Intern – Public Policy

Job Description

Fall Internship | The Heritage Foundation

The Tone:
This is a Fall Internship at The Heritage Foundation, located in Washington, DC. The Heritage Foundation is an organization dedicated to formulating and promoting public policies grounded in free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense. This role offers a unique opportunity for individuals to immerse themselves in conservative principles, learn from leading experts, and contribute to policy-focused work. Interns will gain foundational knowledge of American political thought, stay informed on critical policy issues through expert briefings, and develop practical professional skills vital for future careers. The program is designed to provide hands-on experience by working directly alongside Heritage staff across various departments.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Type: Full-time (40 hours per week) or Part-time (minimum 20 hours per week)
• Location: In-person, Washington, DC, US
• Pay: $18.50 hourly
• Mission: To equip interns with a deep understanding of American political thought and current policy issues, while developing practical professional skills through direct engagement with Heritage Foundation’s mission and daily operations.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Educational Series: Participate in The Boyce-Haller First Principles Lecture Series to learn about the foundational principles of American political thought.
• Policy Briefings: Attend weekly briefings delivered by Heritage policy experts covering critical foreign, economic, and domestic policy issues.
• Professional Workshops: Engage in practical skills workshops designed to enhance professional capabilities, including topics such as resume and cover letter writing, Capitol Hill functions, and op-ed composition.
• Departmental Engagement: Work day-to-day alongside Heritage staff, contributing to projects and operations within specific departments.
• Area Placement: Be placed within one of several Heritage departments, which may include foreign policy research, economic policy research, domestic policy research, law and constitutional studies, communications, journalism, government relations, outreach, event planning, or business operations.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Applicants should be enrolled as a college student, preferably at the junior level or above by credit hours. Recent college graduates, master’s students, and law students are also encouraged to apply.
• Experience: No prior specific professional experience is mandated for this internship, as the program itself is structured to provide foundational learning and practical work experience.
• Skills: No specific technical or domain skills are explicitly required, with the internship providing opportunities for skill acquisition and development in areas relevant to policy and operations.
• Bonus: Preference will be given to applicants who have achieved college junior status or higher by credit hours. Additionally, recent college graduates, current master’s students, and law students are highly encouraged to apply for this fall semester opportunity.