Intern: Planetary Program (Spring 2024)

What We Do:
The mission of the Berggruen Institute is to ask questions and develop foundational ideas about how to reshape political and social institutions in a transforming society. We work across cultures, disciplines, and political boundaries to engage great thinkers in developing and promoting long-term answers to the biggest challenges of the 21st Century.

Our Values:
Respect the human dignity of all
Cultivate future-oriented solutions
Inquire with an open mind
Build a collaborative environment
Invest in people and relationships

Description:
Our Planetary team within the Berggruen Institute has an internship
opportunity available immediately. This is a paid internship at a
range of $19 - $20 per hour and the intern will be asked to work
between 10-20 per week to be agreed upon by the Institute, hiring
manager and availability of the intern. The Institute has a hybrid
work environment, therefore the internship will be a combination of
both in-office and remote work, as determined by the hiring manager.
We are not currently sponsoring visas, therefore, candidates must have
authorization to work in the US.

The Planetary Program at Berggruen is groundbreaking in that it asks
how to formulate and scale new political institutions designed to
govern the unprecedented risks facing life on Earth given the
limitations of the 21st century, human-centric global governance
institutions to address planetary scale challenges such as climate
change and global pandemics. The advent of the concept of the
“Planetary” is the result of the interplay of forces and trends –
demographic, technological, economic, ecological, informational and
geopolitical – that have changed our relationship with the Earth and
have made us acutely aware of human impact on the planet. In light of
the limitations of the multilateral institutions we have today, the
Planetary provides an intellectual experimental ground from which we
must consider what new institutions must rise up to address the
unprecedented challenges facing the planet.

The Planetary program partners with premier research institutions and
organizations all over the world such as the Carnegie Endowment for
International Peace, the University of Giessen, the Los Angeles Review
of Books, and the University of Southern California. The Planetary
Program currently works in the following areas: Planetary Health,
Planetary Heat, Planetary Metaphysics, and the Multispecies
Constitution Project.

The intern would be supporting our work bringing together academics,
policymakers and researchers, and industry from a wide range of
disciplines to study a variety of problems pertaining to planetary
governance, multispecies representation, and the effects of climate
change. The intern would have the opportunity to study relevant
program curricula under the supervision of the program director and
manager. This internship is a match for anyone who is interested in
gaining more experience in project management tools and methodologies, research, working with scholars and learning/being exposed to a variety of topics in international relations/affairs, law,
environmental rights/justice, and climate change. An exceptional
candidate would be considered for an additional period and could have
an opportunity to contribute to future projects relevant to the
advancement of the Planetary studies field.

Responsibilities:
• Assist in organizing programs and events
• Assist in drafting event promotion documents and agendas
• Coordinate working group lunches
• Take notes during meeting(s)
• Provide research and logistical support to Program Director
• Provide project management support for Planetary Projects such as
timelines, updates, and resourcing of projects

Skills:
• A self-starter who can multitask, take initiative and problem solve
• Has extensive computer skills, impeccable phone etiquette and
people/collaboration skills
• Either third or fourth year in the bachelor’s program
• Best for students in environmental studies, history, economics,
political economy, political science, international relations, or
related fields.

Please email a cover letter and resume to careers@berggruen.org. No phone calls please.

Berggruen Institute is a proud equal opportunities workplace. We firmly believe employing a diverse workforce is important regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. Berggruen Institute is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.