Job Description

Special Olympics New York Communications & Marketing Internship

Special Olympics New York seeks dedicated, enthusiastic and creative college students or recent graduates for a paid internship program in fields related to communications and marketing. Designed as an ongoing partnership between colleges and universities and the statewide nonprofit, this program will provide candidates with an engaging, inclusive experience in their field of study.

Special Olympics New York athletes, coaches, and volunteers each have their own stories to tell—stories of triumph and inclusion that can inspire others like them to get involved in our life-changing movement. Interns will work directly with our stakeholders to share their stories across multiple platforms, including each of our social media channels (60,000 followers), e-newsletter (62,000 subscribers) and website (1.5 million annual visitors) as well as pitching news coverage to local media outlets.

To align with Special Olympics NY’s winter, summer, and fall sports seasons, interns will have the unique opportunity to follow athletes from local to regional to State Games.

· Spring Semester I: January – February (apply by Jan. 6, 2025)

· Spring Semester II: April – June (apply by March 10, 2025)

· Fall Semester: September – October (apply by Aug. 11, 2025)

A Summer internship in July and August is also available. This will be more of a storytelling experience with local teams, since there is less formal competition during the summer months.

As an essential component of this experience, interns should plan to attend the State Games aligned with the respective sports season. Travel costs will be covered by Special Olympics NY.

· 2025 Winter Season: State Games Feb 21-22 in Rochester

· 2025 Summer Season: State Games June in Ithaca (dates TBD)

· 2025 Fall Season: State Games Oct 17 -18 in Glens Falls

Responsibilities:

· Travel to and cover local sports competitions and events (usually on nights and weekends)

· Create content for and post across social media platforms in a timely and engaging manner

· Write press releases and web features, and pitch stories to local news media

· Analyze engagement data on social media and suggest strategies based on results

· Collaborate with Special Olympics NY staff prior to and during events

· Learn history and mission behind Special Olympics

· Adhere to social media style guide

· Complete Special Olympics NY volunteer training

· Inclusion, Unified Sports and the Unified Champion School programming are present and prioritized in the foundation of our core elemental movement, found embedded in our seasonal and annual calendar, and activity. All staff members hold responsibilities collaterally and fundamentally for inclusive mission and the Unified programming.

The ideal candidate will have the following skills:

· Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

· Ability to work independently and attend once-a-week remote meetings

· Knowledge of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok best practices

· Experience crafting social posts for nonprofits, brands, and/or agencies is preferred

This internship can be tailored to specific degree program at the professor’s request. Special Olympics NY can also work with colleges and universities to incorporate for-credit opportunities for students.

This is a paid internship opportunity @ $18/hour, with the expectation that candidates will work at least 5 hours/week for 8 weeks.

To apply, please send the following to Special Olympics New York Director of Digital Engagement Kyle Massa at kmassa@nyso.org by the above deadlines.

· Cover letter

· Resume

· Photo, Video or Writing Samples

About Special Olympics New York

Special Olympics New York is the largest state chapter in the country, serving more than 45,000 athletes across New York with year-round sports training, athletic competition, and health screenings. The organization also partners with more than 300 schools statewide to offer Unified Sports, where students with and without disabilities compete as teammates. All Special Olympics New York programs are offered at no cost to athletes, their families or caregivers. The organization has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.com and a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, making it one of the most trusted charities in the business nationally. For additional information about Special Olympics New York, to learn more about getting involved, or to make a donation, visit .

Special Olympics New York is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, neurodiversity, age, parental status, socio- economic background, military service, or any other characteristic or status protected by applicable law.

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