Institute of Politics

About the Organization: Founded in 2013 by David Axelrod, the Institute of Politics, a non-partisan, extracurricular organization at the University of Chicago, aims to inspire and cultivate the next generation of political and public service leaders. Four core programs create the heart of the Institute: civic engagement opportunities that enable students to experience politics-in-action through political exploration trips, leadership training, service programs and voter engagement projects; visiting fellowships where distinguished political officials, policymakers, journalists, diplomats and others are in residence on campus during an academic quarter; political and public service internships that provide students with paid, substantive career development opportunities; and a continuous series of public events featuring leading political figures sharing their insights on key issues of the day.

The IOP House Intern program offers students the opportunity to work closely with IOP staff to facilitate operations and programming, playing a central role in supporting the IOP's many activities and initiatives. Interns gain valuable knowledge and skills in public and social service as well as in specific program areas. IOP House Internships are available to undergraduate and graduate students, are paid, and are eligible for work study.

Internship Description: The IOP’s Career Development team is responsible for providing students with practical experience, paid internships, skills training, advising, and a robust professional network to explore careers in politics and public service. Each year, the IOP provides 300+ paid internships as well as weekly office hours, skills-based workshops, an annual trek to Washington, D.C., and more.

The Career Development intern will assist IOP Career Development staff to manage academic-year and summer internships; plan professional development workshops; connect with political and public service organizations and contacts; assist with employer communications for the team; interact with IOP staff and fellows, and more.

The Career Development intern may undergo 10+ hours of training during spring quarter of 2026, as the incoming intern will be trained by the current (outgoing) intern. The internship will then begin in a full-hours capacity in fall 2026 and continue through the end of spring quarter (June 2027).

The Career Development intern will report directly to Mark Schauerte, the IOP’s Director of Career Development, and Laresa Lund, the IOP’s Career Development Assistant Director.

Duties include (and are not limited to):

• Assist with the internship posting process, including writing job descriptions, updating our website, and data tracking experiences
• Drafting correspondence to students and employers, including inbox management
• Compiling resources for students in advance of their summer internships
• Background research on new employers and new employer outreach
• Data entry
• Planning logistics for Career Development treks, workshops, and panels
• Serving as front desk receptionist during IOP business hours

Qualifications:

• Interest in politics and public service
• Strong research abilities and resourcefulness
• Experience communicating with executives and people in leadership positions
• Strong ability to organize and plan events
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills
• Familiarity with Google Docs, Dropbox, and Excel
• Database management
• Ability to work with minimal oversight; self-directed and motivated

Application Materials:

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Hours: 14-16 hours/week (14 hours minimum)

Compensation: $16.60/hour