Program Operations Intern - Civic Education

Southern Arkansas University; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 20,664 - 27,552; Part time

Job summary

Southern Arkansas University is seeking a Program Operations Intern focused on K–12 civic education. The role involves assisting with the Sphere Summit program, operational support, and curriculum development for educators. Candidates should be organized, dependable, and able to manage event logistics.

The position offers competitive pay, part-time roles require a minimum of 25 hours weekly, and participation is in-person in Washington, DC.

Qualifications

• Strong interest in K–12 civic education and civil discourse.
• Understanding libertarian principles and Cato's mission.
• Reliable follow-through in event-driven settings.

Responsibilities

• Assist with program development and logistical arrangements.
• Provide operational support for Sphere events.
• Develop curriculum resources for teachers.

Skills

Interest in K–12 civic education

Clear written and verbal communication

Attention to detail

Salesforce familiarity

Proficiency in Microsoft Excel

Education

Undergraduate or recent graduate

Tools

Salesforce

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Program Operations Intern - Civic Education

Sphere Education Initiatives is a nonpartisan educator professional development program housed at the Cato Institute that provides grades 5–12 teachers and administrators with viewpoint-diverse resources to strengthen free speech, civil discourse, and civic culture in their classrooms. Sphere's flagship program is Sphere Summit - a fully funded, five-day in-person event held twice each summer in Washington, DC - alongside Sphere on the Road (school and district visits), the Sphere Alumni Fellowship (a six-month program for Summit graduates), and an expanding library of curriculum resources, including lesson plans, toolkits, and multimedia content.

The internship covers program operations, curriculum creation, and administrative duties. The workload is event-focused and logistically demanding during Summit season, shifting to content development and program support at other times. It is ideal for applicants interested in K–12 civics education and educator professional growth who are also dependable, organized, and comfortable with operational tasks - including inventory management, shipping coordination, and CRM maintenance - as well as more in-depth curriculum and program work.

Responsibilities

• Assist with the Sphere Summit application review and program development, including communicating with participants and handling logistical arrangements.
• Provide operational support for Sphere on the Road and other Sphere events, including preparing materials, shipping packages, and managing inventory using EZO.
• Maintain and update Sphere's educator contacts and program records in Salesforce, including list maintenance and record management.
• Develop curriculum resources for grades 5–12 teachers that promote civil discussion, diverse viewpoints, and civic participation in the classroom.
• Assist with the Sphere Alumni Fellowship, including organizing events, conducting research, and managing program logistics.
• Assist in creating program materials, lookbooks, and other communications as assigned.
• Assist at Sphere Summit and other Cato events as needed, including participant support and on-site logistics.

Required Qualifications

• Strong interest in K–12 civic education, civil discourse, and educator professional development; comfortable engaging respectfully and constructively with educators and participants from diverse viewpoints.
• Understanding libertarian and classical-liberal thought and aligning with Cato's principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace, while recognizing that Sphere's programs are explicitly nonpartisan and support educators across the political spectrum.
• Clear written and verbal communication; professional demeanor in participant-facing and vendor-facing interactions.
• Reliable follow-through in event-driven settings with changing priorities and strict logistics timelines.
• Professionalism, humility, and an entrepreneurial mindset - willingness to handle both substantive project work and operational responsibilities as needed.
• Professionalism, reliability, and attention to detail - this work requires accuracy in both data handling and written output, as well as consistent follow-through across operational and content tasks.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with Salesforce or a similar CRM for contact management, list hygiene, and basic reporting.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel for list management and basic tracking.
• Prior experience in program administration, event coordination, or education-related work through a school, nonprofit, or civic organization.
• Knowledge of K–12 curriculum design or educational content development.

The Cato Internship Program

Cato’s paid internships are available for undergraduates, recent graduates, graduate students, law students, and early-career professionals who are strongly committed to individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace—principles that together form libertarianism, also known as "classical liberalism," "market liberalism," or, to many of our international friends, simply "liberalism."

All Cato interns participate in the same intensive seminar series, which covers a wide range of history, philosophy, policy, and professional development topics. Interns also assist with events and occasionally support Cato staff with other daily tasks.

Interns receive competitive pay. Part-time roles are adjusted accordingly and require a minimum of 25 hours per week. Program participants must be able to attend in person in Washington, DC.

For more information about the internship program and experience, we encourage you to explore ourwebsite. If you have any questions, [e-mail].