Intern - Communications (Summer 2026) at Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) | District of Columbia, USA

Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)

Intern - Communications (Summer 2026)

District of Columbia, USA (On-site)

Salary Not AvailableInternship

Posted 6 months ago

Job Description

JOB SUMMARY:

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 250 employees, including more than 120 analysts working to address the changing dynamics of international security across the globe.

CSIS’s Office of External Relations (ER) seeks highly motivated candidates for a full-time, paid, in-person, internship to join our dynamic and fast-paced team beginning May 26, 2026 and through September 4, 2026. Candidates should be motivated self-starters who are passionate about communication. Interns support Center-wide outreach efforts and play an active support role in a range of outreach, communication, and social media efforts, working closely with the ER team and other CSIS staff. Additionally, interns support ER-led events and provide general administrative support.

The hired candidate will be paid hourly, commensurate with experience ($18.50/hour for current undergraduate hires, $19.50/hour for hires with a bachelor’s degree, and $20.50/hour for hires with a master’s degree).

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

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

• Prepare media advisories and event announcements;

• Support with event preparation, staffing, and photography;

• Draft and format ER mailings, and support accuracy of mailing lists;

• Support social media efforts, including drafting content (including short videos) from CSIS materials (publications, events, etc.) for various social media channels;

• Support with metrics and analytics compilation;

• Support various long term projects (outreach research, proposal writing, data gathering) for the ER team and Chief Communications Officer;

• Monitor CSIS social media channels, tracking followers, engagement, and site referrals;

• Provide general administrative support to the full ER team.

KNOWLEDGE, EDUCATION, AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelors’ degree in a relevant field;

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to provide strong customer service;

• Strong interpersonal skills and attention to detail and the ability to prioritize, track, and accomplish multiple tasks simultaneously in a dynamic and fast-paced environment;

• General knowledge of international affairs and an interest in the news cycle.

• Previous event photography experience and working knowledge of cameras.

• Previous communications experience and familiarity with social media analytics.

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.

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.

Equal Opportunity Employer.

HOW TO APPLY:

Applicants must submit both a cover letter and resumé to the CSIS website at https://careers.csis.org/internships. Finalists will be asked for writing samples and references. Interested applicants should apply as soon as possible and will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

To submit an application for this position, click the “Apply” button below, and you will be redirected to our secure recruitment portal.

Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is a bipartisan, nonprofit policy research organization dedicated to advancing practical ideas to address the world’s greatest challenges. Founded in 1962, CSIS is led by General Joseph F. Dunford, who was appointed chief executive officer in 2026. CSIS brings together more than 275 full-time staff and a global network of affiliated scholars working across four core areas of public policy: defense and security, geopolitics and foreign policy, economic security and technology, and global development. Our scholars are regularly called upon by Congress, the executive branch, the media, and others to explain the day’s events and offer recommendations to improve U.S. strategy. CSIS’s purpose is to define the future of national security. We are guided by a distinct set of values—non-partisanship, independent thought, innovative thinking, cross-disciplinary scholarship, integrity and professionalism, and talent development. CSIS’s values work in concert toward the goal of making real-world impact. X: cs.is/U4RJEqLinkedIn: cs.is/33W0gX8Instagram: cs.is/2ZbBTkFThreads: cs.is/3vamuH2Bluesky: https://bit.ly/4admmIbYouTube: cs.is/2TKVQ0kPodcasts: cs.is/2NuWcaD

Founded in 1962

Washington, District of Columbia, USA

1.8K employees (69 in marketing)

csis.org

Links

csis.org

X (Twitter)

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