Spring 2026 Intern - Sustainability and Communicatioms & Public Affairs (MBA)

The Global Sustainability Team is seeking highly motivated and passionate graduate-level students for two intern positions. The Communications & Public Affairs Internship and Sustainability Internship opportunities beginning in January 2026.

Comms & Public Affairs Graduate Intern

The intern will be a key member of the broader external affairs team and gain hands-on experience in media relations, corporate communications, and public affairs management. 

offers a unique opportunity for those who are eager to apply their academic knowledge to real-world scenarios and immerse themselves in the field of corporate communications and public affairs.

The internship is structured to provide a blend of research, analysis, and practical application, The external affairs graduate intern will report to the Senior Manager of Public Affairs and collaborate closely with Lead Communication Managers and other subject matter experts from across the company. The ideal candidate possesses strong leadership skills, excellent research and writing skills, and has experience connecting initiatives to drive company value. They will be part of a fast-paced and dynamic environment so must be a proactive collaborator and communicator who is able to grasp ideas quickly.

What You’ll Do:

• Conduct in-depth research and analysis on news coverage, journalists and media outlets, emerging trends, industry events, and social media best practices

• Prepare reports and presentations on external affairs performance and progress

• Collect and analyze data, including the quantity and quality of earned media, executive social media engagement, and public affairs membership rosters

• Contribute to the development of communication materials to enhance Workiva’s sustainability narrative

• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including but not limited to finance, legal, internal audit, communications, and marketing

• Prepare reports on PR and executive social media performance

• Research trending topics for media pitches and byline opportunities 

Sustainability Graduate Intern

The sustainability graduate internship offers a unique opportunity for those who are eager to apply their academic knowledge to real-world scenarios and immerse themselves in the field of corporate sustainability. 

The internship is structured to provide a blend of research, analysis, and practical application, focusing on sustainability best practices and reporting frameworks. The sustainability graduate intern will collaborate directly with the Director of Global Sustainability and work alongside cross-functional subject matter experts from across the company. The ideal candidate possesses strong leadership skills, excellent research and writing skills, and has experience connecting initiatives to drive company value. They will be part of a fast-paced and dynamic environment so must be a proactive collaborator and communicator who is able to grasp ideas quickly.

What You’ll Do:

• Conduct in-depth research and analysis on sustainability best practices and industry trends, as well as emerging sustainability reporting frameworks (voluntary and required) to inform Workiva’s non-financial disclosure strategy 

• Support the development of sustainability reporting and disclosures

• Prepare reports and presentations on sustainability performance and progress

• Collect and analyze sustainability-related data 

• Contribute to the development of communication materials to enhance Workiva’s sustainability narrative

• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including but not limited to finance, legal, internal audit, communications, and marketing, to support the goal of positioning Workiva as a global leader in sustainability management 

• Perform other duties as assigned

What You’ll Need:

Comms & Public Affairs Graduate Intern

Minimum Qualifications:

• Current enrollment in a master's degree program with a focus on Communications, Business Administration, or a related field

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience working at a SaaS company or big 4 Advisory Firm

• Familiarity with the UN Global Compact and World Economic Forum

• Experience using AI to automate work tasks including to support research analysis and writing effective prompts to generate desired outputs.

• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills 

• Strong attention to detail 

• Ability to research, analyze, and succinctly report qualitative and quantitative results

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team

• Proficiency in Google Suite (Meet, Docs, Slides, Sheets, Calendar)

Sustainability Graduate Intern

Minimum Qualifications:

• Current enrollment in a master's degree program with a focus on Environmental Science, Sustainability, Business Administration, or a related field

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with sustainability reporting frameworks and third-party investor ratings (e.g., GRI, SASB, CSRD, ISSB, CDP, ISS, MSCI, EcoVadis, Sustainalytics, etc.) 

• Exposure to Workiva sustainability management platform

• Experience utilizing AI to automate work tasks including to support research analysis and writing effective prompts to generate desired outputs.

• Strong interest in corporate sustainability

• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills 

• Strong attention to detail 

• Ability to research, analyze, and succinctly report qualitative and quantitative results

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team

• Proficiency in Google Suite (Meet, Docs, Slides, Sheets, Calendar)

Travel Requirements and Working Conditions

• Minimal travel

• Reliable internet access for any period of time working remotely, not in a Workiva office

Sponsorship Requirements

• Must be authorized to work in the United States and not require sponsorship now or in the future

When can you expect to hear back?

We are committed to attending all career fairs and recruitment events before closing our positions. That means, this position might be open without updates for a few weeks to give us time to connect with all potential candidates before wrapping up the recruitment season. Check out our tentative timeline below to see when you can expect to hear from us! 

• All postings close: September 28th, 2025

• Interviews: Early to mid October

• Offers: Mid - late October

2026 Start Dates:

This position has opportunities to start in the Spring. Please see our start date below and let us know your availability.

• Spring 2026 Internships: Monday, January 5, 2025 (part-time, 20/hours per week)

How You’ll Be Rewarded

✅ 401(k) participation and match

✅ Paid sick leave

✅ A unique opportunity to further your learning experience through additional internship seasons

Employment decisions are made without regard to age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status or any other protected characteristic.

Workiva is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. To request assistance with the application process, please email [email protected].

Workiva employees are required to undergo comprehensive security and privacy training tailored to their roles, ensuring adherence to company policies and regulatory standards.

Workiva supports employees in working where they work best - either from an office or remotely from any location within their country of employment.