Job type: Part-Time (up to 29 hours/week)
Duration: January through June; six-month internship (cohort starting in January 2027)
Location: Remote
Organization Description
The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) is a nonprofit organization that builds public-private partnerships to fund audacious research addressing the biggest challenges in food and agriculture. FFAR is committed to providing every person with access to affordable, nutritious food grown on thriving farms. The Foundation pioneers scientific and technological innovation by funding research that fills critical research gaps. Ultimately, FFAR’s partnerships and research benefit farmers, consumers and the environment.
FFAR’s work spans four interrelated strategic Priority Areas that aim to provide the impacts stakeholders need to improve and advance the food and agriculture system.
- Cultivating Thriving Production Systems
- Sustaining Vibrant Agroecosystems
- Bolstering Healthy Food Systems
- Strengthening the Scientific Workforce
About the Internship Program
FFAR’s Internship Program provides students with hands-on and professional development experience across multiple disciplines within the organization. Interns gain exposure to national and global agricultural research, public-private partnerships and organizational operations through collaborative projects and mentoring.
Interns may apply to one of several departments based on their academic background and interests:
- Partnerships & Development: This team leads FFAR’ s external engagement strategy, including partnership development, donor relations, securing partner funding and setting up strategic revenue generation models. Interns in this area will gain exposure to funder research, business development proposal development and to the data collection, analysis, and insight generation that that support partnership building and program funding.
- Science: This team advances FFAR’s research priorities through scientific analysis, program design, portfolio management and collaboration across key focus areas as outlined above. Interns in this area may be exposed to scientific operations and project management, literature reviews, research tracking and cross-sector scientific collaboration.
- Impact: This team is responsible for measuring and communicating FFAR’s outcomes and organizational efficiencies. Interns in this area may be exposed to data collection, evaluation, reporting effort sand experience how FFAR develops visualizations for demonstrating our impact to internal and external audiences.
Interns may collaborate across teams, attend internal and external meetings, and engage with partners from government, academia, nonprofit and private sectors.
Duties & Responsibilities
Responsibilities vary by department but may include:
- Conduct research and synthesize information to support ongoing programs and partnerships
- Prepare and edit correspondence, presentations, onepagers and reports
- Assistwith data entry,trackingand internal dashboards
- Support event coordination,webinarsand partnership convenings
- Participate in meetings andassistwith follow-up communications
- Contribute to internal process improvements and documentation
- Assistwith project management and administrative tasks
Qualifications
- Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program
- Demonstrated interest in food and agriculture, nonprofit management, etc.
- Completion of at least two years of college coursework preferred
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Excellent organizational, analytical and research skills
- Proficiencyin Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Ability to work independently in a remote environment
Application & Nomination Process
To apply, please complete the online application and include the following materials:
- A cover letter that clearly indicates the department you are applying for (Partnerships& Development, Science,Impact)
- Resume
- Writing sample
When applying, candidates must select which internship they are applying for (i.e., Partnerships & Development, Science or Impact) and clearly indicate this in their cover letter. Applicants are encouraged to explain how their academic background and interests align with their selected department.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis year-round, and cohorts begin in January and June of each year.
Additional Information
This position requires long periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. This position will be employed through a third-party staffing partner but will report to FFAR.
EEO Statement
FFAR is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are considered for positions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information or any other category protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.
Skills Required
- Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program
- Demonstrated interest in food and agriculture or nonprofit management
- Completion of at least two years of college coursework
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Excellent organizational, analytical, and research skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- Ability to work independently in a remote environment
- Cover letter indicating the department applied for
- Resume
- Writing sample
What We Do
FFAR is a nonprofit that connects funders, researchers and farmers through public-private partnerships to support collaborative science addressing food and agriculture challenges. It helps identify research opportunities and advances science into tools, technologies and information intended to benefit farmers, consumers and the environment. Its vision is a future where pioneering, collaborative science ensures access to affordable, nutritious food grown on thriving farms.
