Internships, Fellowships and Employment Opportunities in Nutrition, Food Safety and Risk Communication

General internships

The International Food Information Council (IFIC) and International Food Information Council Foundation provide a variety of opportunities for paid and unpaid internships for undergraduate and graduate students in nutrition, food safety and technology, and communications. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United Sates. To inquire about current intern opportunities, please email robinson@ific.org and attach the following documents:

• A current résumé
• A letter of intent explaining how the internship will develop your communication skills to enhance public understanding of nutrition and food safety issues
• Three original letters of recommendation

 

Sylvia Rowe Fellowship

The Sylvia Rowe Fellowship Award was established as a tribute to the former IFIC and International Food Information Council Foundation President & CEO, Sylvia B. Rowe, to help promising nutrition and food safety communicators enhance their capabilities. The goal of the recipient of this award should be to develop communication skills that he or she can and will apply to communicating nutrition and food safety information to the public in an academic setting, professional situation (either for-profit or non-profit sector), or other public venue.

The recipient will be awarded a six to 12 week paid internship at the International Food Information Council Foundation offices in Washington, DC. The internship needs to be completed by the end of the year in which it is awarded.

To Apply

Prospective applicants must be currently enrolled in or recently graduated (within 12 months from the time of application) from a university undergraduate OR graduate program in nutrition, food safety, and/or journalism/communications. (Graduate students or recent graduates are preferred.) Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United Sates.

Applicants need to supply:

• Transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work completed to date. Official transcripts are preferred; however, unofficial transcripts are accepted.
• Three (3) original letters of recommendation (Note: At least ONE must be from a program or department head. If the applicant has recently resumed educational studies, one letter of recommendation may be sent by someone who has worked with the applicant on a professional basis.)
• Résumé that lists the following background information:
  • All scholarships, awards, fellowships, or grants previously or currently held. Indicate the amount of each and the date received.
  • Summary of work experience; include any teaching, research or communication positions.
  • Publications and professional presentations (give complete citations for all publications; give names, dates and locations of professional presentations).
  • Current professional memberships. Designate any offices held with each organization.
• List of planned academic programs/courses, if applicable. Include the institution, department, credit hours, course title, and a brief description.
• Letter of Intent: In 250 words or less, describe the skills and experiences that merit the award of this scholarship.
• Explain how the internship will develop your communication skills to enhance public understanding of nutrition and food safety issues.
• Completed Application Form. (Applications for the 2010 Sylvia Rowe Fellowship Award are due January 31, 2010, and awardees will be notified by March 5, 2010).

 

Mail or e-mail the complete application packet to:

Sylvia Rowe Fellowship Award
c/o Katie Burns
International Food Information Council Foundation
1100 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 430
Washington, DC  20036

E-mail: Katie Burns

Application Form (Microsoft Word)

Employment Opportunities

Equal Employment Opportunity
The International Food Information Council (IFIC) is committed to equal employment opportunity.  We do not unlawfully consider an individual's race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, medical condition, marital status, sexual orientation, age,  sex, personal appearance, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, source of income, place of residence or business, or any other protected category in any employment decision.  This policy governs all aspects of employment at IFIC, including hiring, assignments, promotions, compensation, associate benefits, associate discipline, and discharge and all other terms and conditions of employment.

Currently, there is one employment opportunity with the International Food Information Council and Foundation.

INTERNATIONAL FOOD INFORMATION COUNCIL
VICE PRESIDENT, COMMITTEE PROGRAMS

• Lead the planning, development, implementation and evaluation of annual communication plans to accomplish the goals and objectives of all IFIC committees, working in concert with committee members and IFIC president and CEO.
• Coordinate crisis communications for the committees, developing strategies and key messages with committee staff, members and industry-wide coalitions as appropriate.
• Working with Media Team, positively influence media coverage of committees’ issues through targeted distribution, educational programs, serving as an organizational spokesperson, and providing referrals to outside experts or organizations as appropriate.
• Work with the committees' chairs on organizing periodic meetings of the committees to discuss scientific, policy and communications developments related to the committees and to review ongoing progress toward accomplishing committees’ objectives.
• Supervise program directors and other staff assigned to support committee activities, such that work is accomplished in a professional and timely manner.
• Lead the development, distribution and promotion of all print and broadcast materials to meet committees’ objectives.
• Network externally to establish a presence and enhance IFIC’s reputation.
• Develop liaisons with governmental and third-party organizations to accomplish committees’ goals.
• Oversee all communications to member, non-member and IFIC target audiences on committee specific issues.
• Develop annual budget for assigned committees and oversee all committee expenditures to ensure fiscal solvency.
• Work with president and CEO and Vice President, Membership and Strategic Initiatives, to recruit new members to the committees, as well as new organizational members.
• Develop and present report of committees’ accomplishments at IFIC Board meetings and provide updates in member monthly strategic communications and on IFICNet.
• Provide professional expertise/contacts to other IFIC/IFIC Foundation programs in accomplishing their goals as appropriate.
• Participate on Senior Staff Team and perform other duties as assigned by the President and CEO.

 

Background Required

• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Evidence of leadership and management skills with CEO potential.
• Experience in working with senior level officials from government, media, industry or academia.
• Ability to understand complex scientific information and translate into clear lay language.
• College degree (food science, nutrition or agriculture strongly preferred) required with advanced degree preferred.
• Ten years experience in journalism/communications/public relations, government or food/agriculture/science field, with association experience also desirable.
• Tenure at IFIC a plus.

Please send your resume and any questions to G. McCann via email. No phone calls, please.