Spring 2024 Research Intern

POSTED: December 1, 2023

To Close: January 5, 2024

Spring Research Intern (Revolving Door Project)

The Revolving Door Project scrutinizes current and potential executive branch personnel  as well as congressional oversight of the executive branch. Our goal is to ensure political appointees serve the broad public interest, rather than corporations’ narrow political agenda or their own personal advancement. 

The Revolving Door Project has an opening for a Research Intern. This is a paid, full-time remote position with a duration of three months with the possibility of extensions not to exceed one year, depending on the availability of the candidate and needs of the organization. Exact starting dates are flexible as hiring is on a rolling basis. Applications submitted in between the following dates will be considered for each approximate internship period:

  • Summer Internship Application Period: April 1 – June 1
  • Fall Internship Application Period: July 1 – September 1
  • Spring Internship Application Period: December 1 – January 1

Job Description: A Research Intern for the Revolving Door Project (RDP) is responsible for a variety of important duties. The position involves:

  • Juggling both long and short term research assignments; 
  • Working with and helping to manage multiple proprietary databases;
  • Contributing to blogs and reports; and
  • Occasional proofreading, website, social media, and operations support. 

The Research Intern will have the opportunity, and be encouraged, to propose and undertake independent research projects based on the applicant’s interests and experience, as well as the particular issues that Revolving Door Project is working on at the time. Previous research experience is extremely helpful.

Qualifications: 

  • Successful candidates will have an interest in topics such as economic justice, American politics, racial justice, the politics of climate change, and law. 
  • Candidates should have some or all of the following: an interest in research; strong knowledge of the political landscape; experience at a nonprofit, union, or similar environment with a track record of successful work; and the ability to learn new software and skills quickly.
  • Candidates should also be willing to criticize politicians of both parties if and when they behave as if captured by corporate interests; however, candidates do not need to believe each party is equally captured.
  • A successful candidate will also have excellent attention to detail, ability to handle multiple projects and manage workflow effectively, good written and verbal communication skills, ability to work both independently and with a team, a sense of humor, and a shared commitment to RDP’s mission and values.

Pay: The Revolving Door Project will pay $19.76 an hour, with the workload not to exceed 40 hours per week. Interns do not work on days for which the RDP office is closed (for example, federal holidays). Hourly pay is subject to a cost of living adjustment once per year. Benefits available to interns include paid sick leave and a contribution to individual healthcare of up to $332.21 per month, subject to a yearly cost of living adjustment. 

Closing Date of Position: January 5, 2024

In rare, extenuating circumstances, the application period may be shortened. In the event that the application period is shortened, RDP will update this posting to notify candidates that they have seven calendar days remaining to apply.

To Apply: Send the following, in a single PDF file, to jobs[at]therevolvingdoorproject.org (replace [at] with @) with the subject line “Research Intern, Revolving Door Project”:

1. a cover letter;

2. a résumé; and

3. a writing sample on a relevant policy-related topic of anywhere from 500 to 1,000 words, or an excerpt or description of a project you have completed independently or at another organization.

Please do not submit additional information apart from the items listed above. You may address your cover letter to the Research Intern Search Committee if you wish.

Applications that do not include all of the requested materials and that do not follow the formatting guidance will not be considered. 

The search committee usually makes a decision within three weeks of the deadline of the application. If you have any questions, you may email info[at]therevolvingdoorproject.org. Absolutely no calls.

Organization Description: The Revolving Door Project (RDP) scrutinizes executive branch appointees to ensure they use their office to serve the broad public interest, rather than to entrench corporate power or seek personal advancement.

Many of the deep rules that govern our rigged economy are written within the executive branch and outside the purview of most of civil society. From the semi-independent bureaus of the Treasury Department (the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the IRS) to the Federal Reserve, OMB, FTC, and beyond, executive branch personnel play a significant role in determining the fundamental rules that govern our economy.

The Revolving Door Project educates civil society in order to counteract the advantage that Wall Street and corporate America have in this rule writing process. We do this by alerting and educating the media and activists when hardworking people are being taken advantage of and clarifying by whom. If we want the executive branch to write rules that structure the economy away from rent extraction and in the direction of greater economic equality, we need to ensure the right people hold key executive branch positions like the Treasury Secretary and SEC Commissioner.

The executive branch needs to empower dedicated civil servants rather than self-interested people rotating between relatively short stints in government and longer stints in the very industries they’re supposed to regulate. And all members of the executive branch must be pushed to aggressively implement all existing authorities that empower them to fight against corporate misbehavior on behalf of working people.

RDP  is fiscally sponsored by Goodnation Philanthropy Advisors, an equal opportunity employer that considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any legally protected status. Women and minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.