Public Affairs Internship - Winter/Spring '27

APCO•Washington, DC

7d•$18•Hybrid

About The Position

APCO is hiring seniors and recent graduates to join our full-time, paid internship program. Interns gain substantive experience in strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, and policy advocacy. They are treated as professional staff - participating in team meetings, contributing ideas, and supporting the overall management and growth of client work and the firm. This internship will be based at APCO’s Washington D.C. office.

Requirements

Recent college graduate or senior in class standing
A demonstrated interest in communications, public relations, journalism or political science
Comfort in a fast-paced environment collaborating with a distributed team
Excellent written and oral communication and research skills
Entrepreneurial with strong critical thinking abilities
Organized and attentive to detail
Able to multi-task and approach assignments independently
Strong working knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite
Available to work 40 hours per week
Requires US Work Authorization, unable to consider candidates with CPT/OPT/Post-OPT status

Responsibilities

Conduct research on legislative, regulatory, and political developments to support client strategy and monitor emerging risks and opportunities
Assist in drafting policy briefs, memos, and advocacy materials that help clients engage policymakers and shape public‑sector outcome
Support stakeholder and issues mapping by identifying key influencers, tracking their positions, and informing strategic engagement plans
Contribute to the development of advocacy campaigns, coalition materials, and public‑affairs programming across U.S. and global markets
Monitor media and industry news to synthesize insights and assess implications for client priorities and reputation
Perform other duties as assigned