About internships at Vert d’Iris International (VII)

Written 23/01/2014

Vert d’Iris International welcomes all expressions of interest from prospective interns interested in several domains: sustainable agriculture, social entrepreneurship and cooperatives, bio-intensification and eco-innovation.

Several students, Belgians, Europeans and non-Europeans have benefited from their internships at Vert d’Iris International. They discovered the life of a start up dedicated to innovative projects, while learning the realities of its work in the midst of a young and dynamic team.

We invite interns to share the life of our projects, for a period of at least 3 months. Tasks, research questions and participation – and in certain cases coverage of expenses – are determined on a case-by-case basis depending on each students’ situation.

Examples of duties carried out during an internship

N.B.: This is a general list. Responsibilities will be discussed individually on the basis of priorities, skills, preferences etc. New potential tasks may also emerge during the course of the project.

1.1 Business plan / strategic agenda

• Interview VII members, gather feedback related to VII strategy;
• Develop our business plan, integrating latest changes of circumstances and opportunities;
• Prepare briefings for internal use (e.g., by VII Board) and external communication;
• Explore funding opportunities and contribute to proposal writing. Full guidance provided by confirmed proposal-writers;
• Contribute to define VII's corporate strategy and project portfolio.

1.2 General information watch & consolidation

• Google searches (general or focussed);
• Thematic literature searches in virtual libraries;
• Preparation of thematic digests/briefings and web pages;
• Preparation of draft reports (e.g., compilation of activity reports);
• Web management: texts & graphics.

1.3 Networking

• Identify similar networks and organisations of interest for the cooperative;
• Maintain database of partners / potential partners / relevant entities / clients;
• Contribute to external communication (newsletter etc).

1.4 Horticultural logistics

• With support from project coordinator;
• Contribute to growing container workshops;
• Procurements and stocks;
• Collaborating in the gardens: cultures and harvesting, client service, deliveries, maintenance, etc.
• Plant and fruit transformation: preparation, dehydration, packaging and deliveries.

1.5 Research: essays or thesis

For students in relevant disciplines, interested in eco-innovation and sustainable food issues, the cooperative offers a suitable environment for thesis/essay research. The cooperative offers support throughout the research: methodology, bibliography, writing, surveying, communication, etc.

Skills

Essential

• Demonstrated motivation for eco-innovation, sustainable food, social entrepreneurship, and bio-intensification topics;
• Good relations with colleagues, partners and clients;
• Good writing and organisational skills;
• Proficiency in English, French or Dutch;
• Readiness to participate in the innovation of the cooperative and to find original solutions – taking initiative and being creative.

Secondary skills (an advantage, but not essential)

• Language skills other than French and English;
• Web design and editing skills; experience with graphic and multimedia creation;
• Experience with Mac OS X platform.

Conditions

• Internship based in Anderlecht, one of the 19 districts of Brussels (Belgium), 10 minutes by foot from international Midi train station.
• Flexible work arrangements (e.g., part-time, teleworking) can be considered where appropriate;
• Start and duration: to be negotiated;
• Access to fully equipped office, including kitchen;
• Access to organic vegetable from our gardens!

Application

Contact us for any informal inquiry and/or application. Your cover letter and CV can be sent to info@vertdiris.net, with the subject line reading : “Internship – First + Last Name – field of interest”