Contact
For more information about the Public Service Internship Program or for questions about your application, please contact:
[email protected]
(202) 775–9111
Partnership Internship Program
The Partnership Internship Program is an opportunity for undergraduate 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. Additionally, there is time allocated to support the organization by taking shifts to staff the front desk and assisting other teams as needed.
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 brownbag speakers such as high-ranking government officials and corporate partners. Interns complete a learning agreement at the start, a mid-point review and 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 and an assigned buddy.
Program Dates
Spring 2023
January-May*
Application Period:
Sept. 15 through Nov. 6
Notification:
Early December
Summer 2023
June-August*
Application Period:
Jan. 24 through March 2
Notification:
Early April
Fall 2023
September-December *
Application Period:
May 24 through July 5
Notification:
Early August
*Please note that the exact start and end dates of internships may vary depending upon a team’s needs and an applicant’s availability within the given terms. We will work with individuals based on academic or work-related reasons.
Who Should Apply
The Partnership strives to be an inclusive organization that fosters learning, collaboration and respect. We actively recruit for diversity in our workplace, believing that a range of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences contributes to our mission of revitalizing government.
We seek extraordinary undergraduate students, graduate students and recent graduates with:
- A commitment to public service.
- Strong written and oral communication.
- 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
Partnership interns represent a range of geographical regions, educational institutions and fields of study. We hire interns through a standardized application process and pay them in accordance with the rates listed below. Anyone, from any school can be a competitive candidate and is welcomed to apply!
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 college or university 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:
- American University
- Florida International University
- George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government
- George Washington University
- Ohio State University’s John Glenn College of Public Affairs and the Washington Academic Internship Program (WAIP)
- Syracuse University
- Trinity Washington University
- University of California schools- UCDC Washington Center program
- University of Maryland’s Federal Fellows and Global Fellows programs
- University of Michigan
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Texas at Austin’s LBJ School of Public Affairs
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. Per Partnership policy, interns are expected to work from the office, minimum, 2x per week.
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 schedules 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 work day.
Vaccine Policy
All Partnership employees, regardless of position or physical location, must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, as a condition of employment. For new employees, a simple unnotarized copy of the official vaccination card or a notarized COVID-19 Vaccination Form attesting to full vaccination must be provided to human resources within two weeks after the start date.
If you believe you qualify for an exception from the requirements of this policy, for medical reasons or sincerely held religious beliefs, you must provide a letter (on letterhead) from your doctor or clergy to the Vice President of Human Resources. The Partnership will explore potential reasonable accommodations for you that would not cause undue hardship to the Partnership. However, such reasonable accommodations are not required and cannot be guaranteed.
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.
The Partnership for Public Service is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any application for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability; or on any other basis prohibited by law.
