Intern with the Center for International Policy!

APPLICATION DEADLINES
Fall (mid August - mid December): applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until positions are filled

Spring (Dec/Jan - May): November 1
Summer (May - August): March 13

Positions
- Fundraising & Development/National Security Intern
- Cuba/Executive Assistant to former ambassador Bob White
- Common Defense Campaign Intern
- Latin America Rights & Security Research Fellow
- Latin America Security Intern
- Communications and Operations Intern
- Afghanistan Study Group Intern - No longer offered, please consider our CDC internship
- Afghanistan Study Group Research Fellow - No longer offered, please consider our CDC internship

The Center for International Policy (CIP) offers unpaid internship positions for current students and recent graduates. In general, internships are 5 days a week, from 10 am to 6 pm.

While specific tasks will vary depending on the program, CIP interns work directly with junior and senior staff on various projects. Duties include helping with conference and delegation preparation, updating program websites, research support and long-term research projects, among other tasks. While we provide interns with substantive work, each intern is also expected to assist with basic administrative duties in the hopes of providing career development as well as professional nonprofit experience. Interns can expect a break down of roughly 40% administrative and 60% programmatic work. Aside from building up thematic knowledge and research skills, by the end of the internship interns will also have a feel for what it takes to run a nonprofit organization. Additionally interns will have a chance to have "brown bag" lunch discussions with associates from CIP and other local institutions.

Former interns have gone on to positions with Peace Brigades International, the Institute for Policy Studies, the Washington Office on Latin America, Human Rights First, Congress, Peace Corps, as well as other organizations. CIP prepares interns to work on behalf of human rights and democratic values in foreign policy, whether in a career or as an informed citizen and voter.

To apply please submit the following by July 25:
1. Cover letter
2. Short writing sample (3 pages – can be an excerpt of a longer paper, relevant content if possible)
3. Resume with references
4. Transcripts (can be unofficial)
5. Optional: recommendation letter(s)

Application materials can be emailed to internships@ciponline.org. In your subject please put your name, as well as the position for which you are applying.

Each term CIP receives up to 150 applications. Interns are selected based on language and computer skills, work experience, knowledge of CIP’s project areas, academic performance, and enthusiasm for promoting human rights and contributing to all areas of CIP's work. Preference is given to those candidates who are available to work at least four full days per week for the entire term. The Center will complete any evaluations or paperwork necessary for interns to receive academic credit for their work in the office. Candidates will be contacted a week after the application deadline to schedule interviews.

**Please no calls**

If you have questions, check out our FAQs on CIP internships.

POSITION DESCRIPTIONS

National Security/Fundraising & Development Intern.
The NS/FD intern gains an understanding of national security issues, intelligence reform issues, as well as first-hand experience in fundraising. This intern will maintain and coordinate postings on the Rethinking National Security blog, assist with fundraising initiatives, maintain donor databases, research grants and funding opportunities and monitor relevant national security news and policy developments.

DUTIES.
Maintaining the Rethinking National Security blog
Overseeing outreach for the blog to increase readership
Monitoring relevant news in the region
Updating the program webpage and social media platforms
Assisting senior fellows with general administrative tasks as needed
Assisting fundraising director with mailings and donation follow up
Maintaining and updating databases
Researching grants and funding opportunities

QUALIFICATIONS.
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
Ability to work independently and take initiative
Fluency in written and spoken English
Basic knowledge and interest in security issues
Working knowledge of legislation and the debate on the intelligence community and reform
Ability to quickly adapt to new technologies/programs
Interest in nonprofit fundraising/management

Cuba Intern/Executive Assistant to former ambassador Bob White.
The Cuba intern works with Wayne S. Smith and also assists former ambassador Bob White as needed. Through research and policy monitoring, this intern gains an understanding of the U.S. embargo and other complex economic and political issues facing Cuba.

DUTIES.
Monitoring relevant news from the region
Assisting with delegation, conference and other event planning
General program assistance for Wayne and the Cuba program
Research assistance/fact checking as needed for Bob
Assistance with typing up book chapters for Bob
General administrative duties

QUALIFICATIONS.
Basic knowledge of Cuban history, society, politics and U.S.–Cuban policy
Interest in and understanding of the complex political, economic and social situations on the island
Attention to detail
Spanish fluency (desired)
Fluent in spoken and written English
Ability to pick up new technologies and computer programs quickly

Common Defense Campaign Intern.
The CDC intern will work with three of the CDC projects: Arms and Security, Win Without War, and Asia. This intern will gain an understanding of the arms trade and human rights and how a citizen organization interacts with the government to influence public policy.Candidates should have an interest in the issues as well as some knowledge of how legislation and the Hill work. Additional knowledge of issues related to Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and India is a plus for working with Sig, director of the Asia program.

DUTIES.
Assisting the Asia project director Selig Harrison with communications and outreach
Updating the programs’ web pages
Monitoring legislative developments regarding Afghanistan, Iraq and the defense budget
Monitoring Republican presidential candidates
Tracking grassroots actions and campaigns by attending meetings, internet research and creating summaries for the program director
Evaluating grassroots actions and looking for improvements
Maintaining social media platforms
Research for op-eds and blog posts as needed
Email updates for Arms & Security project supporters – summarizing developments in key policy areas, links to what other organizations are doing (new research reports, campaigns, legislation, etc)

QUALIFICATIONS.
Ability to work independently and take initiative
Interest in/knowledge of the issues, policies and political actors
Interest in progressive politics
Attention to detail, excellent writing skills
Previous experience on the Hill preferred

Latin America Rights and Security Research Fellow.
The LARS intern supports CIP's Americas Project, TransBorder Project, and general Latin America Security work. This intern will assist with general research on a variety of topics ranging from border security issues, to federal imprisonment of immigrants (focusing on DOJ, USMS and BOP), to researching and helping to prepare policy briefs on a variety of subjects, including the drug war strategy in Mexico. This intern should have strong research skills, excellent writing and analytical skills, be self-motivated and an independent worker, and preferably be a Masters’ student or have equivalent knowledge and experience in the region/themes. A qualified candidate would also be fluent in Spanish and able to translate documents. Additional research projects will depend on a candidate’s interests and research ability.

DUTIES.
Respond to short-term and time-sensitive research requests from project directors
Undertake longer-term research projects
Assist with the LARS social media presence
Translation as needed
Research for blog posts, fact sheets, memos as needed
General project/administrative support

QUALIFICATIONS.
Ability to translate Spanish ↔ English
Knowledge of Mexico, Central America
Knowledge of security issues in the region, border issues, drug policy
Ability to work independently and take initiative
Experienced with high-level internet research
Ability to adapt to new computers/technologies
Knowledge of blogging, social media platforms, Mac computers

Latin America Security Intern.
Just the Facts (www.justf.org) is a joint project between CIP, WOLA and LAWG to oversee and understand the United States’ military relationship with the Western Hemisphere. This intern is responsible for updating and maintaining the website, which includes databases, relevant news sources, recent legislation and blog posts. S.he will gain a solid understanding of security, civil-military relations, human rights and conflict resolution within Latin America. While the focus is on Colombia and Mexico, as the top recipients of U.S. assistance in the region, JustF does follow security issues in the region as a whole.

DUTIES.
Monitoring the news and updating the Just the Facts website daily with relevant articles, images, videos, policy events and hearings
Researching information on U.S. military aid, helping to find official U.S. government documents on Latin America
Contributing to Just the Facts blog as needed
Translating articles, research and blog posts (Spanish/English)
Attending & taking notes at relevant events around Washington
Updating Just the Facts’ social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter)

QUALIFICATIONS.
Fluency in English and Spanish
Highly developed research and writing skills
Attention to detail
Ability to do high-level internet research
Ability to work independently
Knowledge of/interest in Latin America and security issues
Ability to adapt to new technologies/computer programs
Knowledge of social media platforms, blogging, Mac computers

Communications & Operations Intern.
The intern will assist with the general day-to-day operations of the organization, gain knowledge of social media and communications campaigns and become more experienced in general administration and operations in a small non-profit. Other learning objectives can be developed based on a candidate’s interests and skills. This intern will also assist with press releases, press management and helping to maintain communications with our supporters (namely through a bi-weekly newsletter, the CIP Update).

DUTIES.
Assist with day-to-day operations
Work directly with the management team (office manager, finance director and deputy director)
Researching communications strategies for non-profits, envisioning implementation plan
Updating and building a press/media contacts database
Enhancing CIP’s online presence via social media platforms
Coordinating CIP’s social media campaigns (interacting with all the projects)
Assist with creating the bi-weekly newsletter (the CIP Update)
Maintain CIP homepage and main pages
Track CIP press/media

QUALIFICATIONS.
Interest in non-profit management/operations
Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills
Excellent spoken and written communication skills
Experience with social media platforms
Design experience/ability preferred
IT knowledge preferred