Undergraduate and Early Professional Internships

Intern

Requirements Must be at least 18 years old at time of application. Have completed at least one semester of undergraduate coursework. Interns are expected to work 16hrs/week for a 12-week semester.

Interns can expect to: Earn an hourly rate of $12.25/hour. Learn from experienced staff the knowledge, competencies, and training necessary for success within their chosen career field. Participate in career readiness and professional development workshops.

Collaborate with a staff mentor to design and complete a semester capstone project that represents their learning and work within the program. By the end of the program, interns will leave with tangible work experience, expanded professional networks, and greater clarity about career pathways within the zoological and conservation fields. Internship Tracks: As part of the application process, participants will be required to select an Internship Track that best aligns with their interests, academic focus, and career goals.

Potential placements include: Animal Care Track: Animal Care Interns will support the daily care and wellbeing of the zoo's animal population. Placements will focus on providing hands-on exposure to animal care and welfare practices, husbandry routines, training and enrichment, and daily operations. Animal Care Interns will be placed in one of the following departments: Asian Trek, Behavioral Husbandry, Birds, Carnivores, East Mammals, Grasslands Africa, Great Apes, Herpetology, Kids Cove, Red Pandas/Wild Ambassadors, or Wild Encounters.

Grounds and Horticulture Track: Grounds and Horticulture Interns will assist with landscape maintenance, habitat aesthetics, seasonal plantings, and sustainability initiatives across zoo grounds. This track provides exposure to the important role horticulture and environmental design play in animal wellbeing, guest satisfaction, and conservation storytelling.

Education and Conservation Track: Education and Conservation Interns will support programs and initiatives that connect guests to wildlife and inspire conservation action. Interns may assist with camps, school programs, interpretive experiences, and conservation messaging efforts. This track provides experience in informal education, public engagement, and the critical role zoos play in inspiring people to protect the natural world through connections with wildlife.

Marketing and Advancement Track: Marketing and Advancement Interns will assist with promoting the zoo's mission, programs, and events through a variety of communication and fundraising efforts. Interns may support social media content creation, marketing campaigns, event promotion, donor engagement, and storytelling initiatives that highlight the zoo's impact. This track provides experience in strategic communications, brand management, and the important role of fundraising and public relations in supporting a nonprofit organization.

Administrative Track: Administrative Interns will support the operational functions that enable the zoo to deliver on its mission. Through project coordination, data management, and cross-departmental collaboration, interns help ensure the organization runs effectively and efficiently. This track may include focused exposure to areas such as human resources, finance, guest services, and general business administration.

Interns may assist with onboarding and employee engagement initiatives, budgeting and financial processes, front-facing guest experience operations, and organizational projects that support multiple departments. This track provides insight into how strong internal systems and people-centered practices sustain a mission-driven organization. On their application, applicants may indicate preference of department(s) or areas of focus.

While preferences will be considered, final placement will be determined by the zoo based on departmental capacity, availability, and program needs. Not all departments or tracks may be available each semester; however, we will make every effort to align placements with student interests whenever possible. Application Process: Prepare a resume and two letters of recommendation.

Submit an internship application and upload all required documents. Following the application deadline, selected students will be contacted to schedule an interview For interns chosen to participate in the program, there will be a mandatory orientation and onboarding process (including drug screening, background check, and TB testing for those working in animal areas). Application Deadlines: Spring Semester applications open October 15th, due by November 30th.

Summer Semester applications open March 1st, due by April 15th. Fall semester applications open May 15th, due by July 15th. Questions?

If you have any questions about Zoo Knoxville's internship program or application process, please reach out to our Workforce Development Coordinator, Abby Weaver at [email protected]