Spring 2027 Undergraduate Intern, Information Technology Department

ACLU Kentucky; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 23,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

The ACLU seeks an Undergraduate Information Technology Intern in the IT Department of the National office in New York City. This full-time, hybrid internship is open to matriculated undergraduates based in the U.S.

for the entire duration of the internship. You'll work with IT staff and cross-functional teams to research, design, test, and deliver technical improvements and systems-based solutions that support the organization’s mission.

Qualifications

• Must be enrolled as an undergraduate student based in the U.S. for the entire internship.
• Strong written and verbal communication; ability to document technical processes.
• Interest in IT, cybersecurity, data governance and privacy.

Responsibilities

• Co-design and update monthly IT workflow procedures and reconciliations (automated and manual), user audits, account analytics, and program metrics.
• Build, curate, model, design, test, implement, and operate a CRM database centralizing contacts, profiles, preferences, site architecture and metadata.
• Document detailed technical specifications and documentation for all assigned work processes, solutions, and user-facing communications.
• Test and QA operational systems and processes during development and deployment.
• Train the ACLU IT team on organization-wide trainings for non-technical users focusing on enterprise application best practices and security compliance.

Skills

Problem solving

Communication

Documentation

Independent work

Teamwork

Analytical thinking

Technical research

Cybersecurity

Digital accessibility

Cloud platforms

Presentation skills

Networking fundamentals

DNS

DHCP

VPN

Database concepts

Tools

PowerPoint

Job description

The ACLU seeks an Undergraduate Information Technology Intern in the Information Technology Department of the ACLU’s National office in New York City . This internship is a full-time , hybrid role . Qualifying applicants must currently be matriculated undergraduate students or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience and must be based in the U.S. for the entire duration of the internship.

The Team:

The Information Technology (IT) department provides technology-based services and support for a more than 600-person National staff at our New York, Washington D.C., San Francisco, the Dakotas, Puerto Rico and Durham offices, including staff based in remote locations, and Affiliate offices nationwide that participate in the Affiliate Technology Services program. ACLU IT support staff ensures that business critical services are available to all staff.

What You’ll Do:

Repor ting to the A f filiate Technolo gy Services ( A TS) , Pro gram Manager, t he Information Technology Intern s will work closely with affili ate operation s staff other designated IT team members , and IT-adjac ent stakeholde r departm ent s ( e .g., In fo rmation Securit y, D ata Go vernance & Privacy , AS NI) . This internship is an opportunity to contribute to process improvement and organizational technology projects that provide necessary support and infrastructure to empower the larger organization’s goal of protecting the liberties that define our democracy. You'll work with a cross-functional group of Analysts, Managers, and Engineers to research, design, test, and deliver technical improvements and systems-based solutions that will continue to drive ACLU’s work. S peci fically, the I T I n tern will support ou r ATS program in recur ring, operational cadences and strate gic ini ti atives that incl ude di gital records m an agement , dat a curation and qu ality contr ol, projec t managem ent , and custom er relatio nship m anagement , cul m inating i n durable technic al solutions that su pport p rogram g rowth and increase value to cross- functional stakeholder s .

Your Day to Day

• Co-create: Co-design and update workflow procedures and processes related to m onthl y billing re conciliations ( automated and manual ) , user a udit s, accou nt analytics , and progr am m et rics .
• Build : Cura te , model, de sign , test , implement , and opera tion alize a customer relations hip manageme nt data base that centr alizes points of co ntact , accoun t prof iles an d pre ferences, site ar chitectu re , infras tructure require ments an d setup , and o t her o per ationally re levan t meta data.
• Document: Write detailed technical specifications and documentation for al l assig ned work proces ses , te chnical solutions , and user -facing communicat ions.
• Test : Perform Quality Assurance and in-development testing for operational s ystems and process es .
• Train : Support the ACLU IT Team on organization-wide trainings for non-technical users focused on enterprise application best practices and security compliance.

What You’ll Bring:

• A proactive, systems-first, analytical, creative problem-solving mindset with exceptional communication and documentation skills for technical and non-technical audiences
• Exceptional research ability on technical matters including emerging tech, cybersecurity, digital accessibility, and comparative analyses on related cloud-based enterprise platforms and business applications
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Create professional, publish-ready, story-telling PowerPoint presentations that synthesize complex technical information into easy-to-consume decks, leveraging best practices in human-centered, infographics, and accessible digital graphic design principles
• Knowledge of networking fundamentals (DNS, DHCP, VPN) and u nderstanding and/or experience with custom er relat ional data base management princi ples and best practices would be helpful

Future ACLU-ers Will:

• Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
• Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflict

Internship Logistics:

• Location: Our internship program offers a limited number of remote or hybrid intern positions. This internship is a full-time, hybrid and based in our New York City office.
• Time Commitment: Full-time (35 hours/week)
• Internship Duration: Full-time internships span 10 consecutive weeks. This internship has a start date of: January 11th or January 25th, 2027
• Stipend: A stipend is available for students who are lawfully authorized to work. Arrangements can be made with educational institutions for work/study or course credit. Below is the stipend rate: $20/hr for undergraduate students or equivalent experience

Why the ACLU:

For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.

Our Commitment to Accessibility, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Accessibility, equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change. We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us.

With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

To maintain the integrity of our assessment process, please refrain from using AI-powered chatbots, search engines, or real-time assistance tools to generate your CV, cover letter or writing sample (if required). We want to better understand your individual skills and thought processes. If you require AI tools or other assistive technology as a reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please complete the Accommodation Request Form so that we can support an accessible and equitable experience. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.