Community Volunteer Internship, Open Run Program (Part-Time)

About NYRR

New York Road Runners (NYRR) was founded in 1958 when a small group of passionate runners vowed to bring running to the people, and has grown from a local running club into the world’s premier community running organization.  NYRR’s mission is to help and inspire through running, aiming to empower people of all ages and abilities to improve their health and well-being through the power of running and fitness.

NYRR’s year-round offerings of races, community events, programs, and training resources provide hundreds of thousands of people with motivation, know-how, and opportunities to start running and keep running for life. NYRR’s premier event, the famed TCS New York City Marathon, attracts the world’s top professional runners and committed amateurs alike, while also raising millions of dollars annually for charity and driving economic impact for New York City.  NYRR is equally committed to the runners of tomorrow, passionately providing youth fitness programs that educate and inspire children in underserved communities in New York City, nationwide, and around the world.

Headquartered in New York City, NYRR is a 501(c)(3) organization.  To learn more, please visit www.nyrr.org. 

At New York Road Runners, we are committed to building an inclusive, diverse workplace by finding the best candidate for the job. We understand that skills come from a variety of different backgrounds. Checking off every single requirement on our job description is not necessary to apply. If you think you are a good fit and have a passion for the work we do, please submit your application. We are eager to learn about your experience and skills! You may be the right candidate for this or other open positions.

New York Road Runners is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

About the Department

The Event Development and Production Department develops and produces NYRR events from concepts all the way through execution in alignment with NYRR’s mission. The TCS New York City Marathon, United Airlines NYC Half and the RBC Brooklyn Half are just a few of the 40+ adult events and 30+ Rising New York Road Runners youth events produced by the team each year. The team leads core elements of the operations including physical site management, timing and scoring operations, volunteer management, hospitality and special events, safety and security, management of our warehouse and all race collateral, city and state agency relationship management, and permitting.  

The Community Impact Department encompasses our Youth Programs, Community Programs and Youth Events. NYRR is one of the largest non-profit providers of youth and community fitness programming in New York City (with a growing national/international footprint).  The Youth Program team develops, administers, and supports an evolving portfolio of youth running programs and resources used by schools, community centers, and families throughout New York City and nationwide. NYRR's flagship youth program, Rising New York Road Runners, brings the benefits of physical activity to various sites to help children develop the ability, confidence, and desire to be physically active for life. The Community Program team develops, administers, and supports a comprehensive portfolio of programs including our renowned NYRR Striders walking/fitness program for older adults, our NYRR Open Run platform that provides free running and walking racing, and community-building opportunities in parks across the city, and bespoke programs such as NYRR Run for the Future and Youth Ambassadors that provide deep engagement and lifelong skills such as running techniques and public speaking. The Youth Events team oversees the development and execution of over 35 Rising NYRR events per year, including events associated with our Five-Borough Series and the TCS New York City Marathon, each serving 100-1000 or more participants, and the support of other youth and community-based efforts. 

About the Internship

The New York Road Runners Internship Program is a paid, 21-week experience spanning from Monday, June 16, 2025 to Friday, November 14, 2025, in which interns will learn from the best in the non-profit business.

Interns will work collaboratively with professionals in their field of study and will have opportunities to network across the organization. The program will include professional development events and a chance to make a direct impact on the communities in New York City by working select events. Interns will receive onboarding and training to learn about NYRR and gain the knowledge needed to best perform in their role.

As a member of the Volunteer Operations team, the Community Volunteer Intern will work 25 hours a week. The schedule for this role is Tuesday to Saturday and will require attending an Open Run session at one of 12 locations each week, plus evenings as needed for volunteer training.

This role will report to the Head of Volunteer Operations, and support efforts to recruit, educate, and manage all volunteers that are needed to support NYRR Open Run program needs. This position plays an essential role for the daily needs and communications essential to programmatic success.

Intern Responsibilities (primary and secondary duties):

• The Community Volunteer Coordinator will work primarily in the Volunteer Operations and Open Run team, leading the charge in recruiting over 400 weekly volunteers.
• This role will also support projects in volunteer engagement, onboarding of new volunteers, leading volunteer training and ongoing communications.
• The Community Volunteer Coordinator will be responsible for accurate volunteer record tracking and data management through the NYRR internal database.
• Assist with Open Run initiatives through Global Volunteer Month to create awareness in the volunteer run program.
• Attend Open Run locations to build lasting relationships with the Open Run volunteer community.
• This role may also assist in creating posts for social media, letters of appreciation to individual volunteers, and with planning and executing volunteer recognition events.
• Assist with training and communication around all safety protocols.
• Support the Open Run team in promoting program growth and awareness across the 5 boroughs and New Jersey.

Internship Schedule

Interns are expected to work 25 hours weekly, Tuesday to Saturday, in a hybrid work setting. This role will also have weekend work (Saturdays or Sundays) to support NYRR events. Dates will be determined at the start of the internship and availability will be taken into account.

The NYRR events calendar can be viewed at https://www.nyrr.org/fullraceyearindex.

Internship Requirements:

• Sophomore or junior in college, working towards a degree in Sports Management, Business, or related field
• Previous experience as a volunteer is strongly preferred; must be interested in working with and as a volunteer
• Must have strong communicative skills; ability to work with a diverse groups is a must.
• Thrive in a teamwork setting that includes constant collaboration.
• Self-motivated with strong organizational skills, analytical talent, and attention to detail.
• Exceptional written and verbal communications skills.
• Ease with public speaking and facilitation to represent NYRR at various volunteer related functions.
• Ability to meet and perform under tight deadlines, think clearly under pressure, and exercise good judgment.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Applications (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams, etc.)
• Willingness to work evenings to host volunteer training and weekends at Open Run. 
• Ability to work autonomously and complete projects independently, collaboratively, and cross-departmentally
• Be certified or be willing to be certified in CPR and First Aid.
• Ability to be outside in the elements for duration of event shifts.

Applications for this internship will be accepted until February 17, 2025.

Salary: $22/hour

NYRR requires all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 unless approved for a medical or religious exemption.