Salary Range:

$30.00 To $35.00 Hourly

Position Overview

The intern supports The Rockefeller Foundation’s Food Initiative through a one-year rotation across three priority Food programs: Food Is Medicine (FIM), Regenerative School Meals (RSM), and the Periodic Table of Food Initiative (PTFI). The position offers exposure to innovative work in regenerative agriculture, school nutrition reform, institutional procurement, and clinically informed food interventions. Responsibilities include research, strategy development, learning agendas, communications, and partnership mapping across U.S. and global food portfolios. The role provides a unique opportunity to understand how a global philanthropy builds strategy, fosters cross-sector partnerships, and drives systems change in food, agriculture, health, and climate, while contributing to transformative initiatives that advance equity and sustainability.

Program Details

Open to graduate students currently enrolled in an accredited program.
Applicants must submit a resume and cover letter as part of the application process.
Work authorization in the United States is required.
This is a year-long internship:
Full-time (35 hrs/week) during the summer (June–August 2026).
Part-time during the academic year (September 2026–May 2027), with a minimum of 16 and maximum of 20 hours per week.
The position is based in New York City and requires in-office presence Monday through Thursday during the summer (June–August). The in-office presence during the academic year will be determined by the position supervisor with consideration for the Intern’s class schedule.

Hiring Range: $30–$35 hourly rate. This represents the present low and high end of the Foundation’s pay range for this position. Actual pay will vary based on various factors, including but not limited to work experience. This is a non-exempt position and thus eligible for overtime pay.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Conduct research on food system actors, initiatives, and policies related to Food Is Medicine (FIM), school nutrition, institutional procurement, and regenerative agriculture.
Conduct research on regenerative agriculture, agroecology, soil science, agricultural data, and traditional ecological knowledge for RSM.
Review and synthesize academic and grey literature to inform strategy, learning agendas, and policy positions.
Track U.S. healthcare policy developments (Medicare, Medicaid) relevant to FIM.
Compile insights from Indigenous and local communities for regenerative agriculture and school meals.
Prepare briefs, memos, presentations, and materials to guide strategy and decision-making.
Participate in discussions with research partners, funders, and food system organizations.
Draft blogs, event summaries, and communications for FIM and RSM programs.
Help identify and map potential funders and partners.

Education, Experience, and Skills

Current enrollment in a graduate program in one of the following (or related) fields: Food systems, public health, public policy, nutrition, government, sustainability, environmental science, soil science, ethnobotany, agronomy, agriculture.
Ability to synthesize large volumes of data into clear insights for strategy development.
Writing skills for academic, policy, and public audiences.
Understanding of global food system inequities; knowledge of agricultural systems, regenerative agriculture, Indigenous ecological knowledge, or agroecological practices strongly preferred.
Understanding of U.S. healthcare systems (Medicare/Medicaid) and Food Is Medicine preferred; experience with agricultural or nutrition-related datasets a plus.
Innovative and collaborative abilities, and eager to learn how foundations develop and implement strategies with partners.
Ability to work independently as a proactive self-starter.
Ability to engage with diverse stakeholders effectively.

Competencies

Action Oriented: Takes on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
Collaborates: Builds partnerships and works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
Manages Complexity: Makes sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
Nimble Learning: Learns through experimentation when tackling new problems, using both successes and failures as learning fodder.
Strategic Mindset: Sees ahead to future possibilities and translates them into breakthrough strategies.

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Intern, Food Initiative