The Chicago Council on Global Affairs offers undergraduate juniors and seniors as well as graduate students the chance to learn about our organization and participate in a variety of duties associated with ongoing projects through internships. Deadline for applying for Fall 2014 internships is June 30th.
While intern responsibilities vary by department, tasks may include researching prospective speakers, donors, studies, and corporate members, writing communications, assisting in the development of marketing/program materials, audience and outreach development, administrative duties (filing, faxing, data entry, preparing mailings, assembling program/meeting materials), assisting at Council events, and other projects as assigned.
Internship opportunities are available in the following areas:
Programs – The Chicago Council offers members and the public insights on current international developments and global issues by providing a nonpartisan forum for world leaders, policymakers, and experts. Interns perform a variety of tasks in this fast-paced department and are mainly responsible for program support including materials preparation, event setup/breakdown, customer service, and other tasks as assigned. While in the office, interns manage an assortment of administrative duties, research and write for upcoming programs, and assist in marketing and outreach strategies.
Studies – The Chicago Council contributes to national and international discussions on varying issues such as migration, energy, and climate change to name a few. Through studies, task force reports, and special initiatives, the Council offers fresh insights and authentic perspectives from Chicago and the Midwest to the formation of opinion and policy in the US and abroad. Below are current studies projects:
Energy – The Chicago Council’s Energy Initiative evaluates regional and global trends shaping energy markets and the linkages to economic, environmental, and national-security priorities. Interns provide general research and administrative support to the Energy Initiative team, including the senior fellow for global energy. Responsibilities may include fact-checking, researching prospective speakers, writing communications, developing materials, performing administrative duties, and assisting with planning and implementation of energy-related programs.
Global Agriculture and Food – The Global Agriculture and Food Initiative aims to stimulate and inform the policy discussion around the US role in alleviating poverty through global agricultural development. Interns are typically tasked with assisting with the research and organization of the project’s weekly news brief, Global Food for Thought, which follows media, research, and policy developments on issues surrounding agriculture. Interns also research potential topics, speakers, and organizations carrying out similar research.
Immigration – The Immigration Initiative conducts policy research, and brings together Midwestern leadership and regional networks in order to enhance public understanding of the importance of immigration to the region’s economy. Interns perform research and administrative tasks to support ongoing activities and publications. Interns also assist with the preparations for the Gus Hart Fellowship, an annual program that brings an emerging leader from Latin America to Chicago.
Public Opinion – Conducted since 1974, the Council’s public opinion survey is a greatly respected and widely cited source of longitudinal data on American public opinion about a wide range of US foreign policy and international issues. Interns assist with the production and dissemination of the Chicago Council Survey report and associated topical briefs, in addition to providing general research support to the senior fellow on public opinion and foreign policy.
Major Gifts/Fundraising – Major gifts/fundraising interns work closely with the major gifts team to steward the memberships of the Council’s donors. They primarily maintain the donor database by conducting research to create profiles for prospective and current donors, and by recording interactions with. Other duties include preparing briefs on upcoming programs, assisting at Council events, and completing daily administrative tasks.
Corporate Relations – Corporate relations is responsible for engaging businesses in Chicago and the Midwest and fundraising through membership and sponsorship opportunities for corporations. Interns will have two primary tasks: first with researching and compiling briefs on companies’ operations, financials, and executives, and second with managing corporate membership information in the database. This includes data entry, editing contact information, adding new members, and pulling reports/formatting in both the database and Microsoft Excel. Interns will help identify opportunities and companies to connect with the Council’s work.
Emerging Leaders Program – The Emerging Leaders Program is a two-year fellowship designed to give Chicago leaders a full understanding of the global issues that impact Chicago. Interns work with the director to help disseminate a report produced by the current class, organize a retreat for the fall for the incoming class, and assist in research for syllabi. Interns also attend and assist at ongoing, onsite Emerging Leaders meetings.
Marketing and Communication – Marketing and communication interns work closely with the marketing team on external outreach activities focused on increasing the Council’s visibility, growing event attendance, and building general membership. Interns post content on the Council’s website and blogs, create email announcements and newsletters, and assist with traditional and social media initiatives, tracking the results from these efforts. Interns are in a unique position to learn about the Council overall, receive training on digital platforms, and also assist other departments as needed.
President’s Office – Interns for the president’s office work with his executive assistants in executing administrative tasks pertaining to both the president and the Council’s Board of Directors. These tasks are both short and long term, including projects seeking, gathering, and vetting research for the president, and updating information in documents and the Council’s database. Interns help with organizational tasks such as sorting through existing research and Board materials, filing, scanning/copying, mailing, as well as reaching out to Council Board members on behalf of the executive assistants. Interns also assist other departments as needed.
Registration and Database Management – This internship includes helping with various communications to members, assisting with maintenance of constituent database, and completing occasional research projects and analysis to help improve the Council membership and registration experience. Other tasks include preparing program registration materials, updating speaker profiles, calculating final attendance figures, and some data entry and reporting.
To qualify, students must have an academic major or personal interest in international affairs, possess excellent research, writing, and verbal communications skills, be detail-oriented with strong organizational abilities, and possess working knowledge of Microsoft Office. Interns are asked to commit to a minimum of 15 hours per week. While internships are unpaid, the Council does offer limited local travel reimbursement to and from the office. Interns also receive a complimentary, one-year membership with The Chicago Council.
To apply, please email a cover letter (specifying areas of interest, dates, and hours of availability), résumé, and a two-page writing sample (e.g. paper and/or excerpt from school, relevant to Council) as Word documents to hr@thechicagocouncil.org. APPLICATIONS FOR 2014 FALL INTERNSHIPS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED.
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