Spring 2027 Public Policy & Stakeholder Engagement Intern

Clearpath; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 22,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

The Partnership for Public Service seeks Spring 2027 interns to support the Public Policy and Stakeholder Engagement team in Washington, DC. This DC-based, hybrid internship focuses on legislative tracking, briefings, and policy research for federal workforce projects.

Ideal candidates have strong writing and verbal skills, a working knowledge of Congress, and an interest in public service. Flexible hours and academic schedules are accommodated.

Qualifications

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Understanding of Congressional processes and policymakers.
• Ability to conduct basic quantitative research.

Responsibilities

• Track Congressional hearings and legislative activity.
• Take notes on hearings and share updates with the team.
• Draft policy and hearing updates for internal stakeholders.
• Synthesize news related to public policy work.

Skills

Written communication

Verbal communication

Understanding Congress

Quantitative research

Job description

For Spring 2027, the Partnership will prioritize hiring interns from the following 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.

Building on our over 20 years of experience, we:

• 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 staff, diverse in experience and perspective, is mission-driven, creative, collaborative, optimistic and inclusive. Our work is strategic, fast-paced and guided by 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

We hire smart and friendly people who are great at what they do and good to one another in the process.

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 staff.

Interns on the Public Policy and Stakeholder Engagement team will assist the team with a variety of critical policy tracking and research, including:

• 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.

LOCATION

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.

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.