Temporary Communications Intern

Department

UL Crime Ed Lab Interns and Temporary Staff

About the Department

In cities across the country, people face high rates of gun violence, under-resourced schools, and social harms associated with the criminal justice system – all of which disproportionately impact people of color. These inequalities have profound consequences on public safety and opportunity. As a society we have failed to address these challenges, in part, because of our lack of understanding of the most effective and cost-effective solutions that can have a real impact on people’s lives. We believe that rigorous research can help.

The University of Chicago Crime Lab and Education Lab partner with cities and communities to use data and rigorous research to design, test, and scale programs and policies that enhance public safety, improve educational outcomes, and advance justice. Our mission is to combine world-class data science and research, in partnership with government agencies, to substantially improve the effectiveness of the public sector and achieve impact at scale.

For more information about our work, visit the Crime Lab and Education Lab websites.

Job Information

Job Summary:

The Communications Intern position is a great opportunity to gain experience in applying a variety of communications skills and expertise to policy research. This position will work directly with our Public Affairs Team and members of our individual research teams to complete a variety of tasks over the course of 10 weeks. This position will be full-time for approximately 37.5 hours per week.

Responsibilities:

• Works with the Public Affairs team to execute dissemination strategies intended to keep the public informed of the organization’s research, accomplishments, and points of view.

• Assists with drafting and uploading content for the website, using templates and guidelines provided.

• Assists with drafting internal and external-facing documents, including presentations, newsletters, and project summaries.

• Observes the public affairs planning process via meetings with project leaders, organizational leaders, and external consultants. This may include administrative tasks such as notetaking and agenda creation.

• Under the direction of the Public Affairs team, drafts and publishes social media content on LinkedIn. Tracks metrics and insights.

• Conducts background research for presentations and written materials. 

• Performs other related work as needed.

Competencies:

• Interest in and aptitude for communications and public affairs skills, specifically related social policy research.

• Strong written and verbal skills.

• Familiarity with a content management system such as Wordpress.

• Demonstrated ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, prioritize tasks, and meet tight deadlines, while maintaining organization and attention to detail.

• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.

• Positive, flexible, and collaborative team player.

Additional Responsibilities

Education, Experience, or Certifications:

Education:

• High school diploma or GED required.

Experience:

• Academic coursework or professional experience in social policy, communications, public policy, political science, or a related field preferred.

Required Documents:

• Resume
• Cover letter

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Temporary Staff

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Pay Frequency

Hourly

Pay Rate Type

Hourly

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FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

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Pay Range

$16.00 - $22.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

This position is not eligible for benefits.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal