Communications Internship

Introduction

Have you always dreamed of working in the action sports industry? Do you have a passion for skiing and snowboarding? Do you want to further your education while gaining experience from the leader in winter sports governance? The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) has an opening for an unpaid communications intern in its Park City headquarters. This educational opportunity is ideal for a communications, public relations or marketing student or graduate looking to gain practical experience in the best national governing body and world-class sports organization. As an intern on our team, you will be a part of the USSA's vision of making the United States of America the best in the world in Olympic skiing and snowboarding.

Internship Summary

As a USSA communications intern, you will have the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of how to manage, track and update different modes of information distribution to key stakeholder audiences. With a focus on new media, you will get a hands on internship that will prepare you for PR opportunities in the future.

A sample of specific opportunities to gain important knowledge:

• Immerse yourself in the sports and athletes. Learn to write stories and conduct interviews with USSA's top athletes for web content, social media and eNewsletters.
• Learn new and innovative ways to distribute news content to key stakeholders including web posting of articles, pictures, video, email distribution and other electronic distribution to social media channels. Assist in managing different social media outlets.
• Learn the grassroots of how to create, maintain and grow media relations. Assist with various media activities from researching and updating media contacts and database, collecting sport/historical information, to contributing story ideas, drafting fact sheets and press materials
• Learn how to develop and maintain distribution lists to stakeholder and media audiences across the country through gathering contacts, building, updating and purging contact lists in email distribution system
• Learn other important organizational skills through general staff support, organizing staff meetings, on-site media support and press office support at local events
• The intern is mentored directly by the Communications VP and interacts with the Communications Coordinator and Communications Director. The internship will be based out of the Park City office.

Required Skills and Background

To gain the most from this educational experience, the intern will be selected based on the following criteria:

• Must be a student or graduate in communications, public relations, marketing or a related field
• Critical thinking skills with the ability to determine proper contact categories
• Strong background in working on web including web content management systems
• Strong organizational skills
• Positive, upbeat presence with others, including USSA staff and external contacts
• Self-starter, with ability to complete projects in the timeline established
• Strong business computer skills including basics (Word, Excel, email, web)
• Willingness to participate in an educational environment and to learn new skills

Internship Duration

This internship is designed to last for the full duration of the 2012-13 ski and snowboard season (approximately November to March). While start and end dates are flexible, candidates who are able to work the full duration of the season will receive preference.

Terms

All USSA Interns are subject to background screening as a condition of participating in the USSA Internship program. Interns will also be required to sign a "Confidentiality Agreement" and show proof of health insurance coverage.

Location: Park City, UT