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 decisionmakers 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 CSIS International Security Program/Project on Fragility and Mobility is looking for an analytical, detail oriented, curious, and entrepreneurial individual to serve as a Research Intern. The Project on Fragility and Mobility is committed to reinvigorating U.S. leadership in fragile contexts. It provides government, non-profit, and private sector leaders with evidence-based recommendations on how to boost community resilience, ensure safe and orderly human mobility patterns, develop stability out of conflict, and broaden national security conversations to include strengthening civilian tools to achieve these goals. Through convenings and research, the project addresses global fragility and human mobility concerns that will continue to dominate the agendas of defense, development, and diplomacy-focused policy makers for years to come. The goal is to create an inter-disciplinary space for new voices and new ideas to help rethink and reshape how best to build resilience and prevent transnational threats in places around the world experiencing fragility.

The Research Intern position supports the operational and substantive goals of the project and will be expected to coordinate and advance new initiatives and policy proposals. Responsibilities include assisting with ongoing research, assisting in creating materials for high-profile events and publications, preparing briefing materials to the Director and Program Coordinator ahead of meetings, and providing other administrative support as needed. The intern will be paid an hourly rate.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Functions may include but are not limited to the following:

• Assist with ongoing research projects. • Compiling research and data into literature reviews, summaries, backgrounders, and short publications to support the program’s research portfolio. • Conducting background research on a wide range of issues for the director. • Assist with event planning, including drafting invitation letters, conducting background research, drafting questions, and staffing virtual events. • Create and distribute mailings in Pardot. • Assist the Program Coordinator with expense tracking and budgeting. • Various administrative duties.

KNOWLEDGE, EDUCATION, AND EXPERIENCE:

Strong candidates will be able to commit to a full-time internship (35 hours/week) from early January 2022 to late May 2022, and possess the following attributes:

• B.A. (completed or in progress) Degree in Political Science, International Relations, History, Public Policy, International Development, or other relevant fields preferred. • Demonstrated ability to contribute to, edit, and produce high quality written materials, ideally analytical reports with policy recommendations. • Must possess strong interest in fragility and/or mobility issues and U.S. foreign and security policy more broadly. • Qualitative research skills are required. Quantitative skills are a plus. • High proficiency in Microsoft Office products is required. Advanced Excel skills are a plus. • Superior attention to detail and organizational skills. • Experience planning and executing events. • Ability to operate under pressure and in a fast-paced environment. • Sound judgment, impeccable integrity, and a creative outlook. • Must possess a self-starting, entrepreneurial mind-set and be able to work well independently and in teams. • Ability to interact with and respond to questions from a range of individuals with diverse interests, backgrounds, and dispositions.

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.

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

HOW TO APPLY:

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, a list of 3 references (including reference’s name, title, affiliation, email address, and phone number), and a writing sample of no more than 3 pages at https://careers.csis.org/.

Required Skills Required Experience

• Strong analytic skills and ability to synthesize and translate complicated material into clear and simple language. 
• Excellent editing, oral and written communications skills. 
• Thorough knowledge of correct use of grammar, construction, and spelling. 
• Ability to meet high standards for accuracy, quality, responsiveness, integrity, and discretion.  
• Strong interpersonal communications and teamwork skills.  
• Demonstrated ability to quickly produce high-quality work under tight deadlines.  
• Detail-oriented with strong organization, project and time management skills, including ability to manage multiple projects and tasks simultaneously.  
• Ability to take direction and editing from others.  
• Motivated self-starter with a can-do attitude.