Government Affairs Intern (Washington DC)

Benefits Overview

CoBank interns get real-life exposure to the daily duties of their group. They spend the summer as a valued member of their respective team, learning business skills and assisting with a variety of projects that have an impact on the bank’s operations. An additional focus of the summer intern will be to complete a capstone project that will seek to add value to the team they are supporting. 

Remarkable Benefits Offered by CoBank

• Careers with a purpose
• Time-Off Package: 2 days of vacation; accrued sick time
• Competitive Compensation & Housing Stipend
• Hybrid work model: flexible arrangements for most positions
• Robust training and development with CoBank University
• Associate Resource Groups: creating a culture of respect and inclusion

Job Description

Internship Dates

• Start Date: May 27, 2026
• End Date: August 7, 2026

What You'll Do

Over your 10-week paid internship, our Government Affairs Intern will support our advocacy and corporate social responsibility initiatives by engaging in a diverse range of tasks. Your role will involve writing compelling Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) stories that resonate with Members of Congress in our District territory and align with CoBank’s CSR priorities. You will attend and report on Capitol Hill hearings, briefings, and events focused on agriculture, rural development, rural infrastructure on behalf of CoBank, providing insightful updates and analysis. Your responsibilities will also include conducting in-depth research on relevant legislation and regulations and performing targeted analysis to bolster our advocacy efforts in specific Congressional Districts. This internship offers a unique opportunity to gain experience in government affairs and advocacy while making meaningful contributions to our team.

This role is hybrid; interns will come into their designated office at least 3 days a week.

Interns work approximately 40 hours per week.

Location

• Washington DC

Compensation Information

• Bachelor's Student: $21.75/hour
• Master's Student: $25.85/hour
• Summer Living Stipend: $3,500

Essential Functions

This job description is not intended to include an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications that may be associated with the job.  Management reserves the right to add, subtract, or change the duties of the job at any time.

Education

• Currently enrolled in and working towards a Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Political Science, Government Affairs, Public Policy, Ag Marketing, Ag Communications, Ag Economics, or a related discipline and in good academic standing
• While rising seniors will be given priority, we will consider rising juniors

Work Experience

• Knowledge of cooperative principles and the desire to expand in this area
• Strong analytical skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications
• Aptitude for learning other software applications
• Ability to perform research across multiple systems
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Experience in agriculture, banking, or financial services industry

About CoBank

The typical base pay range for this role is between $21.75 - $25.85. Compensation may vary based on individual job-related knowledge, skills, expertise, and experience. This position is eligible for a discretionary annual incentive program driven by organization and individual performance.

 

The listed salary, other compensation and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. This job will be posted for a minimum of five (5) business days or until the position is filled. CoBank reserves the right to adjust compensation for all positions and to modify or discontinue benefits programs at any time in its sole discretion, subject to applicable law.

 

CoBank is a cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America. The bank provides loans, leases, export financing and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water and communications providers in all 50 states. The bank also provides wholesale loans and other financial services to affiliated Farm Credit associations serving more than 76,000 farmers, ranchers and other rural borrowers in 23 states around the country. CoBank is a member of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of banks and retail lending associations chartered to support the borrowing needs of U.S. agriculture, rural infrastructure and rural communities. Headquartered outside Denver, Colorado, CoBank serves custome