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 form 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 Civic Engagement Finance Internship gives students the unique opportunity to develop skills in budget management and operations; the intern will also serve as a thought partner to the Civic Engagement team. This internship position is available to undergraduates, is a paid position, and is eligible for workstudy.

During spring quarter of 2026, the incoming intern may be trained and onboarded by the current (outgoing) intern. The internship will then begin in a full-hours capacity in the fall of 2026 and continue through the end of spring quarter (June 2027). Selected interns will be required to attend mandatory training and onboarding sessions in late September with the rest of the house intern cohort.

Duties include (but are not limited to):

• Assist with administering day-to-day operations for Civic Engagement, including purchase requests, reimbursements, budget management; perform other administrative duties as assigned
• Assist with tracking program expenses and budget
• Be a point of contact for student leadership concerning purchase requests, reimbursements, and budget management; troubleshoot administrative and technical questions; ensure that student leadership follows Civic Engagement policies and processes
• Assist with improving the efficiency and efficacy of Civic Engagement administrative processes
• Serve as a thought partner to Civic Engagement staff on programming and curricular decisions
• Staff the front desk: greet visitors; answer the phone and direct requests appropriately; accept and sort mail and package deliveries (When in-person)

Qualifications:

• A demonstrated interest in politics, public service, and civic engagement
• Highly organized with keen attention to detail and commitment to accuracy and confidentiality
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Familiarity with Google Drive, Google Docs, and Google Sheets
• Strong interpersonal skills, demonstrated initiative, and the ability to work both independently and within a team
• Applicants must be enrolled and taking classes at the Hyde Park campus for the duration of the internship

Application Materials:

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Hours: 10-15 hours/week

Compensation: $16.60/hour