Public Policy Intern

Department: Public Policy

Position: Public Policy Internship

Reporting to: Policy & Grassroots Coordinator

A note to applicants: a resume, cover letter, and writing sample is required for your application. Please attach the following materials at: https://recruiting.ultipro.com/RAI1011RAINN/JobBoard/5655a08a-b6d8-465d-839c-7657a5fe1203/?q=&o=postedDateDesc

If you are applying through Indeed: Please complete the application there first and upload the document(s) you are able per the site. For any additional documents you need to include for your application to be considered, please reach out to talent@rainn.org and we will upload your documents to your submitted application on our end.

Public Policy Internship Overview:

Our Public Policy department advocates for an improved response to sexual violence, including through the criminal justice, legal, healthcare and social services systems, in order to ensure survivors receive the justice and care they deserve. We monitor policies, legislation and regulations which impact victims of sexual violence. In addition, we work with Congress and state legislatures to promote laws dedicated to helping survivors of sexual assault.

The Public Policy Intern provides essential research and fact gathering concerning a wide range of sexual violence issues. The Intern will also be expected to draft materials as needed, including memoranda and research papers, and may be asked to review policy documents. This internship will focus on federal and state legislative advocacy. In addition, the intern will assist RAINN's Public Policy Team in their general work with Congressional and state legislative offices. The Public Policy Internship can be a full or part time position, with the standard number of hours set between 20-40 hours per week.

This posting is for both Term Options below:

Fall: August- December

Spring: January- May

Each term is approximately 12 weeks, with flexible start and end dates to accommodate academic schedules.

Application reviews will begin 30 days after the posting date and continue until the internship is filled.

Internship Learning Objectives & Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Policy and Grassroots Coordinator, the Public Policy Intern will:

• Learn about and observe how the policy team engages with governmental agencies, Congressional offices, and state legislative offices, while providing support on select projects as appropriate.
• Develop research skills by gathering and summarizing information related to sexual assault policy issues and emerging legislative trends.
• Gain exposure to the policy development process by assisting with background research and contributing to draft memoranda, policy statements, briefing materials, and correspondence under staff guidance.
• Build professional administrative and organizational skills through participation in data entry, document management, and departmental support activities.
• Learn how policy resources are organized and shared by assisting with the maintenance and enhancement of databases, resource libraries, and dissemination tools.
• Gain experience monitoring and tracking legislation across all 50 states and learn how legislative developments inform policy and advocacy strategies.
• Participate in team meetings, discussions, and mentorship opportunities designed to enhance understanding of public policy, advocacy, and nonprofit operations.

Eligibility & Expectations

• Current undergraduate or graduate student (preferred qualification).

• Recent graduates are welcome to apply. A "recent graduate" means the internship will be complete within one year from the date of graduation.

• Must be 18 years of age or older.

• Strong writing, research, analytical and organizational skills.

• Strong interest in policy work.

• Demonstrated interest in the issue of sexual violence.

• Proficiency in Google Workspace applications (Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms) with demonstrated ability to effectively utilize these tools for communication, collaboration, organization, and data management.

• Strong interpersonal skills, and a team-player attitude.

• Must complete and pass a criminal background check administered by RAINN.

To Apply: Please attach the following materials at:

https://recruiting.ultipro.com/RAI1011RAINN/JobBoard/5655a08a-b6d8-465d-839

c-7657a5fe1203/?q=&o=postedDateDesc

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Writing Sample

Only complete applications will be considered. Please, no phone calls.

RAINN Office Status

RAINN's headquarters are based in Washington, DC. This internship may be based regionally for someone whose residence is within the continental USA. This is a remote internship role.

Remote Requirements

RAINN interns are required to have a home office setup with a dependable high-speed internet connection. This must be sufficient to support all internship-related tasks, including accessing systems, and communicating with teams.

When you intern for RAINN, you're joining a team of experts and professionals who stand up for survivors of sexual violence every day. Your internship is important--and so are you. RAINN will not discriminate against any internship candidate or applicant because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, individual identity, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. RAINN encourages all qualified candidates to apply.

EOE/M/F/D/V

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this internship. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of the essential functions, responsibilities and/or requirements.