Contact
For more information about the Public Service Internship Program or for questions about your application, please contact:
intern@ourpublicservice.org
(202) 775–9111
Partnership Internship Program
The Partnership Internship Program is an opportunity for undergraduates and graduate students as well as recent graduates to contribute to the Partnership’s mission while developing valuable professional skills.
Interns work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. Their responsibilities vary but often include event planning and execution, research, writing and outreach to external partners, including federal agencies and colleges and universities.
The program also incorporates opportunities for professional and personal growth through workshops and trainings specifically geared toward students and young professionals, such as networking, office etiquette, resume reviews and interviewing. Interns are also invited to participate in staff-wide workshops and trainings, including lunch and learns with speakers such as high-ranking government officials and corporate partners. Interns complete a learning agreement at the start, a mid-term review and an end-of-term evaluation. Interns are supervised by a full-time staff member on their team, in addition to having the support of three intern coordinators.
Program Dates
Summer 2025
May 27 to Aug. 22*
Application Period:
Feb. 3 through March 3
Notification:
Early April
Fall 2025
Sept. 3 to Dec. 20*
Application Period:
May 1 through June 2
Notification:
Early August
Spring 2025
Jan. 21 to May 23*
Application Period:
Sept. 6 through Oct. 7
Notification:
Early November
*Exceptions for start date may be considered if academic obligations interfere with alternative college/university schedules.
Who Should Apply
The Partnership is a purpose driven, people centric organization that fosters a collaborative learning environment for our interns. We seek extraordinary undergraduate students, graduate students and recent graduates with:
- A commitment to public service.
- Strong written and oral communication.
- Excellent customer service skills.
- Analytical thinking.
- An ability to work well in teams.
There is no single academic major or background we prefer over another—if you share our passion and are committed to developing your skills while gaining valuable experience, we want to hear from you!
Where Our Interns Come From
While we welcome applicants and hire students and recent graduates from any school nationwide, we do maintain several partnerships with specific universities. Through the generous contributions of donors, these specific schools have restricted funds they can use specifically to support their students who intern at the Partnership. Students from these schools apply through our regular process and, if selected, are paid through their respective colleges or universities at rates determined by their institution. We are grateful for these donor-funded internships and try to maximize their use each term by providing priority consideration to applicants from these schools first:
- 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
- Wellesley College – Wellesley in Washington Program (WIW)
A few times each year, the Partnership also applies for interns through school-based or third-party programs or fellowships that place interns at host sites. Students from these programs, if selected, are also paid through their respective programs at rates determined by their program.
Location and Hours
This is a DC-based, hybrid internship (mix of in-person and remote work). Per Partnership policy, all full-time employees will be expected to work from the office a minimum of 2x per week.
Interns must reside and have a permanent address in the Washington Metropolitan Region for the duration of their internship.
Partnership meetings and activities typically occur Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET. Most of our internship positions are designed to be full-time (40 hours per week) in order to maximize all components of the internship program, however we will consider part-time schedules on certain teams. Some internship roles supporting program delivery require specific work hours and are not ideal for interns available less than 30 hours per week. Typically, we cannot accommodate any work schedule of less than 20 hours per week.
The internship is subject to a “Bring Your Own Technology” policy meaning the internship requires the intern to provide and use their own personal computer capable of accessing the internet and to have access to a high-speed internet connection during the workday.
How to Apply
To apply, follow the “Apply” link found below the internship position descriptions.
Before applying, carefully read the descriptions to determine which position(s) you are best qualified for and most interested in pursuing. While each position requires a commitment to public service, the descriptions detail the skills and competencies necessary for each particular position.
Selection Process
The applicant review and selection process depends on the number of applicants, though we strive to conduct interviews (phone interviews) and have offers extended within a month after the application deadline. Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as we do review resumes on a rolling basis and reserve the right to fill positions before the application deadline.
Compensation
Interns receive the following compensation:
- Full-time interns will receive $1,500 per month.
- Part-time intern compensation will be pro-rated accordingly.
