BRIDGE Plains Policy and Economics Undergraduate Intern

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 nearly 100 countries, connecting cutting-edge conservation science with the collective power of our partners in the field - nearly one million supporters in the United States and five million 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

WWF seeks a BRIDGE Great Plains Policy and Economics Undergraduate Intern.

The intern will work with the Senior Director, Great Plains Policy and the Great Plains Team. The Wildlife/Great Plains team at WWF-US is working to advance three overarching goals in its updated Great Plains strategy:
1) sustain and expand intact grasslands;
2) enhance the ecological function of prairie ecosystems; and
3) restore keystone and endangered wildlife. All work streams across the Great Plains Program contribute to conserving grasslands, improving ecological function, and restoring wildlife to achieve identified 2030 targets.

This work entails determining policy and programmatic priorities of the Great Plains program as laid out in the 2030 strategy, including advancing policy priorities related to grassland conservation and restoration, slowing conversion, improved ecological function through improved management, bison, black footed ferret and beaver restoration, community-led conservation, and sustainable financing. The team works to advance short- and long-term policy objectives including developing strategy documents and policy recommendations and engaging strategic coalitions, partner organizations, corporations, federal and state agencies, and platforms, representing the interests of the Great Plains team, program and strategy to drive policy outcomes and conservation impacts aligned with the Great Plains 2030 strategy.

Internship Description:

The intern will conduct research to strengthen the economic arguments that can help advance key policies to keep grasslands intact, support sustainable grazing, restore marginal lands to grass, and benefit keystone wildlife of the Great Plains and to gather economic data to further refine our policy recommendations. Specific priority areas of research include but are not limited to:

Economic benefits of policies that promote and support wildlife friendly fencing.

Conduct research to identify and inventory existing priorities for wildlife friendly fencing in Montana and Wyoming State Wildlife Action Plans related state and federal programs; work with Great Plains team to identify technical needs and options for improving fencing to improve outcomes for wildlife; and conduct research to identify economic and environmental/wildlife benefits of these options generally and in key states.

Document cost savings in key states from reduced costs of fence replacement and from reduced animal casualties (livestock and wildlife).

• Economic benefits of keeping grasslands intact and restoring marginal cropland to grass. Conduct research to assess potential savings from avoided crop insurance subsidies and crop insurance payouts for crop failures by keeping at risk grasslands intact and/or restoring marginal cropland to grass.

Minimum Requirements:

• Pursuing an associate's or bachelor's program Environmental & Natural Resource Economics;
  Agricultural Economics;
  Law & Land Use Policy; and/or Ecological Economics. 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 1, 2026).

• 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…