Job Opportunities

Higher Education Graduate Intern

Flexible Location or Virtual | 10 Hours/Week | September 2024 – May 2025  | Compensated at $25/Hour

The Century Foundation (TCF), a progressive think tank focused on reducing inequality in the U.S., seeks a part-time Graduate Intern for a one-year period to support our research on access, equity, and affordability in higher education.

Job Reporting and Details

The Graduate Intern will report to and work closely with our Higher Education Fellows on projects related to financial aid and college admissions, particularly FAFSA completion and admissions policies post-affirmative action. As we grapple with a higher education system that locks families out through high costs, the Graduate Intern will help our team advocate for evidence-based solutions through state and federal policy.

This is an ideal position for a current graduate student seeking to conduct research that will advance public understanding of critical policy issues in higher education.

Responsibilities 

  • Conduct qualitative research on issues relating to access, equity, and affordability.
  • Write reviews of academic literature and internal policy memos.
  • Organize interviews with policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders, at the national, state, and local level.
  • Contribute to and/or coauthor 1-2 TCF publications summarizing research findings and recommending evidence-based policy solutions to address issues of college access and affordability.

Qualifications 

  • Bachelor’s degree, with a preference for current graduate students.
  • Proven ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
  • Experience conducting qualitative research, including designing interview protocols, conducting interviews with policymakers and stakeholders, and analyzing qualitative data.
  • Experience with reviewing and synthesizing academic literature and policy documents.
  • Familiarity with issues in higher education policy, including financial aid, college admissions, and affirmative action.
  • Demonstrated initiative in taking on responsibilities and contributing to project goals.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Commitment to the mission of reducing inequality and promoting access to higher education for all students and families.

Compensation 

The Graduate Intern will be compensated $25 per hour on a 10 hour workweek. This part-time contractual position will start in September 2024 and end May 2025. It does not include benefits.

This position does not have a location requirement. The Graduate Intern may work out of our offices (in Washington, D.C. and New York, NY), fully remotely, or on a hybrid schedule.

Current graduate students, including master’s and doctoral students interested in public policy and higher education, are encouraged to apply.

Apply

Please apply with a resume and cover letter via BambooHR. If you have any issues accessing the hiring portal, please reach out with questions to [email protected]. The deadline for submission of application materials is Friday, August 2, 2024.

About The Century Foundation

The Century Foundation is a progressive, independent think tank that conducts research, develops solutions, and drives policy change to make people’s lives better. We pursue economic, racial, gender, and disability equity in education, health care, and work, and promote U.S. foreign policy that fosters international cooperation, peace, and security. TCF has offices in New York City and Washington, D.C. You can learn more at tcf.org.

The Century Foundation is committed to diversity and building an inclusive environment for people of all backgrounds. Everyone is encouraged to apply, including women, LGBTQIA people, people of color, and people with disabilities. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States.

PreK-12 Education Intern

Virtual or New York, NY | 10-15 Hours/Week | September 9, 2024 to December 13, 2024 | Compensated at $18-22/Hour

The Century Foundation (TCF), a progressive, independent think tank, seeks a PreK-12 Education Intern to support TCF’s education team.

Job Reporting and Details

The PreK-12 Education internship is a paid position ($18-22 per hour) and will run from approximately September 9 to December 13, 2024 for 10-15 hours per week (although dates may be flexible given the intern’s schedule). The position is virtual or hybrid with an option to work in the New York City office once or twice a week.

This position is ideal for a current undergraduate or graduate student seeking to learn more about U.S. education policy and get writing and research experience.

Responsibilities

The PreK-12 Intern reports to the manager of the Bridges Collaborative and director of the National Newcomer Network and is responsible for:

  • Research and writing related to PreK-12 educational equity. Areas of focus will be: 
    • Newcomers
    • School integration
    • English learners/multilingual learners
    • Students in the foster system
  • Data analysis, including presenting data in charts, graphs, and other forms of visualization, for the above topics.
  • Assist with finalizing research reports, commentaries, and other written products, including checking references, fact-checking, formatting, etc.
  • Help with social media promotion, including drafting tweets and language for LinkedIn and Facebook posts.
  • Participate in meetings and events as appropriate.
  • Assist in researching potential strategic partnerships.

Administrative tasks:

  • Support with Bridges Collaborative and National Newcomer Network member management in Google Sheets.
  • Take notes for internal and external meetings and events.
  • Help with personalized outreach to members and potential partners.
  • Assist with scheduling for the PreK-12 director and fellows as needed.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

We are looking for a passionate candidate who has most of the following qualifications:

  • Excellent analytical writing skills;
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills;
  • Proficiency in data analysis and with key data sets is a plus;
  • Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage priorities and meet deadlines;
  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with a variety of stakeholders;
  • Ability to work independently and in a team; 
  • An interest in and basic knowledge of education policy;
  • A personal connection (lived or professional) to any of our focus areas and the risk of inequity in public education is a plus;
  • Passion for advancing policies to achieve educational equity for all students, especially historically marginalized students (such as students of color, immigrant students, students in the foster system, students with disabilities, low-income students, and others);
  • An eagerness to learn; and,
  • Proficiency in Google Suite, particularly sheets and docs, as well as familiarity with Mail Merge.

As a member of the TCF team, you will work with dedicated professionals who are committed to making a difference in the world. You will have the opportunity to contribute to meaningful research and policy solutions and build a strong network of contacts and relationships. If you are passionate about making a difference and have the skills and experience we are looking for, we encourage you to apply for this position.

Apply

To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter, references, and at least two short writing examples via BambooHR. No inquiries by third-party vendors and no phone calls, please.  If you have any issues accessing the hiring portal, please reach out with questions to [email protected]. The deadline for submission of application materials is August 9, 2024, and they will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

About The Century Foundation

The Century Foundation is a progressive, independent think tank that conducts research, develops solutions, and drives policy change to make people’s lives better. We pursue economic, racial, gender, and disability equity in education, health care, and work, and promote U.S. foreign policy that fosters international cooperation, peace, and security. TCF has offices in New York City and Washington, D.C. You can learn more at tcf.org.

The Century Foundation is committed to diversity and building an inclusive environment for people of all backgrounds. Everyone is encouraged to apply, including women, LGBTQIA people, people of color, and people with disabilities. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States.