environmental advocacy. While primarily associated with our New York office, we also consider applicants in the Washington, D.C. area for an alternate office location.

NRDC, established in 1970, is a leading non-profit environmental advocacy organization. We leverage law, science, and the robust support of 3.1 million members and online activists. Our mission is to protect the planet’s wildlife and wild places. Furthermore, we actively work to ensure all people’s right to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. Our team of over 700 dedicated lawyers, scientists, economists, policy advocates, and communications experts operates across the United States and globally. Offices are in Beijing; Bozeman, Montana; Chicago; New Delhi; New York; San Francisco; Santa Monica; and Washington, D.C. Notably, our people helped write America’s foundational environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act.

NRDC specifically seeks a research associate. This role will involve collaboration with the Green Finance and Economic Development team, connected to our New York office.

Position Summary: Advancing Green Finance and Economic Development

The Research Associate Intern will play an important role in helping to write a key policy document. Additionally, you’ll organize a convening of NRDC staff to gather crucial feedback on content and recommendations. This intern will work closely with the Senior Director of Economic Development and other staff members within the Green Finance and Economic Development Department. Their efforts will support the development and delivery of both the policy document and the convening. Ultimately, these work products will significantly influence NRDC’s strategic positioning in the emerging field that uniquely blends economic development, workforce development, and environment/climate action – areas central to a Green Finance Intern.

Remote research Associate Intern

Key Responsibilities for this Green Finance Internship

As a Green Finance Intern for Fall 2025, your responsibilities will include:

Conducting comprehensive literature searches of research, policies, and programs. These intersect with community economic development, workforce development, and environment/climate action, all part of green finance.
Participating in interviews with policy experts working at this intersection. Here, you’ll document, analyze, and clearly describe emergent themes.
Drafting various meeting collaterals. This includes concise summaries, engaging PowerPoint Decks, and professional communications with attendees, both before and after these events.

Qualifications for a Green Finance Intern

To succeed in this Research Associate Intern role, candidates should demonstrate:

A strong commitment to NRDC’s mission and values.
Relevant social science coursework in urban studies, international development, sociology, anthropology, or adjacent disciplines.
Demonstrated competence in diligently searching for research, including policies and policy evaluations.
Excellent expository writing skills are essential.
Furthermore, fluency with PowerPoint and Microsoft Word is required. You must also be proficient in managing shared document platforms such as Google Documents and Google Slides.
Reliability, effective oral communication, and strong problem-solving skills are additionally highly important for any Green Finance Intern.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience carrying out social research, particularly possessing strong qualitative skills, is a plus.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at NRDC

NRDC deeply commits to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion. This applies both to our critical work and our vibrant workplace. We firmly believe that celebrating and actively welcoming diverse voices and perspectives is absolutely essential to solving the planet’s most pressing environmental problems. Therefore, we strongly encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the environmental movement.

We operate as an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or employment based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment.

Please note: The incumbent will not qualify as an employee, fellow, volunteer, or independent contractor of NRDC. Furthermore, we do not guarantee employment at the end of the internship term.

Our offices are currently open, operating in a hybrid model. We offer NRDCers flexibility, encouraging them to come into the office and spend meaningful time there collaborating with colleagues. We refer to this approach as purposeful presence.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for this Green Finance Role

Is this a paid internship? The job posting doesn’t specify if this is a paid internship. For clarification, please inquire directly with NRDC during the application process.
Is this internship truly remote? Yes, this is designated as a remote position. However, it’s associated with the New York office, and we also consider applicants in the Washington, D.C. area as an alternate office location for this Green Finance Intern role.
What will be the main focus of my work as an intern? You will primarily assist with research and the development of a policy document. This document focuses on the intersection of economic development, workforce development, and environmental/climate action, all areas vital to green finance. You will also help organize staff feedback sessions.
What is the duration of the internship? This internship is for the Fall 2025 term. Specific start and end dates will likely be discussed during the interview process.
Will this internship lead to full-time employment? No, the posting explicitly states that we do not guarantee employment at the end of the internship term.

To Apply

To apply, please visit www.nrdc.org/careers. Upload your résumé and cover letter there. Kindly mention where you saw this posting. Also, upload any additional materials showcasing your abilities. Due to the high volume of applications, we only contact candidates we wish to interview. Please, no phone calls, emails, or in-person résumé drop-offs.

If you experience technical problems applying, or if you are a person with a disability and need assistance applying online, please reach out to iCIMS Customer Care at 1-800-889-4422.

For more information about NRDC, please visit www.nrdc.org or apply here: https://unjobs.org/vacancies/1750894264526 or apply here: https://unjobs.org/vacancies/1750894264526