Summer Internships at CIP-Washington, DC

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.

Position Descriptions:

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.

Operations & Fundraising Intern
The intern will assist with the general day-to-day operations of the organization, gain knowledge of fundraising 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 tracking, press management and helping to maintain communications with our supporters.

DUTIES

• Assist with day-to-day operations
• Work directly with the management team (office manager, finance director and deputy director)
• Researching fundraising strategies for non-profits, envisioning implementation plan
• Assist with creating the bi-weekly newsletter (the CIP Update)
• Assisting fundraising director with mailings and donation follow up
• Tracking CIP press/media
• Maintaining and updating databases
• Researching grants and funding opportunities

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 Intern
The National Security intern gains an understanding of national security issues and intelligence reform issues by working with two projects of the Common Defense Campaign: The Project on Defense Alternatives and the National Security Project. This intern will maintain and coordinate postings on the Rethinking National Security blog, assist with research, help create content for CIP blogs 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
• Monitor legislative developments regarding issues of national security and defense

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

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

Middle East/Central Eurasia Transparency & Accountability Intern

Since 1998, CIP has worked with the Latin American Working Group (LAWG) and the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) on the Security Assistance Monitor (formerly 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 Security Assistance Monitor 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 the Middle East and Central Eurasia (Central Asia and the Caucasus). 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. security assistance to the Middle East and Central Eurasia: finding U.S. government data, tracking security news in the region, reading think-tank reports and analysis, etc.
• Attend and take notes at relevant events around Washington, DC
• Help write blog posts that contextualize U.S. security policy in the Middle East/Central Eurasia
• Maintain and update Security Assistant Monitor’s social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter)
• Assist Security Assistance Monitor staff members with outreach and launch strategy
• Translating articles, papers and blog posts (Arabic or Russian to English)
• Administrative duties as needed

QUALIFICATIONS.

• Fluency in Russian or Arabic (Russian speakers strongly encouraged to apply)
• Knowledge of/interest in the Middle East/Central Eurasia 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 and Excel

Africa Transparency & Accountability Intern

Since 1998, CIP has worked with the Latin American Working Group (LAWG) and the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) on the Security Assistance Monitor (formerly 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 Security Assistance Monitor 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 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. security assistance to Africa: finding U.S. government data, tracking security news in the region, reading think-tank reports and analysis, etc.
• Attend and take notes at relevant events around Washington, DC
• Help write blog posts that contextualize U.S. security policy in Africa
• Assist Security Assistance Monitor staff members with outreach and launch strategy
• Administrative duties as needed

QUALIFICATIONS.

• Knowledge of/interest in 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 and Excel

Financial Transparency Coalition Intern

The international secretariat of the Financial Transparency Coalition (FTC), which CIP hosts, seeks an intern to work with us during the 2014 spring semester. The FTC intern will answer directly to the FTC Administrator and contribute to multiple FTC projects. This will range from contributing to blog posts to supporting staff with day-to-day operations. This position is ideal for an individual wanting to gain well-rounded experience working at an international non-profit organization.

DUTIES

• Contribute to planning of the FTC 2014 international annual conference in Lima, Peru
• Track Coalition press hits and contribute to blog posts
• Maintain an up-to-date list of our allied member organizations
• Support the Coalition Administrator with day-to-day operations
• Contribute to the occasional special research project about illicit financial flows out of developing countries and the Coalition’s role in the movement to stem them
• Research potential funders

QUALIFICATIONS

• Interest in non-profit communications and/or international development
• Excellent attention to detail
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Intellectual curiosity and strong research skills
• Interest in the Coalition’s mission to stem the tide of illicit financial flows out of developing countries
• Fluency in Spanish a plus
• Previous intern experience a plus

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

1. Cover letter
2. Short writing sample (3-5 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[email protected]. 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.