Communications Intern - Chattanooga, TN (Fall 2026)

Summary
As a member of the Proposal Team, the intern will contribute to proposals for new and existing business with hands-on opportunities in content capture, writing, editing, and print production. The intern will learn facets of our company’s business development and marketing processes. They will also be exposed to all other departments within the company as part of their responsibility to update existing and create new written content. The intern must be a student currently enrolled in an accredited higher education institution who is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Communications, English, Journalism, Marketing, or other related degree. They will report to the Business Development & Proposal Manager. This position is a temporary, part-time paid position of employment and is typically completed during the student’s school semester. School credit may or may not be granted depending on the school’s criteria for determining credit.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Content Writing & Editing: Sharpen your technical and storytelling writing skills by developing compelling, strategic content for use in proposals and/or marketing material. Assist with the writing and editing of supporting content, including case studies, success stories, staff resumes, presentations, customer testimonials, etc.
• Research & Content Capture: Foster interpersonal communication skills by interviewing subject matter experts and attending meetings to gather/capture information for use in proposals and/or marketing material.
• Data & Content Management: Assist with the publishing and management of the proposal content library, which may include drafting new and archiving existing material through the content pipeline. Additional training and support with the Customer Relationship Management System may also be included.
• Report & Analyze Information: Gain guidance in creating and interpreting reports using database tools.
• Proofreading/Copy Editing: Gain valuable editing guidance for critical proposal and business development documents, which includes editing/proofing for grammar/spelling, proposal accuracy, layout, etc.
• Graphics Support: Exercise basic skills in developing proposal assets, such as organizational charts, headshots, infographics, flow charts, and footprint maps
• Publishing & Production: Level up your knowledge of Microsoft Word for desktop publishing and print production for proposals, such as the use of styles, layout tools, tables, etc. You will also learn how to use Adobe Acrobat Pro to work with and finalize PDF documents for printing or electronic delivery. Assistance with printing and shipping proposals may be required.
• Other Marketing & Business Development Activities: Provide support as needed to the Marketing and Business Development teams with related materials, event preparation, and customer data management.

Supervisory Responsibilities

There are no supervisory responsibilities.

Competency
To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies (minimum of 5):

• Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.
• Oral Communication - speaks very clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listens and gets clarification; responds well to questions; demonstrates group presentation skills; participates in various meetings.
• Self-Motivation: Sets and achieves challenging goals; measures self against standard of excellence; requires minimal supervision with self-managing strategies.
• Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently; Plans for additional resources; Develops realistic action plans, Sets goals and objectives; Organizes or schedules other people and their tasks.
• Professionalism – Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; accepts responsibility for own actions. Follows through on commitments.
• Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.
• Innovation - Displays original thinking and creativity; Meets challenges with resourcefulness; Generates suggestions for improving work; Develops innovative approaches and ideas; Presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others' attention.

Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The Marketing Intern is a student currently enrolled in an accredited institution of higher education and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Communications, English, Journalism, Marketing or related degree.

Language Skills

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations using English language.
• Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations, respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, other employees of the organization and the general public.

Mathematical Skills

• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions and percentages.
• Ability to apply concepts as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
• Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

Reasoning Ability

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Computer Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Contact Management systems; Database software; Internet software; Order processing systems; Spreadsheet software, and Word Processing software.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

Current/valid state driver’s license

Other Qualifications

Must be able to pass a drug screen and background check.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, ability to adjust focus and ability to see and distinguish basic colors.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics describes here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Other Tasks

This job description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions, it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.

#WaldenWay