Community Engagement Intern

This summer, Boston Harbor Now seeks a motivated and energetic intern to assist with recreational programs, community engagement, and special events at Moakley Park, the Boston Harbor Islands National & State Park, and on the Boston Harborwalk, including volunteer cleanups, live concerts, and after-hours events and cruises! Taking direction from the Senior Community Engagement Manager, this intern will help plan and facilitate a series of weekly programming at Moakley Park and Carson Beach,  as well as staff a series of community cruises. The intern will also assist in additional projects and meetings with community partners. This is a hybrid role that focuses mostly on outdoor events but also includes in-person orientation, several days at the BHN office in Charlestown a month, and the potential for a weekly work day at South Boston En Accion.
 

This is a seasonal position from June through September (13 weeks). The position requires a flexible work schedule including weekends and some evenings. The typical work week is Tuesday through Saturday, but will vary. 
 

Responsibilities 

• Working outdoors at Moakley Park, Harborwalk locations like MA DCR’s Carson Beach,  and occasionally on the Islands with a diverse audience of families and community groups visiting the parks
  • Welcoming people
  • Encouraging belonging and place-making
  • Conducting work with professionalism and compassion for everyone encountered
• Helping facilitate and staff Southie Summer Nights and the Community Cruise program.
• Leading games, arts and crafts, and other play activities for children and families
• Supporting partners with in-person outreach 
• Collaborating with the team to help design/test educational programming
• Ability to articulate Boston Harbor Now’s mission and primary partnerships during interactions with vendors, partner staff, and the public
• Other duties in the office and in the park as needed, such as:
  • Supporting the improvement of program or event management tools
  • Supporting programs with a focus on data collection and analysis
  • Supporting partners and providing customer service by connecting via email and phone
  • Assisting in administrative duties as needed

Qualifications and Experience

Below lists the qualifications for this position. All credentials and experience, both formal and informal, will be considered: 

• Ability to work effectively on a team and in highly collaborative environments as well as independently
• Experience and/or demonstrated interest in community engagement, program planning, and/or event outreach
• Experience and willingness to learn Google Suite (including Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Drive, and Calendar) for appointment managing, document sharing, and digital collaboration
• Problem-solving skills and the ability to present possible solutions to team
• Experience with parks, waterfront spaces, and/or outdoor programs
• Experience with environmental justice communities
• Comfortable lifting equipment (up to 30 pounds) and is willing to work outdoors in various weather conditions, including heat and rain

The ideal candidate:

Below lists examples of the preferred skill set of the ideal candidate:

• Enjoys interacting with members of the public 
• Is organized and on time consistently 
• Is good at taking direction and asking follow-up questions
• Is a proactive problem solver and takes initiative to come up with solutions
• Has a demonstrated interest in public parks and/or community programming and events
• Has experience working with children and families and other groups, particularly in an event setting
• Is comfortable making telephone phone calls and talking with vendors, external partners, and community members
• Preferably, speaks Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, or Mandarin
• Believes in the mission of Boston Harbor Now

Research shows that people of color and women are less likely to apply if they don’t believe they meet every qualification listed. At Boston Harbor Now, we recognize that experience can be gained in many ways—lived, professional, volunteer, and others. We encourage BIPOC candidates, people with disabilities, women, and people with non-dominant gender identities to apply.

Benefits and Salary

Hourly, non-exempt employee; $18.50/hour working an average of 30 hours/week for 13 weeks. Sick time and paid holidays (e.g. Fourth of July) included. Paid 30 minute lunch breaks included in shifts 6.5 hours or longer.