Digital Communications Intern

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION AND THE OPPORTUNITY

EdTrust-West seeks a Digital Communications Intern to join the organization’s communications team. The Digital Communications Intern will assist the communications team with a range of digital initiatives, including writing and posting social media content, creating and designing emails, updating the organization's website, and assisting with other digital communications projects. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain hands-on experience in social media strategy, email marketing, and website management—all while supporting advocacy efforts that advance educational equity across TK–12 and higher education.

EdTrust-West is committed to advancing policies and practices to dismantle the racial and economic barriers embedded in the U.S. education system. Through our research and advocacy, EdTrust-West improves equity in education from preschool through college, engages diverse communities dedicated to equity and justice, and increases political and public will to build an education system where all students will thrive.

This role, available immediately, is based in our Oakland office and will be eligible for teleworking up to three days a week. The Digital Communications Intern will report to the Director of Communications. This role is budgeted for roughly 15 hours per week for 14-18 weeks. Exact hours are negotiable but must be consistent from week to week.

ABOUT THE INTERN ROLE

The Digital Communications Intern supports the communications team to develop and implement outreach and promotional campaigns to boost brand engagement and increase awareness of EdTrust-West’s brand. Major duties of a Digital Communications Intern include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Assist the Communications Specialist with the execution of social media campaigns and the promotion of partner campaigns
• Under the direction of the Communications Manager, update new webpages in accordance with existing webpage formatting and make updates to pages as needed
• Draft email and website copy, as well as writing social media captions
• Design polished and brand-aligned emails
• Brainstorm and research compelling and relevant ideas for resurfacing high-impact existing content
• Monitor and address social media and website requests from the EdTrust-West team at large
• Consistently use messaging, design, and formats that are consistent with the organization's brand 
• Manage email system contacts and enhance mailing list data quality
• Assist with additional digital communications projects as needed

IDEAL SKILLS AND CHARACTERISTICS

• Shared belief in Ed Trust-West’s mission and a commitment to improving educational equity, with a focus on racial equity
• Dedication to contributing to and maintaining an equitable working environment 
• Strong communication skills, with a focus on writing
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and meet the deadlines of multiple tasks
• Both the ability to take initiative and be self-directed on medium-term projects
• Attention to detail
• Working knowledge of social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Threads
• Excellent internet research skills
• Knowledge or willingness to learn about social media analytics software, including Facebook Insights, Google Analytics, and Agency Analytics to track audience engagement and campaign performance 
• Willingness to receive and act upon constructive feedback

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications and experience:

• At least a high school diploma or GED, and enrolled in a higher education degree program, ideally in digital communications or a related field such as advertising or journalism 
• Experience using or willingness to learn MS Office software such as Word, Excel, Outlook, and SharePoint
• Experience with or willingness to learn website management platforms, specifically WordPress
• Experience with or willingness to learn email management systems (e.g., MailChimp, Constant Contact, Every Action, etc.)
•  Interest in and desire to learn more about education policy

COMPENSATION

The pay for this position ranges from $19-$24/hr, and offers will be commensurate with education and experience. All interns accrue sick leave. To maintain pay equity of our intern program, we do not negotiate on intern pay rates.

VACCINATION FOR COVID-19

At EdTrust-West, the health and safety of our employees is of the utmost importance. As such, all EdTrust-West employees are required to be fully vaccinated and remain up to date on their vaccinations for COVID-19. New hires should be fully vaccinated and up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations prior to their first day of work. Requests for accommodations due to medical or religious reasons will be reviewed by Human Resources. 

QUALIFIED CANDIDATES, PLEASE APPLY

EdTrust is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds.

To Apply: Please complete the application in ADP by the deadline of January 4, 2026, including uploading a resume and answering the short answer questions in lieu of a cover letter.