Public Policy Manager Internships
Public policy manager internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience working alongside working policy practitioners, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Roles cover {{top_industries_phrase}}, with NABCA, NOVOGRADAC & COMPANY, and The Recording Academy among the employers posting roles now.
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Job Announcement
Public Policy Research Intern
National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (NABCA), located in Arlington, VA, was founded in 1938 and is the national trade association representing the jurisdictions that control the distribution and sale of beverage alcohol within their borders. The mission of NABCA is to support member jurisdictions in their efforts to protect public health and safety and ensure responsible and efficient systems for beverage alcohol distribution and sales.
NABCA has an immediate vacancy for a temporary Public Policy Research Intern. The Public Policy team is responsible for policy research and analysis on public policy, public health and public safety issues that are foundational to NABCA's mission. The intern will perform research, data mining, data cleaning, visualization, and other assigned tasks to support the Public Policy data analysis. The intern will assist the Public Policy Team's work to promote public health and safety with control jurisdictions, nonprofit organizations, members, and communities. The Public Policy Research Intern reports to the Director, Public Policy.
NABCA is a Great Place to Work Certified Workplace for 2024/25! Click Here to Learn More! NABCA offers complimentary parking, and offices in a beautiful building conveniently located in the Shirlington area, one block from popular shops and restaurants. The individual selected for this role will have opportunities to meet exceptionally talented managers and colleagues throughout the organization.
Duties: The Public Policy Intern performs the following duties:
- Completes assignments to support the department's accomplishment of NABCA's strategic public policy and research goals.
- Assists in identifying meaningful data sources that expand the department's existing portfolio of policy datasets.
- Performs research and data mining tasks to support statistical reporting projects; collects, transforms, cleans, and validates data from multiple sources as assigned.
- Prepares basic syntheses and regular updates of research, data and statistical analyses.
- Uses data and statistical tools and apps to develop basic data models and statistical reports to provide insights for the Public Policy Team as requested; assists with updating public policy dashboards and impact reports as assigned.
- Participates in meetings; perform special projects as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Pursuit of a bachelor's or master's degree in public policy, public health, or related discipline at an accredited college or university is required. Data science, analytics, statistics, economics, or directly related coursework are highly preferred.
- Prior internships or employment in public health, public safety, or public policy roles in non-profit or government settings is strongly preferred.
- An understanding of the research and data needs of the public health, safety or policy fields is a plus.
- Strong written and verbal communications skills are required.
- Recent experience using statistical or analytical tools and apps to analyze data is required. Recent experience using Power BI, Tableau, SPSS, SAS, R, etc.is essential.
- Strong analytical skills and recent experience with data mining, cleaning, and visualization tools are required.
- Recent experience conducting data mining tasks, to include collecting, transforming, cleaning, and validating data from multiple sources, etc.-is essential.
- An intermediate level of proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, MS Teams, and Outlook is required.
- Strong attention to detail and the ability to identify and resolve data errors are essential.
- Must possess initiative and be a fast learner who can produce work that is accurate and complete. Strong organizational and time management skills and the ability to meet assignment deadlines is essential.
- Must be a reliable, professional, flexible, team player with a positive attitude,
- A strong desire to understand how research and data intersect to advance the public policy, public health or public safety fields is essential.
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
EOE/M/F/D
Please note that this is a temporary 10-12-week Intern assignment.
The Public Policy Research Intern selected for this role will generally work 16-24 hours per week.
To Apply: Interested individuals should send resume and cover letter to hradmin@nabca.org by August 25, 2026. Learn more about NABCA at www.nabca.org.
NABCA is a Great Place to Work Certified Workplace for 2024/25! Click Here to Learn More!
NO PHONE CALLS, PLEASE!
Job Announcement
Public Policy Research Intern
National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (NABCA), located in Arlington, VA, was founded in 1938 and is the national trade association representing the jurisdictions that control the distribution and sale of beverage alcohol within their borders. The mission of NABCA is to support member jurisdictions in their efforts to protect public health and safety and ensure responsible and efficient systems for beverage alcohol distribution and sales.
NABCA has an immediate vacancy for a temporary Public Policy Research Intern. The Public Policy team is responsible for policy research and analysis on public policy, public health and public safety issues that are foundational to NABCA's mission. The intern will perform research, data mining, data cleaning, visualization, and other assigned tasks to support the Public Policy data analysis. The intern will assist the Public Policy Team's work to promote public health and safety with control jurisdictions, nonprofit organizations, members, and communities. The Public Policy Research Intern reports to the Director, Public Policy.
NABCA is a Great Place to Work Certified Workplace for 2024/25! Click Here to Learn More! NABCA offers complimentary parking, and offices in a beautiful building conveniently located in the Shirlington area, one block from popular shops and restaurants. The individual selected for this role will have opportunities to meet exceptionally talented managers and colleagues throughout the organization.
Duties: The Public Policy Intern performs the following duties:
- Completes assignments to support the department's accomplishment of NABCA's strategic public policy and research goals.
- Assists in identifying meaningful data sources that expand the department's existing portfolio of policy datasets.
- Performs research and data mining tasks to support statistical reporting projects; collects, transforms, cleans, and validates data from multiple sources as assigned.
- Prepares basic syntheses and regular updates of research, data and statistical analyses.
- Uses data and statistical tools and apps to develop basic data models and statistical reports to provide insights for the Public Policy Team as requested; assists with updating public policy dashboards and impact reports as assigned.
- Participates in meetings; perform special projects as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Pursuit of a bachelor's or master's degree in public policy, public health, or related discipline at an accredited college or university is required. Data science, analytics, statistics, economics, or directly related coursework are highly preferred.
- Prior internships or employment in public health, public safety, or public policy roles in non-profit or government settings is strongly preferred.
- An understanding of the research and data needs of the public health, safety or policy fields is a plus.
- Strong written and verbal communications skills are required.
- Recent experience using statistical or analytical tools and apps to analyze data is required. Recent experience using Power BI, Tableau, SPSS, SAS, R, etc.is essential.
- Strong analytical skills and recent experience with data mining, cleaning, and visualization tools are required.
- Recent experience conducting data mining tasks, to include collecting, transforming, cleaning, and validating data from multiple sources, etc.-is essential.
- An intermediate level of proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, MS Teams, and Outlook is required.
- Strong attention to detail and the ability to identify and resolve data errors are essential.
- Must possess initiative and be a fast learner who can produce work that is accurate and complete. Strong organizational and time management skills and the ability to meet assignment deadlines is essential.
- Must be a reliable, professional, flexible, team player with a positive attitude,
- A strong desire to understand how research and data intersect to advance the public policy, public health or public safety fields is essential.
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
EOE/M/F/D
Please note that this is a temporary 10-12-week Intern assignment.
The Public Policy Research Intern selected for this role will generally work 16-24 hours per week.
To Apply: Interested individuals should send resume and cover letter to hradmin@nabca.org by August 25, 2026. Learn more about NABCA at www.nabca.org.
NABCA is a Great Place to Work Certified Workplace for 2024/25! Click Here to Learn More!
NO PHONE CALLS, PLEASE!
Public Policy Manager Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Tips for Your Public Policy Manager Internship Search
Apply in the fall for summer roles
Large think tanks, government agencies, and policy-focused nonprofits recruit summer interns the preceding fall, often closing applications before winter break. Smaller organizations and co-op programs post closer to start dates. Map your target employers early and set alerts so you apply in the first wave rather than after cohorts fill.
Build a policy portfolio before you apply
Hiring teams for public policy manager internships expect limited work history, so give them something concrete to review. Document two or three research projects, published policy briefs, or advocacy case studies that show your analytical process, the tools you used, and the conclusion you reached. A linked, accessible portfolio separates your application from a plain transcript.
Work your campus network alongside direct applications
Career fairs surface structured internship programs tied specifically to your university, and professors or career center advisors often know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Apply directly to smaller organizations running their own cohorts at the same time, since those roles rarely appear through campus channels and fill on their own timeline.
Practice policy case conversations out loud
Public policy manager intern screens often involve a policy case or analytical exercise where interviewers weigh how you structure a problem as much as your final recommendation. Practice walking through a real policy question out loud, explaining your reasoning step by step, before your first interview. Recording yourself once reveals hesitations that practice alone doesn't catch.
Target structured policy fellowship programs early
Several large agencies and foundations run formal policy intern cohorts or fellowship pipelines designed specifically for people new to the field, including rotational and university-partner programs. These programs recruit early, fill fast, and offer structured mentorship that unstructured internships rarely match. Identify the ones relevant to your focus area and apply in the first round.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 0% of the public policy manager internships listed here. Decide what arrangement you can actually commit to before you start reviewing openings, then filter by location and work type from the start so you spend your time on roles you can take rather than sorting through ones you can't.
Public Policy Manager Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a public policy manager internship?
Lead with coursework, independent research projects, and a policy portfolio rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. A portfolio of published policy briefs, case studies, or documented advocacy projects gives recruiters something concrete to assess. Combine direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a public policy 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 public policy manager interns is performance on real deliverables, available headcount on the team, and how early you signal interest before the return-offer decision window closes. Treat the internship as an extended interview and do strong work without counting on an offer.
When should I apply for public policy manager internships?
Earlier than most candidates expect. Large government agencies, think tanks, and major employers recruit summer interns the preceding fall, sometimes as early as September or October. Smaller organizations and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking regularly and applying as soon as a role fits your background puts you ahead of most applicants.
Are public policy manager internships paid?
Most professional public policy manager internships in the United States are paid, though compensation varies by company size, industry, and location. Some government and nonprofit roles offer stipends rather than hourly pay. Listings show compensation where the employer discloses it, so you can compare opportunities as you apply.
What should a public policy manager internship resume include?
Lead with two or three complete, documented projects rather than work history: name the specific tools you used, the policy question you addressed, and link to published briefs, case studies, or research analyses where the work is visible. Add relevant coursework in public policy, political science, economics, or law. Keep the whole document to one page.
Are there remote public policy manager internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 100% of the public policy manager internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast because they attract applicants from across the country, so apply early once you decide what arrangement fits your situation and filter by work type to see those roles immediately.
Can international students get public policy 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.
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