Outreach and Engagement Intern
ABOUT US
The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization whose purpose is to ignite human potential to build understanding and create new possibilities for a better world. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve society’s greatest challenges. It is headquartered in Washington, DC, and has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, as well as an international network of partners.
ASPEN POLICY ACADEMY
The Aspen Institute’s Policy Academy helps community leaders and experts across the political spectrum elevate their voices, influence key decisions, and strengthen democracy from the ground up. We believe that the people closest to problems are best positioned to come up with solutions, so we work to empower citizens to have a say in the decisions that affect them. Our innovative training programs and resources equip people across sectors – from tech to the environment, science to civic engagement – with the skills to shape critical policy efforts. We’re building an America where everyone is engaged in our democratic process—and has the power to make a difference.
ABOUT THIS ROLE
The Aspen Policy Academy seeks a part-time Outreach and Engagement Intern to support outreach and recruitment cycles for the Academy’s training programs. This role reports to the Program and Communications Coordinator and will work closely with the Strategy and Operations Manager and the broader Academy team. The intern will play a key role in recruiting the Academy’s webinar, short course, and Fellowship cohorts, as well as engaging with our alumni community.
This is a remote position, but candidates based in San Francisco, CA, are preferred to take advantage of our in-person office space. The internship is expected to last 12 months. This internship will require up to 10 hours of work per week, with some fluctuation depending on program needs and the intern’s school schedule.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
Communications & Content Development
Create public communication toolkits/emails promoting Academy programs and events
Promote Academy programs to like-minded organizations and online communities
Compile and organize large contact databases
Assist in organizing recruitment timelines for Academy programs
Analyze data to inform Academy recruitment decisions
Support large-scale survey projects, including the Academy’s annual report
Provide occasional WordPress website support
Additional responsibilities
Track our alumni and their impact (e.g., careers, accomplishments, media hits)
Assist with social media content creation and posting, as needed
Assist with operational or programmatic tasks as needed
(If in San Francisco) Attend Academy training sessions, gaining exposure to policy advocacy skills and industry guest speakers
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
Practical nonprofit and policy communications experience
Structured, experiential training in key communications skills and strategies including understanding brand voice and audience segmentation
Experience using a wide range of professional tools and platforms including Airtable and Asana
A professional portfolio of polished communications outputs including a final, project of your choice
Direct mentorship and feedback from a team of communications professionals
The opportunity to attend events and network with policy experts and industry leaders
WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO THRIVE
Undergraduate or Graduate student in communications or a related field preferred
Excellent communication, organizational, and writing skills
Strong organizational, reliability, and time management skills
Ability to work independently
Some experience in communications, writing, and content development
Attention to detail
Interest in policy, nonprofit work, and digital communications
Ability to work well independently and as part of a team
HOW TO APPLY
To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume. Please also submit a portfolio of 3-5 writing samples that you have produced. Applicants without a portfolio will not be considered.
Please note that since strong writing skills are a key qualification for this role, candidates who heavily rely on generative AI to prepare their application materials may not be a good fit.
For various reasons, amazing talent hesitate to apply for positions for which they could potentially be a great fit. We strongly encourage you to apply for this position if it aligns with your career interests and skillset, even if you are not sure whether you meet all of the qualifications.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Aspen Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all District and federal laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or protected veteran or disabled status and will not be discriminated against.
If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation regarding the accessibility of our website, a modification or adjustment of the job application or interview process due to a disability, please contact HRSupport@aspeninstitute.org or call (202) 736-5800.