Campaigns & Elections/Strategic Federal Partnerships Internship

If you would enjoy working in a dynamic environment and are looking for an opportunity to become part of a stellar team of professionals, we invite you to apply online today.

Posting Period:

April 01, 2026 - Until Filled

Employee Type:

OO105 Center for Advocacy & Political Action (CAPA), SHORTTERM Short-term Temps

Position Type:

Intern (Fixed Term)

Position Details:

NEA is accepting applications for individuals interested in participating in the NEA Internship Program for the Summer 2026 session in the Strategic Federal Partnerships department of the Center for Advocacy and Political Action, which will begin on May 4, 2026 and will end on August 10, 2026.  The internships range from six weeks to a full semester.  Interns will receive a stipend of $20 per hour and may intern up to a maximum of twenty (20) hours a week. This internship is not remote, and interns must be able to travel to the NEA Headquarters building in Washington, DC.

The NEA Internship Program provides interns with training, learning opportunities, educational activities and exposure to a variety of rich and substantive programmatic experiences that support quality public education. These experiences may include conducting research; data analysis; writing, editing, using Internet applications and social media; participating in and assisting with partnership events, tracking and reporting on Executive branch work, meetings and policy forums; interfacing with White House and federal agencies and other appropriate program-related activities.

The NEA partners with institutions of higher education, intern programs and other organizations to identify interns - generally juniors, seniors, recent college graduates (up to 18 months) or graduate students - who are interested in public education policy and education issues. Students pursuing degrees in Education, Political Science, Government, Human Resources, Public Policy, Social Sciences, Business, Finance,  Economics, Management, Communications, Computer Science, Journalism, Mass Media,  Graphic Design, Digital Communications  and other disciplines are encouraged to apply.

Strategic Federal Partnership Internship

Position Emphasis: This position supports NEA’s strategic objective to focus the energy and resources of its 3 million members toward the promotion of public education by participating in internship opportunities and assignments in the Strategic Federal Partnerships department of the Center for Advocacy and Political Action.

Strategic Federal Partnership Intern Activities:

• Assist in the tracking and reporting of Administration policy and regulatory actions and engagements with NEA members, leaders and staff.
• Assist with coordinating travel and DC based opportunities for NEA members, leaders and staff to engage with Administration events and activities.
• Support the Strategic Federal Partnership team’s cross center team meetings and coordinate follow up work.

Additionally, NEA interns will have the opportunity to work collaboratively with NEA staff and participate in a variety of meaningful learning experiences, projects and opportunities during the internship.  In addition to participating in assigned Center/department activities, based on their skills and interests, interns will also have opportunities to participate in relevant NEA sponsored and/or approved group activities that may occur at NEA or in the Washington Metropolitan area.  The group activities may include participation in interviews with the NEA President and Executive Director, and organizational leadership and staff, observing NEA events such as Representative Assembly events, Board meetings or cross Center/department events, and participating in policy forums, organizing or lobbying activities or organized partner or Intern events in the Washington DC Metropolitan area, such as Washington DC Intern Week. Expected skills and opportunities for development that the intern may obtain from this educational experience.

Expected skills and opportunities for development

• Gain experience in a membership/labor organization.
• Gain experience on federal policy and regulatory issues
• Gain experience in navigating official protocol and relationships with internal and external partners
• Gain experience in research and communications
• Interns will also learn about the NEA, its role in public education, issues affecting NEA members at the national, state and local level and advocacy strategies to support members and the students they serve.  In addition to obtaining experience in their area of interest, interns may develop skills in collaboration, communication, writing, research, analysis, preparing reports, interviewing, and use of organizing