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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.