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Policy Intern Position Description

Policy Intern Position Description

Policy Intern – Position Description

Who we are:
IEL’s mission is to partner with under-resourced communities to equip leaders to better prepare children, youth, adults, and families for postsecondary education and training, rewarding careers, and civic and community engagement.

Position overview:
Reporting to the Director of Policy, the Policy Intern will assist in implementing the Institute for Educational Leadership’s policy strategy.

Major responsibilities:

  • Research, monitor, and analyze federal, state and local policy legislation and issues that affect children, youth, adults, and families and other IEL’s constituents
  • Collect and analyze survey and focus group responses to inform IEL’s federal policy platform development
  • Provide support in producing web content, policy updates, legislative alerts, position statements and research reports
  • Support IEL events including a month of advocacy activities in March 2020, and attend policy-related events on behalf of IEL
  • Other duties as assigned

Competencies developed:

  • Experience in policy and advocacy functions including policy research and analysis, translation of ideas into policy recommendations, effective advocacy practices and more
  • Experience working in an established, national nonprofit in a collaborative office environment
  • Content knowledge in the areas of education, workforce development, and leadership development

Qualifications and experience:

  • Background or strong interest in policy and advocacy
  • Undergraduate senior or master’s degree student preferred
  • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
  • Outstanding research, analysis and writing skills
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and can-do attitude
  • Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and problem-solve
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
  • Knowledge of Quorum platform a plus

Traits valued highly in a teammate include: 

  • Collaborative work style and ability to function well in a diverse environment
  • Passionate about issues of racial and social justice and IEL’s vision, mission, and values of equity, inclusion, collaboration, and impact
  • Understanding of the importance of work/life balance 
  • Sense of humor
  • Strong attention to detail and ability to manage a variety of key initiatives concurrently
  • Demonstrated commitment to excellence and high-quality work

Work requirements:
This is a part-time position based in IEL’s Washington, D.C. office. This position is not eligible for remote work.

Hours and compensation:
This is a part-time internship that IEL hires for on a rolling basis in conjunction with the academic calendar. Fall, spring, and summer internships are typically available each year, beginning in September, January, and June respectively. While weekly schedule and start and end dates are flexible, the ideal candidate will be available 24-40 hours per week (or three to five days per week) for at least 12 weeks. Interns receiving college credit for the internship are paid a daily stipend of $25/day. Interns will not be paid for holidays or closures and will not receive any of the employee benefits that regular IEL employees receive, including but not limited to health insurance, vacation or sick pay, paid holidays, or participation in IEL’s 401(k) plan.

To apply:
Please send an email with “Policy Intern” as the subject line to rochem@iel.org. Include a cover letter, resume, and writing sample. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

 

IEL is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, creed, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran’s status or disabled veterans’ status. IEL is implementing a diversity and supported inclusion strategy and is actively and intentionally encouraging applicants of color, of diverse backgrounds, and with disabilities to apply.