Intern, Congressional Program

ABOUT US

Aspen Institute

The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization committed to realizing a free, just, and equitable society. Since its founding in 1949, the Institute has been driving change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the most critical challenges facing communities in the United States and around the world. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Institute has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, and an international network of partners.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

To achieve our mission of a more free, just, and equitable society, we commit to working proactively to advance the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion across our myriad endeavors such as the recruitment, compensation, training, and advancement of staff. The best people-serving institutions make this commitment, and we seek to be a leader in the ways that we do so and learn from others. Visit our website to learn more about our commitment and recent actions taken toward building and nurturing a diverse and inclusive environment.

Congressional Program

The Aspen Institute Congressional Program is a nonpartisan neutral convener of world-renowned scholars and leaders and Republican and Democratic Members of Congress to focus on the pressing foreign policy issues of our time. Through our educational programs, bipartisan, bicameral groups of Members of Congress work with policy experts to discuss, civilly debate, and develop policy solutions in private, off-the-record sessions conducted in the United States Capitol and all over the world.

ABOUT THIS ROLE

The Congressional Program Intern is part of a five-person small, but mighty, team working together to provide programming highly valued by Members of Congress and congressional staff members who attend our events. The Intern will be responsible for crafting policy briefing books for our international conferences and will assist with other policy writing as needed, will collaborate closely with other team members to develop our domestic and international events for Members of Congress and congressional staff, and complete other tasks as needed. The Intern will get the opportunity to attend our regular breakfast series with Members of Congress and staff lunch series with senior congressional staff. The Intern will also get the opportunity to travel with the team to international destinations during our conferences should it work for their schedule.

This position reports directly to the Senior Manager of Congressional Engagement. The expectation is to work 15-30 hours a week, at an hourly range of $20 - $21/hr, for 6 months (with the potential to extend depending on budget and manager approval).The expectancy is for this role to work hybrid out of the Washington, D.C. office, dependent on the Intern's schedule. 
 

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

The Aspen Institute Congressional Program Intern will develop invaluable skills in verbal communication and writing, particularly with and for a bipartisan audience of members of Congress. The Intern will also learn congressional research skills (legislation tracking, creating targeted invite lists dependent on policy interest, and more), events planning and execution skills, and teamwork within an integrated program. The Intern will also be given the opportunity to apply skills gained in the classroom by writing policy memos for our team and outside audiences and will learn more about our organization’s programs, operating procedures, and concepts. The Intern will be given the unique opportunity to network and connect with Members of Congress, their congressional staff, and world-renowned policy experts. The Intern will also have the opportunity to connect with seasoned professionals who will support them as they explore career options within organizations like the Aspen Institute.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Craft briefing books for our international conferences to be read by Members of Congress and world-renowned policy experts.

• Attend the Program’s congressional breakfast series and congressional staff lunch series, should it work for their schedule.

• Track legislation or other actions proposed by Members of Congress who attend our conferences and breakfasts. Regularly update Congressional Program team on legislation that is tracked.

• Support Senior Manager of Congressional Engagement and Funds Manager with tracking attendee data from our programs.

• Assist Senior Conference Manager and whole team with logistics and operations for our international member and staff conferences as needed. The Intern will get the opportunity to travel with the Program’s team to our conferences, should it work for their schedule.

• Track post-conference surveys for Members of Congress.

• Assist with the Program’s outreach plans, including promotional events, to Members of Congress and congressional staff to promote our member breakfasts, senior staff lunches, and conferences.

• Conduct policy writing as needed.

• Complete other tasks as assigned.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO THRIVE

• Must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at an accredited college or university; Graduate students preferred with a Focus on public policy and/or international relations a plus.

• This position requires some knowledge of the U.S. Congress and ability to engage with people of all political perspectives.

• Great team player who can also work independently.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with or easily trained in Salesforce. SurveyMonkey, iContact, Canva, and Cvent experience is not required, but a plus.

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.

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