CIP Internships

Intern with the Center for International Policy

Application deadlines: 

Fall (August - December): July 13


Spring (Jan - May): Nov 1
Summer (May - Aug): Mar 16

Be sure to visit our Internship FAQ page here

Positions

The Center for International Policy (CIP) offers unpaid internship positions for current students and recent graduates every spring, summer and fall. Internships are generally full time, 5 days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

While specific tasks will vary depending on the program, CIP interns work directly with senior staff on various projects. Duties can include helping to organize conferences and delegations, updating program websites, research support, general administrative assistance, and other projects depending on an intern's interests.

Application Instructions:

To apply, please submit the following by the deadline for the term for which you are applying:

  1. Cover letter
  2. Short writing sample (3 pages - an excerpt from a longer paper is fine, relevant topic if possible)
  3. Resume with references
  4. Transcripts (can be unofficial)

Optional:

  1. Recommendation letter(s)

Applications can be emailed to Jacob LaViolet at internships@ciponline.org. In your subject please put your name as well as the position for which you are applying. 

Each term CIP receives 150+ applications. As such, we do not respond to every applicant. Interns are selected based on language and computer skills, work experience, knowledge of CIP's project areas, academic performance and enthusiasm for promoting CIP's mission. Preference is given to candidates who can work at least 4 days a week, with some positions requiring 5 days a week. CIP will complete any evaluations or paperwork necessary for interns to receive academic credit for their work. Please do not call - we will contact applicants to schedule interviews within two weeks of the application deadline. 

 

Position Descriptions:

New Media 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

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 two of the CDC projects: Arms and Security and Win Without War. 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.

DUTIES

  • 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 research fellow supports CIP's Americas Project, the TransBorder Project, and general Latin America security work. The fellow will assist with general research on a variety of topics ranging from border security issues, to federal imprisonment of immigrants, to cross-border environmental issues, to researching and helping to prepare policy briefs on a variety of subjects, including the drug war strategy in Mexico. An exceptional candidate would possess 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. This is a flexible position and can be anywhere from 30 to 40 hours a week; location is also flexible. 

    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

Afghanistan Study Group Intern

The Afghanistan Study Group (ASG) is a network of foreign policy and regional experts, who believe that the United States needs to find a new way forward in Afghanistan. The group produces policy papers, conducts advocacy, and operates a website (www.afghanistanstudygroup) and blog. This intern will work directly with Shukria Dellawar, ASG director.

DUTIES.

  • Monitor news on the region/ issues
  • Attend relevant conferences/ meetings and report back to Ria
  • Assist the research fellow as needed with tasks and research
  • Promote Afghan news/ developments over social media
  • Monitor ASG’s social media campaign
  • Edit blog posts, web content, etc
  • Assist with event coordination, planning and general program administration
  • Research assistance as needed

QUALIFICATIONS.

  • Knowledge of the issues
  • Excellent editing and analytic skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Takes initiative and self-motivated
  • Ability to work with data and statistics preferred
  • Ability to produce graphs, tables and infographics preferred
  • Dari or Pashto language skills a plus

 

Transparency & Accountability Intern (2 positions available) 

 

Since 1998, CIP has worked with the Latin American Working Group (LAWG) and the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) on the Just the Facts (www.justf.org) database, a joint project to oversee and understand the United States’ military relationship with the Western Hemisphere. The Transparency & Accountability Intern will be part of the Just the Facts team at an exciting moment, while CIP expands the database to cover the United States’ military relationship with the rest of the world.

The Transparency & Accountability intern will be responsible for updating and maintaining the database by conducting research on U.S. military aid to the world, with a focus on Asia and Africa. S/he will gain a solid understanding of security, civil-military relations, human rights and the United States’ role in providing security assistance worldwide.

 

DUTIES.

  • Research information on U.S. military aid, helping to find official U.S. government documents on Africa and Asia
  • Attend and take notes at relevant events around Washington, DC
  • Take part in the design/development process of the new Just the Facts website
  • Help develop and maintain/update Just the Facts' social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter)
  • Assist Just the Facts staff members with outreach and launch strategy
  • Administrative duties as needed

QUALIFICATIONS.

  • Knowledge of/interest in Asia and/or Africa and security issues
  • Highly developed research and writing skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Ability to do high-level internet research
  • Ability to work independently 
  • Ability to adapt to new technologies/computer programs
  • Knowledge of social media platforms, blogging, Mac computers, and Excel