ABOUT US

The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization committed to realizing a free, just, and equitable society. Since its founding in 1949, the Institute has been driving change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the most critical challenges facing communities in the United States and around the world. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Institute has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, and an international network of partners.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

To achieve our mission of a more free, just, and equitable society, we commit to working proactively to advance the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion across our myriad endeavors such as the recruitment, compensation, training, and advancement of staff. The best people-serving institutions make this commitment, and we seek to be a leader in the ways that we do so and learn from others. Visit our website to learn more about our commitment and recent actions taken toward building and nurturing a diverse and inclusive environment.

ASPEN POLICY ACADEMY

The Aspen Institute's Policy Academy turns professionals into policy advocates. We offer innovative training programs to equip leaders across sectors – from tech to climate, science to social justice – with the practical policy skills to craft solutions for society’s most pressing challenges. Based in the Bay Area, the Policy Academy is the first comprehensive, non-university training program in the United States offering a step-by-step process to learn practical strategies for policymaking. The Academy's predecessor, the Aspen Tech Policy Hub, has helped more than 100 alumni and staff gain government experience and successfully change policies across federal and state governments.

ABOUT THIS ROLE

The Academy seeks a paid, part-time design intern to work closely with the team to execute design projects. The expected commitment is 5-10 hours per week, with an hourly pay of $20/hour; some weeks will have more work than others. The ideal candidate will be flexible and able to turn around projects in a timely manner. This a remote position starting as soon as possible for 4 months with a potential for extension. Interns may NOT be paid and receive course credit, but must pick one.

This is a remote position, but candidates based in one of the Aspen Institute's locations (San Francisco, Washington DC, New York City, or Colorado) are preferred. The internship is expected to last 5 months, with a possibility of extension. The anticipated workload is approximately 10 hours per week, with some fluctuation depending on program needs. The hourly rate for this role is $20/hr.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Graphic design for logos, icons, infographics, and social media graphics.
• Layout design for one-pagers, research reports, and slide decks.
• Placing final copy into existing templates (primarily in InDesign, Canva, or Google Slides).
• Create charts and graphs in Figma, Canva, and InDesign.
• Collaborate with other design resources (such as contracted web developers and layout designers) to deliver digital and print assets.
• Participate in development of creative campaigns to highlight Academy programs and accomplishments.
• Create and edit social media graphics and video content (e.g., reels).
• Occasional copy editing tasks.
• Special projects, as necessary.
• Other duties as assigned.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

• Design experience with several software tools.
• Acquire practical nonprofit operations experience.
• Opportunity to learn about the policy process and strategies for effective advocacy.
• Gain insights into nonprofit operations.
• Potential to attend events and network with policy experts and industry leaders.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO THRIVE

• You must be an Undergraduate or Graduate student.
• Strong organizational, reliability, and time management skills.
• Ability to work independently as this is a primarily remote position.
• Experience completing complex work in InDesign.
• Experience creating fun and interesting graphics in Canva or another online platform.
• Creativity and strategic thinking for social media campaigns.
• Passion for policy, social impact, and nonprofit work.
• Should be organized, responsible, reliable, and able to meet tight deadlines.
• The ideal candidate also has creative problem-solving skills and professional and polished interpersonal skills and a desire to learn, flexibility, and resourcefulness.
• This is the perfect role for a student interested in further developing their design skills and learning about the operations of a policy nonprofit. For an interested candidate, interns may also have the opportunity to assist with events and operations of the Academy more broadly.

TO APPLY

To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and past design examples. You may submit a longer portfolio if you wish. Please note that we do read cover letters. Please do not use artificial intelligence tools to prepare your cover letter.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Aspen Institute offers a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, and prescription benefits, retirement benefits, and paid leave.

The Aspen Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all District and federal laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or protected veteran or disabled status and will not be discriminated against.

The Aspen Institute welcomes individuals with disabilities to participate in its programs, including the interview process. If you would like to request accommodations or have questions about accessibility, please email hrsupport@aspeninstitute.org or call 202-736-2127 in advance of your visit. Requests for ASL or CART services should be made at least two weeks in advance when possible. We will make every effort to fulfill requests, subject to availability.