Vertex Summer 2026 Intern, U.S. Public Affairs Intern

Vertex Inc.•Boston, MA

1d•$20 - $32•Hybrid

About The Position

Kickstart Your Career at Vertex! Are you ready to make a real impact? At Vertex, our mission is to tackle serious diseases and to change lives, for the better, for the future. Our aim is to give you the skills, insights, and career guidance to be an important part of that future; to turn your potential into progression. As a Vertex intern or co-op, you’ll work on meaningful projects, collaborate with talented teams, and learn from industry leaders. We’re passionate about innovation, inclusion, and supporting your growth—inside and outside the lab. Why Vertex? Real Projects: You’ll work on assignments that make a real impact, not just busy work. Mentorship & Networking: Connect with leaders and peers who want to see you succeed through professional networks, connections, and collaborations that will shape your longer-term career. Flexible & Supportive: We offer flexible work options with Flex @ Vertex and prioritize your wellbeing. Inclusive Culture: Collaboration and inclusion are embedded in everything we do. Career Launchpad: Build skills, explore career paths, and get guidance for your future career. Ready to apply? Submit your application and let’s turn possibilities into reality! Your Impact The Vertex U.S. Public Affairs internship program is a multi-week experiential training program for students currently working towards an undergraduate degree or graduate degree. If you are passionate, collaborative, and growth-minded, an internship at Vertex will help you gain meaningful experience in our Public Affairs functional areas and serve as a launchpad for your career. Important Notice Regarding Internship and Co-op Inquiries At Vertex Pharmaceuticals, we are committed to providing a fair and structured recruitment process for all students interested in internship and co-op opportunities. To ensure consistency and equity, all student applications must go through our Early Talent Acquisition Team. Due to the high volume of interest, we are unable to respond to individual solicitation. Direct solicitation to Vertex employees- including senior leaders via email will result in removal from the recruiting process. We appreciate your enthusiasm and interest in Vertex. To be considered for internship or co-op roles, please apply directly through our official application channels. (https://www.vrtx.com/careers/career-growth-and-opportunities/internships/) Thank you for respecting our process and helping us maintain a fair experience for all candidates. What you will be doing: U.S. Public Affairs (USPA) engages policymakers, patient advocacy organizations, and other key external stakeholders to help shape a policy environment that supports patient access to Vertex’s medicines. The USPA intern will work closely with the state and federal government affairs teams and gain exposure to patient advocacy and alliance development efforts. This role offers a hands-on opportunity to support policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, and cross-functional collaboration, while developing a foundational understanding of the U.S. healthcare and public policy landscape. The intern will support day-to-day public affairs activities across state and federal policy priorities, patient advocacy, and alliance development.

Requirements

This position is hybrid at our Boston, MA location
Strong interest in U.S. healthcare policy, government affairs, and patient advocacy; prior coursework or experience in health policy a plus.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex policy information into clear, concise materials for diverse audiences.
Self-motivated, intellectually curious and eager to learn about the intersection of public policy, patient advocacy, and the biopharmaceutical industry.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
Legal authorization to work in the United States, now and in the future. Please note that Vertex does not provide sponsorship for internships or entry level roles within this part of the organization.
You must be enrolled in an advanced degree program if graduating before August 2026
You must be available to work full-time, 40 hours per week from May – August 2026

Nice To Haves

prior coursework or experience in health policy a plus.

Responsibilities

Policy Monitoring and Analysis: Track and summarize state and federal legislative developments relevant to prescription drug policy and patient access.
Prepare written summaries, trackers, and briefing materials to support internal teams.
Research and Content Development: Conduct background research on policy issues and advocacy positions.
Assist in developing presentations, one-pagers, talking points, and internal communications to support government affairs and advocacy initiatives.
Through this work, the intern will gain exposure to both internal decision-making processes and external policy and advocacy environments, while building analytical, communication, and project-management skills.