Policy Internship at PFLAG in WASHINGTON, DC

The Policy Intern’s primary role is to provide enhanced advocacy and educational resources to our grassroots, enabling our members to better educate and advocate on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.  The Policy Intern will deepen our organization’s understanding of key policy matters, and will help lay the foundation for the next phase of our policy campaigns. All interns will work from our Washington, D.C. office.  Depending on the requirements of an intern’s college or university, an intern may receive course credit.  An evaluation of the intern’s work will be provided that corresponds to an institution’s prescribed requirements.

About Us:

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is a national non-profit organization with over 200,000 members and supporters and over 500 affiliates in the United States. This vast grassroots network is cultivated, resourced and serviced by the PFLAG National Office, located in Washington, D.C., the national Board of Directors and 13 Regional Directors.  In addition to our staff and volunteers, PFLAG also depends on graduate and undergraduate interns interested in federal and state policy research and analysis.  

Responsibilities:

The Policy Intern will assist our Policy Manager in conducting research and analysis necessary to develop and implement key federal and state campaigns, with particular focus on our national adoption and foster care campaign. Specifically, the Policy Intern will:

• Research best practices for building strong and diverse coalitions, and analyze existing best practices and impacts, including but not limited to community mapping and outreach, relationship building, managing campaign expectations, and developing strategic plans for emerging campaigns;
• Analyze previous federal and state campaigns, and provide recommendations to help further goals of current education and advocacy work;
• Compile and analyze information for our existing/emerging campaigns;

• Assist with research reports, utilizing research and internet skills to gather needed information;
• Maintain information tracking and monitoring systems for policy developments, and assist with special research projects;
• Respond to requests for information in a timely manner;
• Track and monitor business publications and other information sources for developments in the issues;
• Provide general support to the Policy Manager, as well as overall assistance with broader campaign initiatives

Requirements:

• Demonstrated knowledge and commitment to LGBT equality;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Experience in research, organizing, and/or advocacy at a campaign-oriented organization;
• Experience with MS applications including word, excel, email, and database management;
• Experience in fact-checking and editing;
• Good organizational skills and the ability to juggle several tasks while meeting deadlines;
• Demonstrated commitment to working in a diverse office environment based on race, ethnic origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and physical ability;
• Can commit at least 8-10 hours per week.
• Experience with new media applications including familiarity with YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Wordpress, etc.  A bonus for applicants who have vlogging capabilities.

Compensation and Academic Credit:

While the Policy Intern position is unpaid, academic credit can be earned, depending on your institution, and valuable experience will be gleaned from working in a national organization committed to securing full equality for all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Significant exposure to national, state and local matters and campaigns will be gained in a fast-paced setting. The Policy Intern will participate in department staff meetings where strategy and decisions are often made. The Policy Intern has a high amount of responsibility and will work in collaboration with key staff members working on important policy matters.
 

Application Instructions:

Apply online at http://pflag.org/internships.  Your application should include:

• A letter of interest stating:
  • The approximate dates you are available and the estimated time per week.
  • Why you would like to work as a PFLAG National Policy Intern
  • What you can contribute to PFLAG National through your work as an intern
• Resume/CV to include:
  • Three references (contacts, not letters of recommendation)
  • A writing sample (preferably a paper addressing a public policy issue)
  • Your college transcript (does not need to be official)