Careers in Public Policy

By Willy Franzen

Looking for an entry level job or internship in public policy? Here's an overview of how to approach the search and a list of companies that might have entry level and internship opportunities that will interest you.

See companies with public policy careers or search the latest public policy jobs and internships.

Photo Credit: Flickr user USDAgov

Public policy is a disciplined approach to analyzing and solving current issues involving many people, as well as how policy decisions are made. Many jobs in public policy can be divided into a few major areas: government, business, consulting, law, and the nonprofit sector.

Most jobs involving public policy require a bachelor’s degree, which can be in public policy or in another field of interest. More important are your writing, reading, and critical thinking skills, as well as turning theory into experience via internships or research.

Companies with Entry Level Jobs and Internships in Public Policy

Targeted Victory - Targeted Victory is an Alexandria, VA based agency that has “anchored digital campaigns on the local, state, and presidential level.”

See the complete Targeted Victory profile

Job Title	Location
Intern, Data Science and Research	Alexandria, VA
Intern, Design	Alexandria, VA
Intern, Client Strategy	Alexandria, VA
Intern, Software Engineer - Data Platforms	Alexandria, VA
Intern, Advertising Operations	Alexandria, VA

See all 23 job postings

Bipartisan Policy Center - The Bipartisan Policy Center is a Washington, DC based non-profit that encourages the two parties to work together on important issues.

See the complete Bipartisan Policy Center profile

Job Title	Location
NGA Scholar Education Division (Paid Summer Internship)	Washington, DC
President & CEO	Westminster, CO
Regional Press Secretary (Southern States)	Atlanta, GA
Director, Global Business and Economics Program	Washington, DC
Bipartisan Policy Center Internships	Washington, DC

See all 11 job postings

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities - The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities is a DC based non-profit that “conducts research and analysis to help shape public debates over proposed budget and tax policies."

See the complete Center on Budget and Policy Priorities profile

Job Title	Location
Patient Care Manager - Digestive Health Center	Urbana, IL
Product Manager	Fairfax, VA
Analyst, Applications	Chicago, IL
Director of Production Operations	Boston, MA
Clinical Manager	Lincoln, CA

See all 2,867 job postings

National Alliance to End Homelessness - The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a Washington, DC based non-profit that, as its name indicates, is working to end homelessness.

See the complete National Alliance to End Homelessness profile

Job Title	Location
Manager, Systems Integration	Chicago, IL

See all 1 job postings

The National Center on Time & Learning - The National Center on Time & Learning is a Boston, MA non-profit that “is dedicated to expanding learning time to improve student achievement."

See the complete The National Center on Time & Learning profile

Job Title	Location
Principal Aspiring Transformation Intern	Minneapolis, MN
RN Progressive Care (Full-time, Days)	Saint Petersburg, FL
Oracle Applications DBA Job	Andover, MA
Part-Time Lecturer, Engineering	San Jose, CA
Principal Consultant, Presales	Scottsdale, AZ

See all 7,091 job postings

Natural Resources Defense Council - NRDC is an NYC based non-profit that wants to "safeguard the Earth: its people, its plants and animals and the natural systems on which all life depends."

See the complete Natural Resources Defense Council profile

Job Title	Location
Program Assistant	Washington, DC
Executive Director, Division of Earth and Ecosystem Sciences	Las Vegas, NV
2014 Legal Internship	Washington, DC
Litigation Assistant	Washington, DC
Membership & Public Education Internship	New York, NY

See all 39 job postings

Landesa - Landesa is a Seattle, WA based non-profit that “works to secure land rights for the world’s poorest people."

See the complete Landesa profile

Job Title	Location
Senior Research and Evaluation Specialist	Seattle, WA

See all 1 job postings

American Council of Young Political Leaders - American Council of Young Political Leaders is a DC non-profit that introduces "rising political and policy professionals to international affairs and to each other.”

See the complete American Council of Young Political Leaders profile

Job Title	Location
GENERAL COUNSEL	Upper Marlboro, MD
Major Gifts Officer	New York, NY

See all 2 job postings

Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership - Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership is a Washington, DC based non-profit that aims to “guarantee all Americans quality places to hunt and fish.”

See the complete Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership profile

No current job openings.

Americas Society/Council of the Americas - Americas Society and Council of the Americas are two New York, NY based non-profits in one that aim to improve relations across the Americas.

See the complete Americas Society/Council of the Americas profile

No current job openings.

International Council on Clean Transportation - International Council on Clean Transportation is a Washington, DC based org that aims “to improve the energy efficiency of road, marine, and air transportation."

See the complete International Council on Clean Transportation profile

Job Title	Location
Librarian III	Los Angeles, CA
Transport Supervisor - Rosharon	Rosharon, TX
Physical Therapy Assistant - Therapy Coordinator	Shafter, CA

See all 1 job postings

Institute for Educational Leadership - The Institute for Educational Leadership is a Washington, DC based non-profit that does research, leadership development, and policy work in the area of education.

See the complete Institute for Educational Leadership profile

Job Title	Location
RN Specialist - Oncology NCI	Urbana, IL
Community Development Extension Educator (Assistant or Associate rank)	Bethel, CT
Summer Academy Site Lead Intern	Denver, CO
Internships at Denver International Airport	Denver, CO
Medical Assistant-Certified	Richland, WA

See all 1,291 job postings

Center for Clean Air Policy - The Center for Clean Air Policy is a Washington, DC based non-profit that is “a recognized world leader in climate and air quality policy."

See the complete Center for Clean Air Policy profile

Job Title	Location
Inpatient Services RN Folsom CA	Alameda, CA
Inpatient Services \ Acute Dialysis RN	Lewes, DE
Executive Chef/Food Service Supervisor	Centennial, CO
Intern	Cleveland, OH
CNC Machinist	Stillwater, OK

See all 989 job postings

Defenders of Wildlife - Defenders of Wildlife is a Washington, DC based non-profit that aims to “protect and restore imperiled species throughout North America."

See the complete Defenders of Wildlife profile

Job Title	Location
Financial Analyst	Washington, DC
Financial Analyst \| Non-Profit Conservation Organization	Washington, DC
Payroll and Accounts Payable Clerk	Washington, DC
Digital Projects Specialist	Washington, DC
Director of Accounting Operations	Washington, DC

See all 5 job postings

Marine Conservation Institute - Marine Conservation Institute is a Seattle, WA non-profit that uses the latest science to identify and advocate for important marine ecosystems around the world.

See the complete Marine Conservation Institute profile

Job Title	Location
Ops Administrative Assistant I	Saint Petersburg, FL
OPS ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT I	Saint Petersburg, FL
Exciting Marketing Communications Internship Oceans/Travel/Sports	Seattle, WA
Research Scientist	Saint Petersburg, FL
Research Scientist	Saint Petersburg, FL

See all 17 job postings

Group of Fifty - The Group of Fifty is a DC based non-profit made up of select “business leaders who head some of the most significant and forward-looking enterprises in Latin America."

See the complete Group of Fifty profile

Job Title	Location
FBR FT/PT Licensed Outpatient Therapist - Johnstown, PA Clinic	Johnstown, PA
FBR Licensed Outpatient Therapist - Indiana, PA Clinic	Indiana, PA
Physical Therapist Assistant	California
FBR Therapeutic Staff Support (TSS), Brentwood PA	Brentwood, PA
Business Development Rep - Payroll	Novato, CA

See all 1,199 job postings

The Trust for Public Land - The Trust for Public Land is a San Francisco, CA based org that was “founded in 1972 with goals of protecting land in and around cities and pioneering."

See the complete The Trust for Public Land profile

Job Title	Location
Recreation Aid/Recreation Assistant	Alsea, OR
Park Ranger	Alsea, OR
CPA - Entrepreneur	Frederick, MD
Recreation Aid/Recreation Assistant (River)	Maupin, OR
Deputy Assistant Administrator	Washington, DC

See all 200 job postings

Parent Revolution - Parent Revolution is a Los Angeles, CA based non-profit that is aiming to “transform public education based on what is good for children, not adults."

See the complete Parent Revolution profile

Job Title	Location
Editor/Analyst, The Business	Alexandria, VA
Student Conduct Specialist	Newark, NJ
SVP, Mobile Communications Lab - B2B	California
College Counselor (AZ 2014-2015)	Phoenix, AZ
Student Conduct Specialist	Newark, NJ

See all 21 job postings

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy - Rails-to-Trails is a Washington, DC based non-profit that is aiming “to create a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines."

See the complete Rails-to-Trails Conservancy profile

No current job openings.

National Academy for State Health Policy - The National Academy for State Health Policy is a non-profit that helps “states achieve excellence in health policy and practice” by working with each other.

See the complete National Academy for State Health Policy profile

Job Title	Location
Nurse Practitioner, NP, MSN, Neurology, Part Time (CRNP, APN, Neuroscience)	Washington, DC
NP/PA - Oncology (Tunnell Cancer Center) (FT)	Lewes, DE
Full-Time Paramedic	Bartow, FL
CHAP Instructor Provider/MLP Provider - Full Time - CHAP Training	Anchorage, AK
Group Life Coordinator 2 (Line Staff)	Bend, OR

See all 422 job postings

City Hall Fellows - City Hall Fellows is a San Francisco, CA based non-profit that engages “diverse, talented young people in the work of cities.”

See the complete City Hall Fellows profile

Job Title	Location
Fellowship Program	United States
SPECIALIZED CARE COORDINATOR	Iowa City, IA
VIP Model Marketing Host	Atlantic City, NJ
Staff Pyschiatrist	Asheville, NC
Security Host	Atlantic City, NJ

See all 47 job postings

Better Government Association - The Better Government Association, a Chicago, IL based non-profit that “works for integrity, transparency, and accountability in government."

See the complete Better Government Association profile

Job Title	Location
Mortgage Loan Officer	Auburn Hills, MI
Geospatial Analyst 3\4	St. Louis, MO
Summer Intern, Government Affairs	Washington, DC
Intern - Office of Policy & Representation	Washington, DC
4-H Association Community Educator	Troy, NY

See all 282 job postings

Inter-American Dialogue - Inter-American Dialogue is a DC based "leading U.S. center for policy analysis, exchange, and communication on issues in Western Hemisphere affairs.”

See the complete Inter-American Dialogue profile

Job Title	Location
SCL/EDU Education Specialist	Washington, DC
Fiscal & Municipal Management Principal Specialist/Lead Specialist	Washington, DC
Social Safeguards Lead Specialist	Washington, DC
Operations Lead Specialist/Senior Specialist	Washington, DC
Development Manager	Washington, DC

See all 6 job postings

National Immigration Forum - The National Immigration Forum is a Washington, DC based non-profit organization that “advocates for the value of immigrants and immigration to our nation.”

See the complete National Immigration Forum profile

Job Title	Location
Director, Global Market Access Excellence Job	Summit, NJ
Immigration Internship	Silver Spring, MD
Citizenship and Immigration Intern Summer 2014 (Unpaid)	Elizabeth, NJ
Product Manager	Arlington, VA
Citizenship and Immigration Intern	New York, NY

See all 65 job postings

Smart Growth America - Smart Growth America is a Washington, DC based non-profit organization that believes “smart growth solutions support thriving businesses and jobs."

See the complete Smart Growth America profile

Job Title	Location
Technical Program Manager	Redwood City, CA
Financial Services Solutions Architect - San Francisco	San Francisco, CA
AMI Project Manager	Chicago, IL
Intermediate Software Engineer - Grand Rapids, MI	Grand Rapids, MI
Assistant Store Leader	Caldwell, NJ

See all 964 job postings

Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress - The Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress is a DC based nonpartisan non-profit "that systematically examines past successes and failures of the Presidency."

See the complete Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress profile

No current job openings.

NORC at the University of Chicago - NORC at the University of Chicago is a non-profit organization that aims to “to conduct high-quality social science research in the public interest.”

See the complete NORC at the University of Chicago profile

Job Title	Location
Research Assistant	Bethesda, MD
Research Analyst	Bethesda, MD
Research Assistant	Bethesda, MD
Field Interviewer-FDPIR Project-Odanah, WI	Odanah, WI
Administrative Assistant	Bethesda, MD

See all 68 job postings

Fantasy Politics - Fantasy Politics is based in Boston, MA and offers “a fun opportunity for you to build a team of national politicians and pundits and get points from their real life actions.”

See the complete Fantasy Politics profile

Job Title	Location
VP of Marketing	Boston, MA

See all 1 job postings

Public Knowledge - Public Knowledge is a Washington, DC based non-profit that “preserves the openness of the Internet and the public’s access to knowledge."

See the complete Public Knowledge profile

Job Title	Location
Client Service Supervisor	Monroe, NC
Nursing Clinical Services Coordinator	Greenwood, IN
Client Relations Internship - Summer/Fall Available	Pittsburgh, PA
Chemistry Teacher	Flagstaff, AZ
Southeast Regional Political Director	Atlanta, GA

See all 104,342 job postings

Center for The National Interest - The Center for The National Interest is based in Washington, DC and was originally founded by former President Nixon as the Nixon Center for Peace and Freedom

See the complete Center for The National Interest profile

Job Title	Location
Kennel Technician/K9 Trainers Assistant	Edisto Island, SC
Principal Aspiring Transformation Intern	Minneapolis, MN
Data Analyst	Detroit, MI
LPN Full Time 11p-7a	Brooklyn Park, MD
Oracle Applications DBA Job	Andover, MA

See all 8,860 job postings

The Can Kicks Back - The Can Kicks Back is a DC based non-profit that is organizing millennials to push for financial reform and debt reduction.

See the complete The Can Kicks Back profile

Job Title	Location
Nail Technicians and Cosmetologists	Lone Tree, CO
Insurance Consultant	Opelika, AL
Roofing Sales Position - Company Based in KC Since 1977 (midtown )	Kansas City, MO
Loyalty Marketing Analyst I, II, III	Pleasanton, CA
Interactive Designer, Tech-Forward Financial Services Company	New York, NY

See all 181 job postings

U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress - The U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress is a Washington, DC based non-profit that puts former members of Congress to work on important causes.

See the complete U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress profile

Job Title	Location
Supervisory Medical Officer	Rockville, MD

See all 1 job postings

ONE - ONE is a Washington, DC based “grassroots advocacy and campaigning organization that fights extreme poverty and preventable disease."

See the complete ONE profile

Job Title	Location
New Regional & OTR Truck Driving - Tanker Class A CDL	Chesapeake, VA
Account Executive - Finance Sales	Camas, WA
CDL-A Drivers: Zero Down Walkaway Lease	Martinsburg, WV
Developer, Ruby on Rails	Alexandria, VA
Staff Nurse New Grad Fellow Summer 2014 (Cary Women's Pavilion & Birthplace)	Cary, NC

See all 171,934 job postings

InterAction - InterAction, is a Washington, DC based non-profit that “seeks to shape important policy decisions on relief and long term development issues."

See the complete InterAction profile

Job Title	Location
Software Product Manager – Energy Software Solutions	Corvallis, OR
Nursing Assistant Instructor	Phoenix, AZ
Clinical Pharmacist	St. Louis, MO
Inside Sales Manager / Recruiter	New York, NY
Licensed Mortgage Loan Officer Assistant	Greenville, SC

See all 126,619 job postings

Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation - If you love the sporting life and its intersection with politics, you should consider a job with the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation in Washington, DC.

See the complete Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation profile

No current job openings.

International Food Policy Research Institute - International Food Policy Research Institute is a Washington, DC based non-profit that aims to end hunger and poverty, and they're hiring.

See the complete International Food Policy Research Institute profile

Job Title	Location
Internship - Alliance for Artisan Enterprise	Washington, DC
Housekeeping Aide - SpringHill Suites Raleigh-Durham Airport/Research Triangle Park (14000DQY)	Durham, NC
Conference & Meetings Assistant 14-131	Washington, DC
Institute for Health Policy Grad Internship	Oakland, CA
Clinical Research Associate II 603564 (NCI) Job	Frederick, MD

See all 61 job postings

50CAN - Great Schools Can Change Everything. That's what 50CAN believes, and that's why they're hiring people to help them advocate for education reform.

See the complete 50CAN profile

Job Title	Location
Operations Manager	New York, NY
Operations Manager	Washington, DC

See all 2 job postings

Constitutional Rights Foundation - Constitutional Rights Foundation is an LA based non-profit that helps educate youth about civic participation and democracy, and they're hiring.

See the complete Constitutional Rights Foundation profile

Job Title	Location
2014 Summer Internship	United States
Summer 2014 Undergraduate Internship-ACLUF Racial Justice Program	New York, NY
Spring 2014 Legal Internship-ACLUF Criminal Law Reform Project	New York, NY
Summer 2014 Legal Internship-ACLUF Criminal Law Reform Project	New York, NY
Summer 2014 Undergraduate Internship	United States

See all 24 job postings

National Marine Sanctuary Foundation - The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation works with NOAA to protect and support the U.S. national marine sanctuaries, and they're hiring.

See the complete National Marine Sanctuary Foundation profile

Job Title	Location
Associate, Global Penguin Conservation Campaign	Washington, DC
Senior Associate, Ending Illegal Fishing Project	Washington, DC
Economist	Silver Spring, MD
President and Chief Executive Officer	Washington, DC

See all 4 job postings

League of Conservation Voters - The League of Conservation Voters is a Washington, DC based non-profit organization that “works to turn environmental values into national priorities.”

See the complete League of Conservation Voters profile

Job Title	Location
Call Center Agent	Columbia, MO
Online Communications Internship	Washington, DC
Research and List Management Coordinator	Washington, DC
Development Director	Trenton, NJ
Campaigns Associate	Washington, DC

See all 123 job postings

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