Spring 2027 Public Policy & Stakeholder Engagement Intern

Partnership for Public Service; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 11,000 - 22,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Stipend $2,000/month

Job summary

The Partnership for Public Service in Washington, DC offers a DC-based hybrid internship focused on public policy and stakeholder engagement. Interns track hearings, draft policy updates, and help educate Congress and staff.

Ideal candidates have strong written and verbal communication, an understanding of Congress, basic quantitative research skills, flexibility, and a commitment to public service. On-site work is expected about two days per week when office space is available.

Qualifications

• Strong written and verbal communication abilities.
• Understanding of Congress and policy processes.
• Basic quantitative research skills.
• Flexible and able to adapt to changing priorities.
• Commitment to public service.

Responsibilities

• Track Congressional committee hearings and legislative activity.
• Take notes on hearings and share with the Public Policy team.
• Draft policy and hearing updates.
• Synthesize news related to the Public Policy team’s work.
• Engage in research and drafting short policy briefs on topics on our policy agenda.
• Participate in Congressional meetings, meetings with stakeholder organizations, and events hosted by the Public Policy team.
• Network across the Partnership to learn how our work impacts government agencies.

Skills

Strong written communication

Strong verbal communication

Understanding Congress

Quantitative research

Public service commitment

Job description

Application Deadline

October 19.

Location & Hybrid Work Arrangement

This is a DC-based hybrid position. Interns must reside and have a permanent address in the Washington Metropolitan Region for the duration of their internship. This is a hybrid internship, with an expectation of on-site work approximately two days per week once office space is available. One on-site day is Wednesday.

Preferred Schools

• Florida International University
• George Mason University
• Ohio State University – John Glenn College of Public Affairs and the Washington Academic Internship Program (WAIP)
• Syracuse University – Maxwell School of Public Affairs
• Trinity Washington University
• University of California schools – UCDC Washington Center Program
• University of Maryland
• University of Michigan
• University of Pennsylvania
• University of Texas at Austin – LBJ School of Public Affairs

Organization

The Partnership for Public Service is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to building a better government and a stronger democracy. Central to this mission is our work to connect the government with those it serves by protecting it from harm and reimagining the way it works on behalf of the public.

Our Work

• Prepare civil servants to navigate an increasingly complex government environment
• Educate and engage the public about the value of government and how eroding its capacity hurts communities nationwide
• Collaborate with a range of stakeholders to advance bold reforms that seek to make our government institutions more effective, responsive and accountable to the American people
• Equip and advise government leaders at the federal, state and local levels to develop critical skills for effective public service.

Our Values

• Passion for public service and our work toward more effective government
• People who promote a culture of learning, leadership, collaboration, inclusion and respect
• Persistence to drive change, take strategic risks and deliver results
• Promise to be trustworthy, nonpartisan and fiscally responsible

Position Overview

The Public Policy and Stakeholder Engagement team is the Partnership’s voice on policy – particularly focused on the legislative and regulatory policies that impact the federal workforce and management of government agencies. We advocate for effective policies by working to collaborate with and educate Congressional staff and Members of Congress, Executive Branch agencies, the White House and a variety of stakeholder organizations. We also work to advance the organization’s effective government policy agenda by building bridges of understanding between government agencies and Congress, promoting useful technologies to improve federal service delivery, advocating for the modernization of America’s civil service system and sharing the Partnership’s work with congressional committees, members and their staff.

Intern Responsibilities

• Tracking Congressional committee hearings and legislative activity
• Taking notes on relevant hearings and sharing them with the broader Public Policy team
• Drafting policy and hearing updates
• Synthesizing news related to the Public Policy team’s work
• Engaging in research and drafting short policy briefs on topic areas on our policy agenda
• Participating in Congressional meetings, meetings with stakeholder organizations and events hosted by the Public Policy team
• Networking across the Partnership to learn more about how our work impacts government agencies

The Public Policy and Stakeholder Engagement team offers interns the opportunity to become more informed about the legislative and regulatory process, and the policies and practices of the government. It also provides an opportunity to see how advocacy occurs through the lens of a non-profit and how we can drive change through our work. It is a hands-on position with an opportunity to tailor the internship to the areas of interest of the intern.

The ideal candidate will have strong written and verbal communication, an understanding of Congress, some quantitative research abilities, flexibility to adapt to changing priorities, and a commitment to public service.

Work Environment

This job operates in a professional office environment in Washington, DC and occasionally at local external venues. This position requires consistent use of office equipment such as computer, telephone, printer and scanner. The Partnership adheres to all federal, state and local employment laws.

Compensation

• Full-time interns will receive $2,000 per month. Part-time intern compensation will be pro-rated accordingly.

Expected Hours of Work

• Business hours are Monday-Friday, 9 am to 6 pm, though exact work hours may vary depending on availability and need. Academic schedules will be accommodated; a part-time schedule may be considered. There may be occasional early morning or evening activities required.

Travel

• If travel occurs, it is usually during the business day.

Recruitment Process

The timeline for applicant review and selection may vary depending on the size of the applicant pool. Priority consideration will be given to applications received by Oct. 19. Applications may remain open after that date based on hiring needs. Applications are not reviewed on a rolling basis. We will begin reviewing applications on Oct. 19 and strive to complete virtual interviews and extend offers within approximately one month of that date.