Intern – Advocacy & Government Affairs

Description

PRIMARY PURPOSE: The Advocacy Intern supports NTFB’s efforts to advance public policy priorities, strengthen relationships with community partners and public officials, and engage advocates in meaningful action. This part-time internship provides hands-on experience in policy research, legislative tracking, advocacy communications, coalition engagement, and event coordination. The intern will work collaboratively with the Government Relations Officer while gaining practical experience in nonprofit advocacy, government relations, and the legislative process.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

· Current undergraduate or graduate student, recent graduate, or equivalent education/experience in public policy, political science, nonprofit management, social work, public administration, or a related field

Special Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

· Demonstrated interest in advocacy, public policy, civic engagement, government relations, or the organization’s mission

· Strong research, writing, editing, verbal communication, and interpersonal skills

· Ability to explain complex information clearly and concisely for varied audiences

· Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to prioritize and manage multiple assignments and deadlines

· Ability to work independently, take initiative, and collaborate effectively with diverse populations and teams

· Professional judgment when handling sensitive or confidential information

· Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams, JotForm and Canva preferred

PRINCIPLE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

· Support outreach to advocates, coalition partners, community organizations, and public officials

· Draft and edit policy briefs, fact sheets, talking points, advocacy alerts, presentations, letters, and other materials

· Assist with planning advocacy events, legislative visits, briefings, trainings, and community engagement activities

· Prepare meeting materials, capture notes, document action items, and support timely follow-up

· Maintain contact lists, stakeholder records, shared files, and other advocacy resources

· Help create digital and social media content that encourages civic participation and advances advocacy campaigns

· Attend relevant meetings, hearings, webinars, and coalition calls as assigned

· Provide administrative and project support to the Advocacy and Government Relations team

· Perform other tasks and duties as assigned

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES:

· Develop practical skills in policy research, legislative monitoring, and advocacy communications

· Gain exposure to government processes, coalition building, and stakeholder engagement

· Build a portfolio of professional writing and project work

· Receive mentorship, feedback, and opportunities to participate in professional development activities

MENTAL DEMANDS:

• The person in this position must adapt effectively to workplace demands, including competing priorities, deadlines, sensitive information, and interactions with varied internal and external stakeholders.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

· While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel crouch or crawl; talk or hear. 

· Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

· The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. 

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS:

· Moderate noise (i.e. business office with open floor plan with computers, phone, printers, and light traffic)

· This position may be eligible for telecommuting at the supervisor’s discretion.

The mental and physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. 

This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all skills, duties, responsibilities, efforts, requirements or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, NTFB reserves the right to revise the job or to require other or different tasks be performed as assigned.

The North Texas Food Bank is an equal opportunity employer.