Communications Intern, Advocacy Team

WE ARE RARE

Bionews is home to more than 50 rare disease news sites and patient communities, and more than half of our employees are people living with or caring for someone with a rare or chronic condition. Our Patient Advocacy Group Partnerships Team is looking to add support from January 1, 2027 through April 30, 2027 with an internship role that will report to the Partner Engagement Lead, Advocacy.

We are looking for a highly organized communications intern with strong verbal and written communications skills to help move forward established administrative processes, support project management, and conduct basic research. In this role, you will directly empower our communities by helping connect patients and care partners with trusted, high-impact advocacy resources. You will work alongside seasoned professionals who will guide and support you to enhance your professional skills while gaining relevant experience typically needed for success in entry-level communications agency roles. If you’re eager to perfect fundamental communications skills, learn from a team with both internal and agency communications experience, and are looking for real-world experience - this is the role for you!
While we encourage all candidates to apply, this is a paid internship ideally suited for a third- or fourth-year student with experience such as: leadership through campus organizations or media, on- or off-campus work experience, relevant coursework in areas like Journalism, Strategic Communications, or Mass Communications, and/or a portfolio of writing samples. Applications are also open to early-career candidates. This role is also an academic credit-eligible position, subject to prior approval from the respective academic department or faculty advisor. We are happy to fill out any required evaluations or learning agreements to fulfill documentation requirements.

LOCATION, HOURS, & COMPENSATION

This temporary, part time, hourly internship is fully remote, US-based, and pays $20/hour at up to 10 hours per week.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Project Management & Research Support

• Help ensure tasks from partnership contracts are included in the project management platform
• Research the rare and chronic disease landscape, helping to identify key advocacy groups for potential partnerships for new site launches as needed
• Research and identify relevant upcoming events, milestones, and announcements from potential partners
• Support team in ensuring that tasks are completed in the project management platform
• Help keep team project trackers updated
• Help team organize and archive files
• Support aggregation and creation of results reports
• Learn fundamentals of patient-centered, accessible communications

Social Media

• Draft and edit social post copy
• Draft visual asset designs
• Track advocacy-related social media posts across Bionews channels
• Capture screenshots of approved posts to add to project management platform

Event & Conference Support

• Support light logistics coordination for upcoming conferences and events, as needed

WHAT YOU BRING

• Strong writing and research skills
• Basic knowledge of social media platforms
• Clear, respectful communicator who can work with patient advocates, nonprofit leaders, caregivers, and internal teams.
• Strong project management instincts
• Collaborative thinker with team-first mentality
• Proactive and organized
• Knowledge of AP style or another editorial style guide

BONUS POINTS

• Knowledge of Google Workspace/Microsoft Teams.
• Experience with Canva.
• Knowledge of specific rare diseases, including lived experience.
• Prior exposure to conference planning
• Project management platform experience (i.e., Monday, Jira).