Job Description

Save the Children

For over 100 years, Save the Children has been fighting for the rights of children. The right to a healthy start in life. To have access to education. To be in a safe environment, protected from harm. We work in some of the world’s hardest-to-reach places – over 100 countries, including the U.S. No matter what your role is, when you join Save the Children, you’re creating positive, irreversible change for children, and the future we all share.

The Role

As the Policy & Advocacy Intern, you will support Save the Children’s work to advance positive, lasting policy change for children in the U.S. and around the world. The Policy & Advocacy division is a collaborative, mission-driven team that combines policy expertise with strong coordination and operational excellence to advocate for every child’s right to a safe, healthy, and promising future.

In this role, you will build practical experience in policy and advocacy. You will support research, writing, coordination, and administrative tasks that advance child‑centered policy and political strategies grounded in data, lived experience, and on‑the‑ground programmatic expertise. The intern will have the opportunity to work with our humanitarian, global development, and domestic policy teams, building knowledge and gaining exposure to advocacy on issues such as food security, early childhood education, and child protection in crisis contexts.

Location

Hybrid – Washington DC office location

What You’ll Be Doing (Essential Duties)

*not inclusive of all role responsibilities. May be subject to change

• Conduct policy research on global and domestic policy issues impacting children.
• Monitor legislative and policy developments within priority issue areas.
• Conduct research on government stakeholders, including Members of Congress and the administration to assess alignment with Save the Children’s positions on policy issues and legislation impacting children and families.
• Research and write fact sheets, policy briefs, talking points and other communications materials.
• Assist with preparation for events and meetings.
• Accompany staff to congressional hearings, coalition meetings, and other engagements.
• Provide administrative support for team activities by helping organize materials, update shared resources, and support internal meetings as needed.
• Support legislative tracking and stakeholder engagement data entry and analysis to enable stronger decision making and measurement of the impact of advocacy towards desired outcomes.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required qualifications for the role

• Must be actively enrolled in an Associates, Bachelors, or Master’s degree program, or have graduated within 6 months of the start date.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate professionally and collaborate effectively with individuals and teams.
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple competing priorities.
• Professional proficiency in MS Office suite
• Professional proficiency in spoken and written English

Preferred qualifications for the role

• Excellent writing and research skills.
• Strong interest in global development, humanitarian, and/or domestic policy issues.
• Demonstrated success providing excellent customer service.

What’s In It for You

Professional Development

• Hands-on experience working on high-impact global initiatives
• Structured skill development and engagement program (SME trainings, social mixers and LinkedIn Learning courses)
• Access to mentorship from experienced leaders in humanitarian and nonprofit sectors
• Opportunities to present your work and insights to leadership

Deep Connections & Collaboration

• Build authentic relationships with a diverse, mission-driven cohort of colleagues and fellow interns
• Join a community that values inclusion, belonging and collective success

Agile Work Environment

• Hybrid and flexible working models that support autonomy and innovation
• Agile team structures that allow you to contribute ideas and implemented them
• Trust-based culture focused on outcomes, not just hours

Purpose-Driven Work

• Make a meaningful difference in children’s lives—your work directly contributes to global change
• Opportunity to align your personal values with your professional journey and share with mutually invested colleagues.

Classification: Intern

Compensation: $17.00 / hour

Hours: maximum 24 hours per week

Dates: September 28, 2026 - December 11, 2026

About Us

Save the Children is committed to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for the children it serves and helping protect the children with whom we are in contact. All Save the Children representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of child abuse.

Save the Children is committed to minimizing safety and security risks for our valued employees, ensuring all are given training, support and information to reduce their risk exposure while maximizing the impact of our programs for children and families. Our shared duty, both agency and individual, is to seek and maintain safe working conditions for all.

If you require disability assistance with the application or recruitment process, please submit a request to applicantsupport@savechildren.org