INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY: Qatar-America Institute

PLEASE NOTE: This opportunity is listed for reference only. The deadline to apply has passed.

Internship Opportunity: Qatar-America Institute

This is an unpaid internship opportunity from outside the Rockefeller Center.

Position Type: Internship - unpaid

Location: Washington, DC

Sector: Foreign Policy, International Relations

Start Date: As soon as possible

Wage or benefits: Unpaid, Travel Stipend may be available

Time Commitment: Up to 40 hours per week for at least 8 weeks;

Desired Class Year: Open to all class years including graduate students

Desired Major or Interest: Example Open to all majors

Application Deadline: N/A; candidates may apply throughout semester

Organization website:  qataramerica.org  

Brief Description of the organization:

The Qatar-America Institute (QAI) is an independent nonprofit organization that provides free and open space for dialogue, research, discussion and debate on the political, economic, social, and cultural synergies between the United States and Qatar.

 

QAI is an educational research and discussion forum which works proactively to encourage peace, manage conflict, highlight synergies and expose, through research, education and debate the facts and interests that guide both U.S. and Qatari relationships.

 

By providing an environment for the exchange of ideas, unobscured by political or regional interests, QAI promotes cultural and educational exchange to strengthen the strategic relationship between Qatar and the U.S. for years to come.

 

Brief Description of the Intern's role or key qualifications:

Qatar-America Institute's Internship Program accepts qualified university undergraduate

students with an interest in the US-Qatar relationship to become a part of our team in

Washington, D.C.

 

QAI's internship program will cultivate interns with valuable administrative, research, and

professional skills necessary to succeed in a career in the government or private sector. We will

work with each intern to assess their professional and academic interests to achieve the best

possible internship experience at QAI.

 

We consider our interns to be full and equal members of the team here at QAI. Interns will be

assigned important responsibilities and duties during the program; and as such, QAI considers

interns vital colleagues. We value a spirit of collegiality, good humor, and teamwork; and while

our mission is important and our work serious, our team is supportive, dynamic, and fun!

 

Position Summary

Interns will be assigned to a specific QAI program, which will serve as the focus for their primary

research and writing responsibilities. Each program is overseen by a Fellow, who will supervise

assignments and assists interns in their program with professional development and

mentorship.

 

All interns are responsible for supporting a variety of day-to-day operations at QAI, including,

but not limited to: academic research and writing, social media outreach, website updates,

event management, office management, and more. Interns will report directly to the Intern

Supervisor, with Program Fellows serving as supplemental supervisors and mentors.

Compensation

 

National Security & Defense Internship:

• Work with Program Fellow on National Security and Defense research, writing, and program

development

• Assist with production and execution of Program events

• Attend meetings and help staff guests and visiting officials and delegations

• Educate American public on the US-Qatar strategic defense partnership, Al-Udeid Air Base, and

US counterterrorism operations out of Qatar

 

Communications Internship:

• Work with Communications team on QAI communications development

• Help expand QAI's social media presence on Instagram, Twitter, and elsewhere.

• Produce materials to present on QAI's website in the form of reports, blog posts, etc.

• Use of graphic design software would be ideal

• Work with Director of External Relations to grow media presence – both online and traditional –

to gain local, national and international attention.

 

Culture and Sports Internship:

• Work with Program Fellow on National Security and Defense research, writing, and program

development

• Assist with production and execution of Program events

• Attend meetings and help staff guests and visiting officials and delegations

• Educate American public on Qatari culture and sports, including FIFA 2022 World Cup

 

Finance and Economy Internship:

• Work with Program Fellow on Finance and Economy research, writing, and program

development

• Assist with production and execution of Program events

• Attend meetings and help staff guests and visiting officials and delegations

• Educate American public on Qatar's anti-terrorism and illicit finance regime, and US-Qatar trade

Relationship

 

Essential Functions and Responsibilities of All Interns

Research

Interns will be responsible for a wide range of duties at QAI. We are an education-focused

institution, and research is an essential part of our mission. Interns will research and produce

written work on issues of geopolitical, economic, social, cultural, and strategic importance to

the U.S.-Qatar relationship.

QAI will work with interns to tailor their research and writing assignments to areas of interest.

However, interns may occasionally be asked to step outside of their comfort zone to explore

and investigate issues with which they may not be familiar. QAI believes in a dynamic approach

to education, and our interns will research a broad array of subject matter relating to the

United States and Qatar.

 

Operational/Administrative Duties

Interns will assist QAI with operational duties like greeting visitors, answer the phones, signing

for packages, and helping to maintain the office. Administrative duties may include data

processing, assisting our administrative office with office logistics, and day-to-day tasks to keep

the Institute efficiently run.

 

Events

QAI hosts and organizes exciting, unique events that are attended by lawmakers, diplomats,

and other notable functionaries. Our events are critically important, as they represent QAI to

the community and help serve our mission of promoting education of the U.S.-Qatar

relationship.

 

These events will be a prime opportunity for interns to network with Washington's

international affairs and foreign policy community, and we highly encourage social

engagement.

 

Interns will help prepare, setup, staff, takedown, and cleanup after events at our D.C.

headquarters. These events take place throughout the week, and many times after 5:30 PM.

Interns, as well as staff, are expected to assist with all or most events, regardless of when they

are scheduled.

 

Intern Supervisor

Interns will report directly to the designated Intern Supervisor for: schedule, assignments,

responsibilities, grievances, leaves of absence, and other work issues. The Intern Supervisor is

responsible for assigning interns tasks, evaluating their performance, and accommodating

scheduling requests on a case-by-case basis.

If an intern feels uncomfortable or unable to communicate an issue to his/her Intern Supervisor

for any reason, interns may communicate the issue with the Executive-Director or Director of

Programs.

 

Schedule

Interns are expected to report for work to QAI's office at 9:30 AM on each day that they are

assigned to work. Typically, interns are expected to leave the office at the regular closing time

of 5:30 PM, although exceptions can be made via a request to Intern Supervisor. Interns work

3-4 days per week, and do not work on Fridays unless there is a special event. Additionally,

interns are expected to help setup and staff events that begin after 5:30 PM, and should stay

until the end of the event or until dismissed by their supervisor.

 

Requirements

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Dedication, punctuality, and work ethic befitting a professional work environment

• Excellent writing and research work skills demonstrated by a submitted writing sample

• An interest in the US-Qatar relationship, Middle East issues, strategic communications, or

other QAI program (culture, education, finance, national security, sports, etc.)

• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint

• Some fluency in Arabic preferred but nor required

 

Experience

• University writing and research body of work with an 'A' grade or equivalent

• Experience working in a multi-cultural environment

• 1-2 years studying or working in relevant area of focus to QAI mission/programs

 

Education

• Enrollment in accredited university or college bachelor's degree program in Middle Eastern

studies, political science, communications, journalism, education, or other related fields

 

How to apply: Please send a resume, cover letter, design/media and writing samples, to

opportunities@qataramerica.org with the subject line "Last Name_Internship_QatarAmerica."

Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

 

This is an unpaid internship opportunity from outside the Rockefeller Center. Such opportunities are posted in an effort to help students find a leave-term internship experience in public policy or a social sciences related area. Such postings do not constitute an endorsement by the Center of the political objectives of any one person or organization.