EU Communications Intern, Brussels

Vacancy #: 7700 Unit: European Regional Office - EU Policy Organisation: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Location: EU Representative Office, Brussels, Belgium Reporting to: Senior Communication Officer Work percentage: 100% Grade: I Expected start date: 01 October 2026 Type of contract: Fixed-term (up to 6 months) Closing date: 27 September 2026 BACKGROUND IUCN is a membership Union composed of both government and civil society organisations. It harnesses the experience, resources and reach of its more than 1,400 Member organisations and the input of more than 16,000 experts. IUCN is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it.

IUCN’s European Regional Office represents 363 members. We provide regional and global services to the Union, providing vital linkages to stakeholders in Europe and EU institutions in Brussels. Our primary role is to provide knowledge and advise decision makers to improve conservation policy and action, connect and engage in policy dialogues with European institutions, governments, civil society, NGOs, science and the business communities.

Important information about the position

Please note that an EU work permit is an essential requirement for this position and that applicants must have a student status and be enrolled at a university for the entire duration of the internship.

The internship is unpaid, but expenses for public transport and lunch are covered (monthly MOBIB card + 5 EUR/day for meals). Students are encouraged to apply to their University for an Erasmus+ internship grant:

The possibility to work remotely, if desired by the applicant, can be considered but with previous agreement from the supervisor. JOB DESCRIPTION The IUCN Brussels team is looking for a highly motivated intern for a period of 6 months to provide support to the communications work of the office. Under the supervision of the Communications Officer, the intern will assist the communications work with the implementation of IUCN Europe’s communication strategy.
This assignment will include the following responsibilities:

• General support to the activities of the Communications Officer, including assisting the implementation of IUCN Europe’s communications strategy and supporting the delivery of IUCN’s overall global communications strategy
• Drafting communication materials such as newsletters, web stories, articles, brochures, and factsheets for a broad range of audiences
• Drafting content and designing visuals for our social media accounts and preparing reports for these accounts
• Producing visual content and videos
• Attending virtual or in-person meetings or conferences and reporting on the outcomes
• Providing a range of administrative support functions on a day-to-day basis, including managing the database, assisting with project management activities, logistics for meetings and updating internal calendars
• Support management of external communications enquiries
• Provide further support as required to the Communications Team and other teams REQUIREMENTS • Applicants must have a student status and be enrolled at a university for the entire duration of the internship;

• Be studying to get a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree with a focus on communications, environmental studies or another discipline relevant to the internship;

• An affinity with the vision and mission of IUCN and a strong interest in and (preferably) good understanding of communications, preferably with knowledge of the EU Institutions and/or the environment sector;

• Design/digital communications skills – Adobe Suite (Photoshop, Indesign, Illustrator, Adobe Premiere and After Effects) or Canva;

• Familiar with social media platforms;

• Good knowledge of Drupal and WordPress;

• Good knowledge of website and social media analytical tools (e.g. Google Analytics, Facebook Insights, X analytics);

• Comfortable using online conferencing tools such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams;

• Have a proficient level of written and spoken English, other languages, especially French and Spanish, are an asset;

• Be highly motivated to learn and develop new skills, keen to bring in own ideas;

• Good organisational, administrative and reporting skills;

• Strong writing skills and IT literate: MS Office;

• The ability to work independently and on multiple tasks simultaneously;

• The ability to meet tight deadlines without compromising the quality of outputs;

• A team player with a strong interest to work in an international environment;

• Creative thinker;

• Be an EU national or holder of an EU work permit. APPLICATIONS

Applicants are requested to apply online through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the \"Apply\" button.

Applicants will be asked to create an account and submit their profile information. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date. The vacancy closes at midnight, Swiss time (GMT+1 / GMT+2 during Daylight Saving Time, DST). Please note that only selected applicants will be personally contacted for interviews.

Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website:

About IUCN

IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.

Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 16,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.

IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous peoples organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.

Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being.