Internship Program

InterAction offers internship opportunities three times a year, typically corresponding with the academic calendar and during the summer. Competitive applicants should possess a minimum of three years of undergraduate coursework in an area that is related to the focus of the desired internship. Graduate students are preferred. Applications for internships should be received by mid-January for the spring, mid-April for the summer and early August for the fall. Early applications are encouraged, as positions are filled on a rolling basis, depending on organizational needs.

Internships are unpaid; however, InterAction interns receive a transportation stipend of $50 per month.

All applicants must be enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs, able to work with minimal supervision and commit to working at least 20 hours per week to be considered. Applicants should have excellent written and spoken English skills, strong computer skills (including Microsoft Word and Excel) and good interpersonal and organizational skills.

Internship Openings

The Office of the President offers two positions each semester to students interested in gaining a comprehensive view of what it takes to operate the executive office at a major nonprofit alliance. Applicants should be pursuing degrees in leadership, global studies, political science business administration or related fields; and have a demonstrated interest in international affairs or nonprofit management. Specific responsibilities may include record-keeping, organizing briefing books for the president and board of directors, communicating with member CEOs and other high-level contacts, assisting with travel arrangements, event coordination and an assortment of other assignments. The exceptional candidate will be eager to learn and willing to do a variety of tasks.

The Humanitarian Policy & Practice Team offers two positions each semester. Interns will support HPP staff in the areas of policy, practice, protection, shelter, security and transition. Interns will perform a variety of research, writing and administrative support tasks, with opportunities to attend meetings and network with professionals representing a variety of NGOs in the humanitarian community. Responsibilities vary and may include suppporting working groups and events, research projects on a specific country, theme or crisis, and attending outside meetings on the Hill and various DC-based think tanks. A competitive applicant should be a graduate student (though exceptional undergraduate juniors and seniors will be considered) with signficant coursework related to humanitarian policy and/or humanitarian response. Relevant courses of study may additionally include international law, human rights promotion or conflict management.

The Office of Information Technology offers one position each semester to a student interested in gaining real-world experience in the field of Information Technology. Applicants should be pursuing degrees in Computer Science or Information Technology and have a demonstrated interest in the field. Specific responsibilities may include creating user profiles, help with tech support and help developing training materials and or training videos used by staff.

The Membership & Standards team is seeking current undergraduate, graduate, or recent graduate students for a fall 2013 internship. This internship offers the opportunity to be a part of the membership team of a fast-paced organization that plays a key role in the international humanitarian and development community, and in this way learn about the international NGO sector and the key issues facing the international relief and development community. The duties of the intern are to provide support to InterAction PVO Standards work, membership recruitment and retention efforts and provide logistical support for Membership & Standards Team as needed. Ideal candidates will have strong organizational skills, the ability to multi-task, and the flexibility to meet changing deadlines and priorities. An interest in international development and humanitarian assistance is a strong plus.

The Public Policy Team hires two interns per term. Policy interns assist with preparing a weekly summary of legislative news, attend Capitol Hill hearings and briefings as needed, research legislative action that impacts the InterAction alliance and maintain Congressional databases, in addition to other assignments.

The International Advocacy Team hires one intern per term. The intern will assist in advocacy and NGO coordination around the G8 and G20 summits, as well as in general member advocacy training. Intern duties may include organizing and supporting working group meetings, attending and taking notes at various events and congressional hearings, conducting background research on relevant topics and providing general administrative support.

The Communications Team hires two interns per term. The interns will do a variety of work in such areas as public relations, social media, policy communications, website work and more, gaining a breadth of skills they can take to an entry-level communications position after they graduate. Responsibilities vary and may include working on various website projects, public relations tracking and activities to support InterAction initiatives, social media assignments, or assisting with marketing efforts and writing for InterAction’s Monthly Developments Magazine.

The Strategic Impact Team hires one intern per term to assist with a number of projects. The intern supports SIT staff in the areas of food security, climate and environment, global health, the MDG/post-2015 development framework and the NGO Aid Map initiative. Responsibilities vary and may include supporting working groups and events, conducting research, data entry, administrative support tasks and attending and reporting on outside meetings.

For more information about all InterAction internships, look for InterAction on Idealist.

To apply for an InterAction internship:

Submit a cover letter and resume to intern@InterAction.org. Please indicate in your cover letter and email subject line the team (i.e., Membership & Standards, Pbulic Policy, Communications) with which you would like to intern. Applications that do not identify the preferred team will not be considered!

Due to the large number of applications received for each position, only short-listed candidates will be contacted. No phone calls, please.