Communications Intern | Social Media & Graphic Design

Sutherland Institute; Salt Lake City (UT); Hybrid; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid internship

Job summary

Sutherland Institute is seeking a Communications Intern for Social Media & Graphic Design to help grow our digital presence in Salt Lake City. You will brainstorm and produce TikTok content, design visual assets, and publish across platforms while learning nonprofit communications and policy storytelling.

You will work with our communications team to develop creative strategies, support email campaigns, WordPress posts, and newsletter design.

Qualifications

• Pursuing or recently completed degree in Communications, Marketing, or related fields.
• Experience with short-form video creation for TikTok.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud apps.
• Familiarity with Canva and WordPress.
• Strong written communication and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Brainstorms and pitches TikTok content ideas for Defending Ideas and other content.
• Create short-form videos for TikTok; edit clips, script, film, and add openings/captions.
• Manage TikTok content calendar; schedule and publish with the team.
• Identify trends and formats to engage younger audiences while upholding brand voice.
• Review performance and feedback to improve reach and engagement.

Skills

TikTok content

Video editing

Graphic design

Brand management

WordPress

Education

Pursuing or recent degree in Communications/Marketing/Related field

Tools

InDesign

Illustrator

Photoshop

Adobe Express

Premiere Pro

CapCut

Canva

WordPress

Job description

Communications Intern | Social Media & Graphic Design

Founded in 1995, Sutherland Institute is an independent research and educational institution – a think tank – whose mission is to equip Americans to advance principled public policy that promotes the constitutional values of faith, family and freedom. Sutherland is a nonpartisan, nonprofit and tax-exempt organization who relies on support from individuals, corporations and foundations that resonate with our mission.

Job summary:

The Communications Intern – Media & TikTok Production will help bring Sutherland Institute's mission to life through engaging digital content and visual storytelling. A key focus of this role is brainstorming, creating, and helping manage TikTok content that connects younger audiences with the Defending Ideas podcast and other upcoming Sutherland Institute resources.

This internship is designed for a creative, detail-oriented student or recent graduate who is interested in communications, digital marketing, video production, graphic design, and social media. The intern will work closely with the communications team to produce compelling content that educates, informs, and engages audiences across multiple platforms, while gaining hands‑on experience in nonprofit communications and public policy.

Responsibilities:

TikTok & Short-Form Video Production

• Brainstorms and pitches TikTok content ideas that introduce younger audiences to Defending Ideas and, as appropriate, other Sutherland Institute content.
• Helps create short-form videos for TikTok, including selecting and editing podcast clips, scripting and filming original content, and adding engaging openings, captions, and visuals.
• Helps manage the TikTok content calendar, scheduling, and publishing in coordination with the communications team.
• Identifies relevant TikTok trends and creative formats that make content engaging for younger audiences while maintaining Sutherland Institute's voice, standards, and accuracy.
• Reviews TikTok performance and audience feedback to recommend improvements that increase reach, build engagement, and encourage viewers to explore full Defending Ideas episodes.

Media Production & Digital Communications

• Designs graphics and visual assets for social media, email campaigns, presentations, reports, and other communications materials.
• Ensures all creative materials align with Sutherland Institute's brand standards and maintains a consistent visual identity.
• Publishes content across social media platforms, tailoring copy, graphics, and formatting to each platform's audience and best practices.
• Collaborates with the communications team to develop creative strategies that increase social media reach, engagement, and audience growth.
• Assists with social media planning by contributing ideas for campaigns, content calendars, and trending topics.
• Designs and formats email newsletters and marketing communications that are visually appealing and easy to read.
• Builds and formats blog posts and other website content using WordPress.
• Assists with basic photo, video, and graphic editing to support communications initiatives.
• Uses AI tools responsibly to streamline content creation and improve workflows, while ensuring all work is accurate, original, and aligned with Sutherland Institute's voice and standards.

During this internship, you will gain practical experience in:

• TikTok content strategy and short-form video editing
• Digital content creation and visual storytelling
• Social media strategy and audience engagement
• Graphic design and video editing for nonprofit communications
• Email marketing design and layout
• Brand management and visual consistency
• Creative campaign planning
• Responsible and effective use of AI in communications and media production

Preferred Qualifications

• Pursuing or recently completed a degree in Communications, Marketing, Graphic Design, Digital Media, Public Relations, Journalism, or a related field.
• Experience or strong familiarity with short-form video creation and editing for TikTok.
• Experience using Adobe Creative Cloud, including InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Adobe Express, and video editing software (e.g., Premiere Pro, CapCut).
• Experience creating designs in Canva.
• Familiarity with WordPress website management.
• Experience with email marketing platforms and designing email communications.
• Strong written communication skills and attention to detail.
• Creative mindset with the ability to collaborate and contribute new ideas.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Position start

January 2027

Wage/salary:

This is a paid internship based on experience and availability

Location:

Sutherland's office is located in downtown Salt Lake City. The combination of in-office and remote work for graphic design interns will be determined on a case-by-case basis.