Intern - Human Rights Initiative (Summer 2024)

JOB SUMMARY:

At CSIS we actively seek to employ a diverse group of people who embody our organizational values. We welcome and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply, especially those from traditionally underrepresented groups.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is a non-profit, bipartisan public policy organization established in 1962 to provide strategic insights and practical policy solutions to decision makers concerned with global security and prosperity.  Over the years, it has grown to be one of the largest organizations of its kind, with a staff of some 200 employees, including more than 120 analysts working to address the changing dynamics of international security across the globe.

The Human Rights Initiative (HRI) at CSIS was launched in June 2014 and is the only program of its kind in the Washington think tank community. The HRI brings together key actors in a cross-sectoral and multi-disciplinary approach, seeking to catalyze game-changing solutions to the most pressing global human rights challenges. The program works on a wide range of contemporary human rights issues, from Afghanistan to Ukraine, as well as thematic work on topics such as forced labor in global supply chains.

The CSIS Human Rights Initiative (HRI) seeks a full-time, paid Research Intern to provide organization and research support to the HRI’s Program Manager and Director. Applicants should be motivated self-starters with demonstrated knowledge of human rights issues, as well as strong written, research, and oral communications skills and experience working with social media. The intern will be part of a small, dedicated team where they will have the opportunity to make serious and substantive contributions to the work of this growing program.

Contingent on official public health mandates, work will be performed from CSIS Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Candidates must live in, or be willing to relocate to, the Washington Metropolitan area. Occasional remote work will be accommodated. The anticipated start date for this internship is Tuesday, May 28, 2024. 

The hired candidate will be paid hourly, commensurate with experience ($17.00/hour for current undergraduate hires, $18.00/hour for hires with a bachelor’s degree, and $19.00/hour for hires with a master’s degree).

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Essential functions may include, but are not limited to the following:

•       Monitor developments on timely international human rights issues to support the HRI’s programmatic work and the Director’s external engagements.

•       Carry out research and writing in support of the HRI’s thematic priorities on topics of mutual interest. 

•       Manage the HRI’s social media (Twitter, Threads, Instagram) accounts and support the development of infographics and other HRI online content.

•       Identify, attend, and generate notes for off-site meetings of relevance to HRI research projects.

•       Support the HRI Program Manager with event planning and execution.

•       Provide administrative support to HRI program, including taking notes and preparing for meetings.

KNOWLEDGE, EDUCATION, AND EXPERIENCE:

•    Applicants must be an undergraduate senior, recent university graduate, or in a graduate studies program. An academic focus in foreign policy, international studies, political science, international human rights law, conflict prevention, gender, or a related discipline is required, with a record of academic excellence.

•    Applicants should have a demonstrated background in international human rights, preferably with experience or strong academic interest in areas of focus for the HRI, which include: business and human rights; labor rights; technology and human rights; and human rights in conflict and post-conflict reconstruction.

•       Applicants must possess research and analytical writing experience, along with strong written and oral communication skills, and must demonstrate these in their application.

•       Applicants should be self-starters, with the ability to work both independently and as a productive member of a small team.

•       Applicants should demonstrate professionalism, a team spirit, and, ideally, a sense of humor.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORK CONDITIONS:

The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee working in an office environment.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. This job can be fully remote, fully onsite, or hybrid.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

HOW TO APPLY:

THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS April 15, 2024.  No additional applications will be accepted after that date.

Interested applicants should submit a single PDF document that contains a 1-page cover letter and a 1-page resume, and a separate Word or PDF document containing a writing sample of no more than five pages to https://csiscareers.silkroad.com. References or other materials may be required during the selection process, but should not be submitted with the application.