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Interning at CFR
In an ever-changing world, CFR’s work as a leading nonpartisan resource for information and ideas about foreign policy is more important than ever. At CFR, interns participate in one of the foremost paid internship programs in the foreign policy arena. They do work that matters alongside smart and dedicated staff in a diverse and inclusive environment. Interns are paid a competitive hourly wage while gaining valuable experience through exposure to leading foreign policy experts. They are also offered professional development training as a foundation for future work in the field of foreign policy and international affairs. Internship opportunities are offered through the Blavatnik Internship Program and Robina Franklin Williams Internship Program.
CFR’s summer 2023 internship program gives interns the opportunity to choose whether to work in our office in a hybrid capacity (half in the office, and half remote), or on an offsite fully remote basis.
Available Internships in New York
Intern, CFR Digital, Podcast, Summer 2023
CFR’s podcast seeks to explain pressing IR issues to a new, wide audience. Under the umbrella of the Multimedia team, the podcast intern will prepare research briefings on episode topics, and aid in other logistical and production-related tasks.
Intern, Education, Teaching and Learning, Summer 2023
The intern will have the opportunity to help to research and create a new series of multimedia tools for a variety of educational materials in international relations. By actively participating in this project, this intern will participate in learning how to creatively educate a diverse audience on topics in international relations. The intern will also will gain a deeper understanding of several current foreign policy topics, their related debates, and a range of credible sources for accurate information.
Available Internships in Washington, DC
Intern, CFR Digital, Video, Summer 2023
The DC Video intern will have the opportunity to learn more about publishing and editorial strategy. They will develop their skills in using journalistic databases, implementing online Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and online research for trending topics. The intern will build skills in working cohesively with a team, bolster their research and writing skills, and learn more about social media through training and practice.
Intern, Japan Studies, Summer 2023
The intern will develop high-level research skills in both Japanese and English as well as abilities to present the results of research. The intern will receive extensive feedback from the senior fellow and the supervisor, and gain professional skills as they interact with various guests including senior government officials, academics, journalists and business leaders.
Blavatnik Internship Program
Blavatnik interns are recruited year-round on a semester basis for positions in CFR’s New York and Washington, DC, offices. An intern’s duties generally consist of research, editing and writing, event coordination, and/or departmental support. Internships are offered in Digital Content, the Studies Program, Global Communications, Corporate Program, Washington Program, Meetings Program and many more, including Foreign Affairs.
Blavatnik interns participate in CFR’s Intern Professional Development program, which complements their substantive work with a series of skill-based workshops, training, and career advice sessions. These events are designed to improve interns’ writing, editing, research, and program planning skills, while also helping to sharpen interns’ resumes and familiarize them with the multitude of foreign policy career paths and beyond.
CFR strives to include its interns in the full spectrum of its meetings and events programming, giving interns the opportunity to gain new insights on critical foreign policy issues and further their exposure to world leaders, U.S. policymakers, and sought-after experts. In addition, CFR offers a wide variety of events for staff and interns, including an award-winning health and wellness program. Events range from brown bag lunches with policy experts to a health fair, and an annual Ping-Pong championship.
A generous gift from the Blavatnik Family Foundation supports this unique internship program. CFR is grateful to Council member Len Blavatnik, a distinguished philanthropist and global business leader, for facilitating this gift, which furthers his commitment to developing new talent and cultivating the next generation of leaders in government, academia, and the private sector.
Eligibility and How to Apply
CFR generally considers undergraduate and graduate students with majors in international relations, political science, economics, or a related field for its Blavatnik Internship Program. All applicants should have completed the equivalent of four semesters of college coursework (not including AP classes in high school) by the time they begin an internship. A regional specialization, language skills, and additional requirements may also be needed for some internships. In addition to meeting the intellectual requirements, applicants should have excellent skills in administration, writing, research, and computers, as well as previous office experience. Interns must also be willing to commit to fourteen to eighteen hours per week.
CFR posts all internship opportunities on its website—in June for the fall semester, in October for the spring semester, and in February for the summer semester.
CFR is an equal opportunity employer and actively seeks candidates from diverse backgrounds.
Interns are paid a competitive hourly wage.
Since this is a paid opportunity, interns must have the legal right to work for any employer in the United States.
About Len Blavatnik
CFR Member Len Blavatnik, founder and chairman of Access Industries and the Blavatnik Family Foundation, is a global industrialist and philanthropist committed to advancing science, higher education, good governance, and the arts through meaningful involvement and charitable giving. Access, a privately-held industrial group based in the United States, owns strategic and diversified investments around the world in media and telecommunications, natural resources and chemicals, venture capital, real estate, and biotechnology.
The Foundation, which has contributed more than $700 million to charitable institutions over the years, prioritizes higher education as well as scientific and medical research and innovation. Its activities are highly concentrated to drive meaningful impact and to promote discoveries at major research institutions that will benefit the whole of society. To that end, the Foundation has made transformational gifts to Harvard, Yale, and Tel Aviv Universities, and established the Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford University.
Born in the former Soviet Union, Blavatnik became a U.S. citizen in 1984 and earned his MS in computer science from Columbia University in 1981 and his MBA from Harvard Business School in 1989. He became a dual citizen of the UK in 2010 and was knighted in 2017 for services to philanthropy. In 2013, Blavatnik was appointed a chevalier of the French Légion d'Honneur for his support of education.
Robina Franklin Williams Internship Program
Robina Franklin Williams Internship Program
CFR is committed to help make the foreign policy community in the United States more reflective of America as a whole, and looks to identify the next generation of diverse foreign policy leaders through its Robina Franklin Williams Internship Program.
Robina Franklin Williams interns are recruited year-round on a semester basis for positions in CFR’s New York and Washington, DC, offices. An intern’s duties generally consist of research, editing and writing, event coordination, and/or departmental support. Internships are offered in Digital Content, the Studies Program, Global Communications, the Corporate Program, the Washington Program, the Meetings Program and many more, including Foreign Affairs.
Robina Franklin Williams interns participate in CFR’s Intern Professional Development program, which complements their substantive work with a series of skill-based workshops, training, and career advice sessions. These events are designed to improve interns’ writing, editing, research, and program planning skills, while also helping to sharpen interns’ resumes and familiarize them with the multitude of foreign policy career paths.
CFR strives to include its interns in the full spectrum of its meetings and events programming, giving interns the opportunity to gain new insights on critical foreign policy issues and further their exposure to world leaders, U.S. policymakers, and sought-after experts. In addition, CFR offers a wide variety of events for staff and interns, including an award-winning health and wellness program. Events range from brown bag lunches with policy experts to a health fair, and an annual Ping-Pong championship. Robina Franklin Williams interns are also invited to participate in CFR’s annual Conference on Diversity in International Affairs and receive a fully funded trip to visit CFR’s location in New York or Washington, DC.
The Robina Franklin Williams Internship Program, supported by a generous gift from the Robina Foundation, CFR members, and family and friends of Franklin Williams, is named in honor of the late Ambassador Franklin H. Williams.
Eligibility and How to Apply
CFR is committed to help make the foreign policy community in the United States more reflective of America as a whole and looks to identify the next generation of diverse foreign policy leaders through its Robina Franklin Williams Internship Program. CFR is an equal opportunity employer, and candidates from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.
CFR generally considers undergraduate and graduate students with majors in international relations, political science, economics, or a related field for its Robina Franklin Williams Internship Program. All applicants should have completed the equivalent of four semesters of college coursework (not including AP classes in high school) by the time they begin an internship. A regional specialization, language skills, and additional requirements may also be needed for some internships. In addition to meeting the intellectual requirements, applicants should have excellent skills in administration, writing, research, and computers, as well as previous office experience. Interns must also be willing to commit to fourteen to eighteen hours per week.
CFR posts all internship opportunities on its website—in June for the fall semester, in October for the spring semester, and in February for the summer semester.
Interns are paid a competitive hourly wage.
Since this is a paid opportunity, interns must have the legal right to work for any employer in the United States.
About Ambassador Franklin H. Williams
Ambassador Franklin H. Williams served as the U.S. ambassador to Ghana and was the chairman of the board of trustees of Lincoln University, one of the country’s historically black colleges. He was also a Director of the Council on Foreign Relations, where he made special efforts to encourage the nomination of African Americans to membership.
Contact
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New York Office
58 East 68th Street
New York, NY 10065
tel 212.434.9400
Washington Office
1777 F Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
tel 202.509.8400