Program Development Manager Internships
Program development manager internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience, mentorship from working program development managers, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated across Retail, Fintech, and Insurance, with Travelers, Siemens, and Equinix among the employers posting roles now.
Find InternshipsOverview
Showing 5 of 24+ Program Development Manager Internships
Competitive Range Solutions partners with the government to plan and deploy complex, IT-enabled, and mission-essential capabilities. Our goal is to help you develop and expand your professional capabilities while working on challenging, exciting projects in a collaborative, congenial environment.
Our Management Development Program (MDP) is a hands-on internship built to walk emerging talent through the real, day-to-day processes of working at a Department of Defense (DOD) contractor, the things you actually do and follow once you are on the job. The heart of this program is practical and process-focused: learning how people get hired and onboarded, completing the trainings every employee is required to take, and shadowing team members to see how each department works within the company.
Most of your time will be spent learning and participating in the processes below.
1. The Hiring & Onboarding Process: You will get an inside look at how a defense contractor recruits, hires, and brings on new employees:
- Walking through the full candidate lifecycle; from job posting and application to interview, offer, and start date.
- Understanding onboarding paperwork and why it matters (I-9 employment eligibility, tax forms, direct deposit, benefits enrollment).
- Learning the basics of the security clearance and eligibility process, including forms like the SF-86 and what a background investigation involves.
- Seeing how new hires are set up with equipment, accounts, and system access.
- Observing recruiters and HR to understand how candidates are screened and how hiring decisions get made.
2. Required Trainings: You will complete and learn the purpose behind the trainings every employee is expected to finish:
- Security awareness and information-handling basics.
- Ethics and standards of conduct training.
- Expense reporting and travel policy basics.
- Company systems and tools training (email, collaboration platforms, HR and timekeeping systems).
- Compliance essentials at an introductory level; what rules exist, why they matter, and where to find them.
3. Shadowing & On-the-Job Learning: You will spend meaningful time observing real employees at work so you learn how tasks are actually performed:
- Shadowing managers and team leads to see how they run their day, prioritize, and communicate.
- Sitting in on team meetings and status updates to learn the rhythm of the work.
- Watching how tasks are assigned, tracked, and reported to leadership and customers.
- Following along on real processes and workflows so you understand the steps before you are asked to do them.
- Asking questions and building relationships with mentors across departments.
Qualifications/Experience:
- Must be a U.S. Citizen.
- Ability to obtain a U.S. security clearance; required
- Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a bachelor's or master's program (all majors encouraged to apply), preferred.
- Organized, dependable, and eager to learn.
- Comfortable asking questions and taking notes.
- Self-motivated and able to stay engaged in a fully remote setting.
- Basic comfort with standard productivity tools (e.g., Microsoft Office / collaboration platforms).
Competitive Range Solutions partners with the government to plan and deploy complex, IT-enabled, and mission-essential capabilities. Our goal is to help you develop and expand your professional capabilities while working on challenging, exciting projects in a collaborative, congenial environment.
Our Management Development Program (MDP) is a hands-on internship built to walk emerging talent through the real, day-to-day processes of working at a Department of Defense (DOD) contractor, the things you actually do and follow once you are on the job. The heart of this program is practical and process-focused: learning how people get hired and onboarded, completing the trainings every employee is required to take, and shadowing team members to see how each department works within the company.
Most of your time will be spent learning and participating in the processes below.
1. The Hiring & Onboarding Process: You will get an inside look at how a defense contractor recruits, hires, and brings on new employees:
- Walking through the full candidate lifecycle; from job posting and application to interview, offer, and start date.
- Understanding onboarding paperwork and why it matters (I-9 employment eligibility, tax forms, direct deposit, benefits enrollment).
- Learning the basics of the security clearance and eligibility process, including forms like the SF-86 and what a background investigation involves.
- Seeing how new hires are set up with equipment, accounts, and system access.
- Observing recruiters and HR to understand how candidates are screened and how hiring decisions get made.
2. Required Trainings: You will complete and learn the purpose behind the trainings every employee is expected to finish:
- Security awareness and information-handling basics.
- Ethics and standards of conduct training.
- Expense reporting and travel policy basics.
- Company systems and tools training (email, collaboration platforms, HR and timekeeping systems).
- Compliance essentials at an introductory level; what rules exist, why they matter, and where to find them.
3. Shadowing & On-the-Job Learning: You will spend meaningful time observing real employees at work so you learn how tasks are actually performed:
- Shadowing managers and team leads to see how they run their day, prioritize, and communicate.
- Sitting in on team meetings and status updates to learn the rhythm of the work.
- Watching how tasks are assigned, tracked, and reported to leadership and customers.
- Following along on real processes and workflows so you understand the steps before you are asked to do them.
- Asking questions and building relationships with mentors across departments.
Qualifications/Experience:
- Must be a U.S. Citizen.
- Ability to obtain a U.S. security clearance; required
- Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a bachelor's or master's program (all majors encouraged to apply), preferred.
- Organized, dependable, and eager to learn.
- Comfortable asking questions and taking notes.
- Self-motivated and able to stay engaged in a fully remote setting.
- Basic comfort with standard productivity tools (e.g., Microsoft Office / collaboration platforms).
Program Development Manager Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Retail
- Fintech
- Insurance
- Banking & Financial Services
- Investment & Asset Management
Tips for Your Program Development Manager Internship Search
Apply in the fall for summer cohorts
Large employers open program development manager internship applications as early as August or September for the following summer. Smaller companies and co-op programs post much closer to their start dates. Check listings consistently across the full academic year rather than waiting for a single recruiting window to open.
Build proof before you need a resume
Intern hiring teams for program development manager roles want evidence, not a long work history. Document two or three program or process-improvement projects with the tools you used, the scope you managed, and outcomes you can point to, whether that's a published case study, a process map, or a program plan you can share.
Work your campus network and apply directly at the same time
Career fairs surface structured internship programs tied to your university, and your professors and career center staff often know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Apply directly to companies running smaller cohorts alongside that campus activity so you reach programs that don't recruit on campus at all.
Practice the program development manager intern screen out loud
Intern interviews for this role typically involve case-style conversations around program design, stakeholder management, or process problem-solving. Practice walking through your reasoning aloud, not just arriving at an answer, because interviewers weigh how you structure a problem as much as the conclusion you reach.
Target structured rotational and cohort programs early
Many larger organizations run dedicated program development manager pipelines, including rotational internships that move you across two or more business units. These programs are built to train people new to the field, recruit early in the academic year, and fill fast, so identify the ones that fit your background and get your application in during the first wave.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 17% of the program development manager internships listed here. Decide what location and work arrangement you can commit to before you search, then filter by work type on Migrate Mate so you spend your time on roles you can actually take rather than sorting through ones that don't fit.
Program Development Manager Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a program development manager internship?
Lead with coursework and personal projects rather than work history, since intern hiring teams expect limited experience. Build a portfolio of documented program initiatives or process-improvement case studies that give recruiters something concrete to assess. Apply directly to companies posting openings and attend campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet face to face.
Can a program development manager internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What drives it for program development manager interns is consistent performance on real project work, available headcount on the team at offer time, and whether you express interest before the return-offer window closes. Position for it by delivering results, but don't count on it when evaluating the opportunity.
When should I apply for program development manager internships?
Earlier than most candidates expect. Large employers open summer intern applications the preceding fall, sometimes as early as August or September. Smaller companies, nonprofits, and co-op programs post much closer to start dates, so openings appear year-round. Check listings regularly rather than waiting for a single hiring season.
Are program development manager internships paid?
Most professional program development manager internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, and some positions also include housing stipends or relocation support. Where an employer discloses pay, the listing will show it so you can compare offers without guessing.
What should a program development manager internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Feature two or three complete, documented program or project initiatives, naming the tools, frameworks, or methodologies you used and linking to case studies, process maps, or published outcomes where possible. Add relevant coursework in project management, organizational development, or operations, and keep the whole document to one page.
Are there remote program development manager internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 83% of the program development manager internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast because they attract applicants from across the country, so apply early and use the work-type filter to see them without sorting through roles that don't fit your situation.
What is a rotational program development manager internship?
Rotational internship programs place interns in two or more business units or program areas over the internship term, giving exposure to how different parts of an organization design and manage initiatives. They're common at larger companies building a pipeline of future program managers, recruit early in the academic year, and are competitive, so identify the programs that fit your background and apply in the first wave.
Can international students get program development manager internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
See All 24 Program Development Manager Internship Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Internships