Back to jobs

Fall 2026 Communications & Public Engagement Intern

Washington, DC

Application Deadline is July 6.

For Fall 2026, the Partnership will prioritize hiring interns from the following schools: 

  • Florida International University 
  • George Mason University
  • Ohio State University – John Glenn College of Public Affairs and the Washington Academic Internship Program (WAIP)
  • Syracuse University – Maxwell School of Public Affairs
  • Trinity Washington University 
  • University of California schools – UCDC Washington Center Program
  • University of Maryland
  • University of Michigan 
  • University of Pennsylvania 
  • University of Texas at Austin – LBJ School of Public Affairs

This is a DC-based hybrid position. Interns must reside and have a permanent address in the Washington Metropolitan Region for the duration of their internship.

ORGANIZATION 

The Partnership for Public Service is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization with a big mission: we’re working to ensure the government is dynamic, innovative and that it effectively serves the American people. We’ve got a great team that helps make it happen.

Our work is strategic, fast-paced and guided by our values:    

  • Passion for public service and our work toward a more effective government.   
  • People who promote a culture of learning, leadership, collaboration and respect.   
  • Persistence to drive change, take strategic risks and deliver results.   
  • Promise to be trustworthy, nonpartisan and fiscally responsible.    

We hire smart and friendly people who are great at what they do and good to one another in the process. Are you ready to join our team?   

 

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Partnership’s communication efforts are designed to change public perceptions, educate the public about the need for a high-performing government and help connect citizens to their government. In addition, the Communications team ensures that Partnership programs and activities are heard, understood and actionable. 

Communications interns are integral Communications team members and assist with writing, editing and brainstorming new ideas. Our interns will be placed in one of four sub-teams within the Communications team—marketing, press, public engagement or storytelling.  

Our marketing interns provide a range of support including generating the Partnership’s weekly newsletter and blogs, and managing the Partnership’s social media outreach including Twitter, Bluesky, Instagram and LinkedIn.  

Press interns support media relations efforts including building press lists, drafting press materials and supporting other media outreach efforts.  

Public engagement interns primarily support the public engagement team with updates related to the Federal Harms Tracker, science grants and public perception research. The intern's primary project, the Federal Harms Tracker, is a series of data and storytelling products that measure and communicate the impact of actions to dismantle the federal workforce, spending and infrastructure. 

Storytelling interns provide administrative, logistical and research support for a variety of efforts to better understand perceptions of government and raise public awareness around the role and impact of government. This is a terrific opportunity for individuals who are interested or have experience in communications, public relations or marketing.  

The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented team player who has excellent writing, organization and public speaking skills. Interns will have the opportunity to develop experience representing the Partnership to the public. Interns also gain experience using CRM and email marketing systems, web and graphic design programs, media monitoring tools and other highly marketable skills for communications professionals. 

 

WORK ENVIRONMENT 

This job operates in a professional office environment in Washington, DC and occasionally at local external venues. This position requires consistent use of office equipment such as computer, telephone, printer and scanner. The Partnership adheres to all federal, state and local employment laws.

 

COMPENSATION

Full-time interns will receive $2,000 per month. Part-time intern compensation will be pro-rated accordingly.

 

LOCATION

This is a DC-based hybrid position. Interns must reside and have a permanent address in the Washington Metropolitan Region for the duration of their internship.  This is a hybrid internship, with an expectation of on-site work approximately two days per week once office space is available. One on-site day is Wednesday. 

 

EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK   

Business hours are Monday-Friday, 9 am to 6 pm, though exact work hours may vary depending on availability and need. Academic schedules will be accommodated; a part-time schedule may be considered. There may be occasional early morning or evening activities required.

 

TRAVEL 

If travel occurs, it is usually during the business day.   

 

 

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
What communications sub-team interest you?
Are you interested in any other internship positions at our organization?
Select...

The Washington Metropolitan Region includes the District of Columbia, Montgomery and Prince Georges counties in Maryland, Arlington and Fairfax counties in Virginia, and the cities of Alexandria and Falls Church in Virginia

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Partnership for Public Service’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.