BR-2513 Sustainable Blue Finance Graduate Intern

Overview

WWF Overview  

For 60 years, WWF has worked to help people and nature thrive. As one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, WWF works in more than 100 countries, connecting cutting-edge conservation science with the collective power of our partners in the field – with one million members in the United States and five million supporters globally, as well as partnerships with communities, companies, and governments.    

At WWF, we are working to create an organization where the richness of all our unique views, experiences, and backgrounds combine to create the most sustainable and inclusive conservation outcomes possible, bringing the greatest benefit to the planet and every person who lives on it. 

Across the many cultures and individuals that represent WWF, we are unified by one mission, one brand, and one common set of values: Courage, Respect, Integrity and Collaboration. 

BRIDGE is WWF’s summer internship program. Launched in 2021, it is a paid internship opportunity aimed at a pool of talented undergraduate and graduate students who could bring fresh thinking and innovation to the environmental sector. In particular, WWF aims to employ interns who have not previously had a breadth of professional experience and have not previously considered conservation as a career pathway. 

Position Summary 

This position will help WWF research and further build the business case for sustainable and resilient business models in the shipping, offshore wind (OSW) and/or coastal tourism sectors and the transformational power of finance in enabling this transition. This work will include analyses of the extent to which key blue economy actors are implementing effective environmental and social risk management (ESRM) practices, and the quality of the current landscape of blue-labeled financial products (blue bonds, sustainability linked loans, etc.) that can incentivize corporate activities that contribute to the nature positive global societal goal. 

Among other things, the BRIDGE intern will support the WWF-US Oceans Blue Finance team to synthesize existing data and analyses on blue economy financial flows globally and, where possible, in priority ocean regions. Through this research, the BRIDGE intern will explore a target list of priority financial institutions (FIs) and create in-depth profiles of these FIs, including analysis of relevant blue economy sector policies, to help inform strategic engagement. The BRIDGE intern will also support WWF to update an existing global inventory of blue finance products (blue bonds, sustainability linked loans, debt for nature swaps, etc.) of relevance to these sectors, and identify real world examples of best practice to further inform strategic engagement. 

This internship is intended for graduate level students. Preference will be given to applicants focusing their studies, or with demonstrated experience and/or interest in sustainable finance, economics, environmental/ocean conservation & management, or related fields. 

Responsibilities

Internship Description:  

• Research: Conduct desk research (with potential for interviews with key stakeholders) on the business case for sustainable blue finance in the shipping, OSW sector and/or coastal tourism. 

• Policy analysis: Review of sustainability frameworks, ESRM policy statements, and other publicly available documents for a pre-selected target group of FIs involved in shipping, OSW, and/or coastal tourism sectors, to identify trends and opportunities for enhancement of existing FI frameworks and policies (leveraging, for example, extant guidance and recommendations from UNEP FIs Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Initiative (SBEFI) and WWF’s Nature Positive Oceans Framework currently in development.) 

• Financial product analysis: Market research to support an update to an existing global inventory of blue finance products (blue bonds, sustainability linked loans, debt for nature swaps, etc.) relevant to shipping and OSW, and analysis of current market best practice, and key enabling factors to support/incentivize greater blue product uptake (e.g. regulatory, market, other drivers) 

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:  

• Pursuing a graduate program in Economics, International/Sustainable Development, Environmental Policy, MBA, Marine Science. Those studying outside these areas are still highly encouraged to apply. Must be an actively enrolled student and not received degree at time of internship start date (June 16, 2025). 

• Research experience, and ideally some familiarity with corporate sustainability policies and/or reporting. 

• Some academic experience related to environmental sustainability, corporate sustainability, finance, or some combination of these. 

• An interest in working in a cross-disciplinary environment, and the ability (or interest in learning how) to translate complex ideas across diverse audiences (e.g. scientists, corporates, financial institutions, etc.) 

• Identifies and aligns with WWF’s core values: Courage, Integrity, Respect, and Collaboration.  

• Demonstrates courage by speaking up even when it is difficult, or unpopular.  

• Builds trust with colleagues by acting with integrity, owning mistakes, and holding oneself accountable.  

• Welcomes other points of view and ideas, recognizing and embracing different and contrary perspectives with kindness, curiosity, and encouragement.  

• Makes conscious efforts to promote cooperative practices, behaviors, and ways of working across many groups and individuals.  

Preferred Qualifications:  

• Subject expertise in one or more of the following areas is preferred, but not required:  

• Any professional experience (e.g. prior internships or other positions) working in the conservation, finance, shipping or offshore wind fields 

• Familiarity with or interest in regional blue economy activities in the WWF-US Oceans Priority Seascapes. These include: The US Arctic, the Southwest Indian Ocean, the Eastern Pacific, and the Western Pacific. 

Learning Outcomes 

• Research and analysis experience: Especially related to sustainable finance, environmental and social risk management and associated policies, the blue economy, innovative sustainable finance products. 

• Cross-disciplinary communication and presentation experience: Through this work, the BRIDGE intern will have the opportunity to communicate complex ideas across different audiences through WWF internal meeting and presentation opportunities (e.g. through PPT presentations, mini report development, etc.) 

• Exposure to the breadth of the WWF US Oceans work: While this internship is focused on supporting the WWF Blue Finance team, in so doing the BRIDGE intern will gain exposure to a variety of other teams at WWF including (but not limited to): Ocean Markets, Ocean Futures, Area Based Conservation (ABC), Ocean Communications, Private Sector Engagement, Markets and Food. Additionally, the BRIDGE intern may have additional opportunities to engage with external WWF partners – from UNEP FI to Planet Tracker to the FAIRR Initiative – which can enhance their understanding of the conservation NGO landscape. 

WWF interns will be offered a set of professional development opportunities, aimed at increasing their exposure to conservation and sustainability careers. This includes: 

• Development discussions with their manager; 

• Up to two online courses through Cornell University’s eCornell program; 

• Speed mentoring with different WWF teams; 

• Opportunity to present their work to intern peers and WWF staff; 

• Session on resume and interviewing best practices. 

Interns will also have access to an array of networking opportunities. This includes meetings with WWF’s staff and leadership team. 

Location: 

This position is flexible on location. The intern may complete the internship either in Washington DC or other states, with the exception of: Hawaii, Kentucky, Nevada, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Wyoming.  

Compensation: 

Paid - $22.50 per hour (full-time, 35 hours per week) 

Internship Dates: 

Internship will run from June 16, 2025 to August 22, 2025 

How to Apply: 

Please submit a resume & cover letter through our Careers page. In your cover letter, please describe: 

• Your relevant skills and interest for this position 

• Your connection to nature and the environment  

• What obstacles have you experienced trying to break into the field of environmental conservation? 

• How you could contribute to the field of conservation. 

If selected for the role, you will need to provide 1 letter of recommendation as part of the WWF application process.  

Please note: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship.  In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.