APCO Insight Intern

Job Description

About APCO

APCO Worldwide is a global advisory and advocacy firm, founded in 1984 by a woman, and is currently an independent, majority woman-owned company. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., APCO has grown to include over 1,200 employees with work spanning 80 markets around the world, including offices in major cities across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

The firm’s core mission is to help leading corporations, foundations, and governments navigate a complex world and create lasting impact. They partner with clients to manage challenges, opportunities, perceptions, and reputations. APCO’s client base is diverse, encompassing corporations, governments, industry associations, nonprofits, and public-sector organizations, including six of the top 10 companies on the Fortune 500. They are a trusted partner to bold purpose-led leaders, lawmakers, government officials, NGOs, and the media.

APCO offers a wide range of services, including public affairs, crisis & reputation, impact, corporate reputation, and global solutions, serving key sectors such as health, energy, technology, transportation & infrastructure, and food & consumer products. The firm is renowned for its ability to champion clients’ interests, build their reputation, and strengthen their standing through an integrated approach and a team of tenacious and empathetic talent. APCO fosters connections and winning strategies by bringing diverse people and ideas together, working beyond traditional boundaries to build “un/common ground.”

Recognized as “Public Affairs Agency of the Decade” by The Holmes Report and one of the “Top Places to Work in PR” by PRNews, APCO emphasizes a collegial work environment and offers countless training and development opportunities. The company is deeply committed to diversity and inclusion, actively recruiting, hiring, promoting, and retaining individuals who reflect the diverse communities in which they operate, ensuring a positive and welcoming environment where everyone feels they belong and can thrive. APCO is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

APCO Insight Internship Program – Job Description

The APCO Insight Internship Program offers an exciting opportunity for college seniors or recent graduates to kickstart their career in opinion research. This internship is based in APCO’s Washington, DC office.

The program aims to expose interns to the world of understanding target audiences, which include policy elites, opinion leaders, industry experts, and everyday consumers. Interns will gain exposure to a wide range of research agendas, such as reputation management, corporate communications strategy, public affairs, issues management, message testing, and thought leadership research. APCO emphasizes nurturing growth through a stimulating environment that provides engaging experiences like lunch & learns, research trainings, and hands-on industry exposure to help interns develop into top-notch opinion research professionals.

Responsibilities:

• Editing reports and other written communication.
• Conducting basic quantitative and qualitative primary opinion research data analysis.
• Participating in the development of client proposals and deliverables.
• Participating in qualitative and quantitative research projects, including in-depth interviews, focus groups, and online surveys.
• Conducting desk research to identify market trends, competitive landscapes, and consumer insights.
• Testing survey programming.
• Editing and coding datasets (qualitative and quantitative primary research).
• Assisting in the development of research survey questionnaires and interview guides.
• Participating in internal training sessions and workshops to enhance knowledge and skills in market research and opinion research.
• Supporting the team in administrative tasks, such as scheduling meetings, managing project timelines, and updating databases.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Education: Recent college graduate or senior in class standing with a degree in marketing research, business administration, psychology, sociology, statistics, data analytics, communication, public policy and administration, or other related fields.
• Skills:
• Detail-oriented and highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with an ability to interpret complex data and draw meaningful conclusions.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Basic experience handling and processing data.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Microsoft SharePoint Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides).
• Working knowledge of Excel formulas and data processing.
• Basic working knowledge of descriptive and inferential statistics (experience with statistical software, especially SPSS, STATA or R, is preferred but not required).
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information responsibly.
• Experience: Previous experience in research and familiarity with crosstabs are a plus.
• Availability: Available to work 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday.
• Work Authorization: Requires US Work Authorization; candidates with OPT/Post-OPT status cannot be considered.

Working Environment:

The internship operates on a hybrid and flexible working environment. Interns will be provided with a company laptop, allowing them to work both from home and in the office. There will be opportunities to work remotely and days to come together in the office to experience APCO’s culture and meet colleagues.

Compensation:

This is a paid internship with a fixed hourly rate of $17.50.

Application and Internship Dates:

• The closing date for applications is Friday, July 25th.
• An immediate start is preferred.
• The internship program ends on Friday, December 12th, 2025.