Public Affairs Intern

Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM); Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 25,000 - 28,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Training and development opportunities

Job summary

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) is offering a part-time Public Affairs internship based in our Washington, DC office. The role supports the Director of Public Affairs and the Policy Communications Manager to execute integrated communications strategies across DC, state capitals, and Canada.

Weekly hours are 15-20 in-person Tuesday to Thursday, through December 31, 2026, with extension opportunities.

Qualifications

• At least one relevant internship or professional experience in communications, public affairs, government, consulting, political campaigns, or journalism
• Strong written and verbal communications skills
• Flexibility in taking on assignments and responsibilities
• Strong time management and prioritization skills

Responsibilities

• Compiling press clippings on key issue areas
• Pitching and placing stories in local, regional, and trade publications
• Drafting editorial calendars and media lists
• Developing op-eds, press releases, one pagers, and other written materials
• Generating content for social media campaigns
• Tracking public affairs metrics and analytics to measure campaign success

Skills

Written communication

Verbal communication

Time management

Content creation

Flexibility

Job description

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) is seeking a highly motived and organized team player interested in the opportunity to help shape public narratives and advance policy priorities. The ideal candidate will have a passion for advocacy, strong written and verbal communication skills, and a voracious appetite for news.

The Public Affairs intern will work closely with the Director of Public Affairs, Policy Communications Manager, and other advocacy team members to execute integrated communications strategies that advance AEM’s policy agenda. You’ll craft compelling content, brainstorm media opportunities, and support grassroots campaigns aligned with AEM’s policy priorities in DC, state capitals, and Canada. This is a part-time position based out of AEM’s DC office.

Weekly Schedule: Tuesday-Thursday at 15-20 hours per week in-person

Duration: Through December 31, 2026, with opportunity for extension

Pay Rate: $18.40/hour

Responsibilities include:

• Compiling press clippings on key issue areas
• Pitching and placing stories in local, regional, and trade publications
• Drafting editorial calendars and media lists
• Developing op-eds, press releases, one pagers, and other written materials
• Generating content for social media campaigns
• Tracking public affairs metrics and analytics to measure campaign success

What you’ll bring:

• At least one relevant internship or professional experience (full-time or part-time) in communications, public affairs, government, consulting, political campaigns, or journalism
• Strong written and verbal communications skills
• Flexibility in taking on assignments and responsibilities
• Strong time management and prioritization skills

In addition to receiving firsthand experience working with members and exhibitors for a large international association, AEM provides additional training and development opportunities for interns. The program has been nominated for several consecutive years as a Top Internship Program, and provides activities like workshops about career-pathing, networking, resume building, Microsoft Excel, and more.

About AEM:

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) is the North American-based international trade group representing off-road equipment manufacturers and suppliers, with more than 1,100 companies and more than 200 product lines in the agriculture and construction-related industry sectors worldwide. The equipment manufacturing industry in the United States supports over 2.2 million jobs and contributes $415 billion to the economy every year.