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Role Description

Humane World for Animals, a global leader in animal advocacy and protection, is seeking one part-time Veterinary Policy Intern for the Companion Animals department. The Veterinary Policy intern helps to prepare you for a potential career in the animal welfare field by learning advocacy skills, supporting the department with specific projects, and gaining a deeper understanding of working on companion animal issues, with a focus on veterinary policy, through a structured campaign. This internship is 12 weeks long.

Essential duties and responsibilities:

• Complete structured learning goals each week;
• Under guidance of staff, spearhead one independent project that will culminate in a presentation to our department;
• Attend weekly Companion Animals department meetings, biweekly policy meetings, monthly HumaneVMA meetings, educational presentations, and other meetings as scheduled;
• Report on progression of projects to supervisor;
• Assist in drafting letters to the editor and op-ed pieces, factsheets, letters to public officials, reports, and other campaign materials as needed.

Learning opportunities:

• Gain a deeper understanding of companion animal issues, focusing on veterinary access to care, and how they intersect with the issues of animal protection legislation and advocacy.
• Network with veterinary professionals.
• Attain knowledge and skills necessary for making legislative change, including understanding the influence of the veterinary profession on animal welfare policy.
• Develop structured mentor/mentee relationship(s) and network with other animal advocates.
• Strengthen research, writing, networking, public speaking and presentation, data compilation, organizational and time management skills.
• Strengthen knowledge of local and state policy and how policy is made.
• Understand what it takes to run successful state and local legislative campaigns.
• Generate ideas about how to be most effective as an animal advocate, including how to communicate with and influence a variety of audiences.
• Learn about Humane World’s major positions, programs, and mission.

Qualifications

• Must be able to work in the United States;
• Must be at least 18 years of age;
• Must have graduated high school;
• Currently enrolled or admitted as a student of an AVMA accredited veterinary college or university and/or a recent graduate of a veterinary school within the last two years;
• Previous experience in animal welfare preferred;
• Strong desire to learn about companion animal issues in animal welfare; in particular, increasing veterinary access to care;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
• Strong research, writing and critical thinking skills;
• Strong work ethic and willingness to learn;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word. Familiarity with other Microsoft 365 applications—particularly Outlook, Teams, Excel and PowerPoint—and Airtable, helpful;
• Attentive to detail with a commitment to accuracy;
• Able to use discretion, keeping in mind the confidential nature of some aspects of the work;
• Able to work well independently and use good judgment.

Requirements

• This internship is remote.

Benefits

• $18.55 per hour working 15 hours a week.
• Internship is from 6/1/2026 - 8/21/2026.