Communications Intern, Guest Services Department

EMPLOYMENT LENGTH 12-week Internship (may be extended)

The Metro Richmond Zoo’s mission is to promote animal conservation and inspire guests by providing up-close, educational encounters with the wild. The zoo is situated on 150 acres of land and is home to over 2,000 animals representing 190 species from around the world. The zoo is accredited by the Zoological Association of America and is well-known for its conservation programs for cheetahs, African penguins, and Diana monkeys

The communications intern assists the communications manager in advancing the zoo’s marketing and public relations efforts. This internship offers hands‑on experience in social media management, content creation, graphic design, media relations, and digital storytelling within a fast‑paced, animal‑focused environment. The ideal candidate is a creative and motivated individual with experience in social media content creation, including photography and video editing.

This is a paid internship for a semester. Start and end dates are flexible. Hours per week are flexible. Interns must be able to commit at least 10 hours per week. The zoo can offer up to 40 hours a week for candidates seeking more experience. Applicants with different levels of availability are encouraged to apply. The internship will last a minimum of 12 weeks and can be extended based on performance and availability.

This internship may be used to fulfil academic credit depending on school program requirements. This is NOT a remote position.

• Assist in creating content for social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok, You Tube, X)
• Write engaging captions
• Help photograph and film animals and zoo activities
• Monitor online engagement and trends to help guide content strategy
• Design print ads, digital ads, and zoo signage
• Other communications or administrative tasks as assigned
• Assist the zoo’s guest services team if needed

Interns must have the ability to:

• Lift 40lbs
• Walk and stand and bend over for long periods of time
• Perform duties for multiple hours a day
• Have a full range of motion in the back and all extremities
• Work outside in all weather

• At least 18 years old with a valid driver’s license
• Currently pursuing or recently completed a degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism, or a related field (preferred)
• Strong writing and editing skills with attention to detail
• Experience with social media platforms and content creation tools
• Experience with photography, videography, or graphic design
• Proficiency in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere, and Rush is strongly preferred
• Comfortable working in an outdoor, animal-focused setting
• Able to work independently and as part of a team
• Be self‑motivated in work ethic and able to handle multiple tasks

• Flexible hours
• Minimum of 10 hours a week
• Can offer up to 40 hours a week
• Saturday availability is strongly preferred

• Food and merchandise discounts
• Work near animals
• Day‑time hours (no nights)
• No Sundays required
• Variable work tasks
• Work outdoors and indoors
• Build a professional portfolio with real‑world projects
• Potential to extend internship

Team members and interns may not arrive on duty under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Since this position is a safety‑sensitive position, team members may be subject to random alcohol and drug testing.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties performed by the team member or intern. All team members and interns are required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other duties requested by their supervisors.

2 Prepare resume, brief cover letter, and a social media/communications portfolio