Intern, Political & Security Affairs

Intern, Political and Security Affairs

The National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) is seeking a Spring & Summer Intern for the Political and Security Affairs group (PSA) to provide research, communication, event planning, and administrative support for PSA projects. As a PSA Intern, you will have the opportunity to work on exciting initiatives such as Mapping China's Strategic Space, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Executive Education Course and annual conference, and NBR's Pacific Security Forum, as well as projects related to specific countries or subregions such as Taiwan, the Korean Peninsula, and Australia.

This is a paid, full-time (40 hours per week), temporary (6-month) internship located in NBR's Washington, D.C. office. The ideal candidate will be available to start in January 2024 and work through July 2024. The Intern will be supervised by a Project Manager for Political and Security Affairs. This internship position would be ideal for a candidate seeking to apply and expand their skills and build a portfolio in project management, research, writing, and editing in order to advance career opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Research Assistance: providing substantive research assistance for project teams and scholars, including gathering articles on current events and background on key individuals, attending and summarizing relevant events, and interviewing experts related to ongoing research initiatives for Q&A sessions to be published on NBR's website.
• Writing Assistance: drafting and proofreading concept papers, memos, grant reports, briefing papers, etc.
• Publications Support: editing, reviewing, fact-checking, proof-reading, and formatting project publications, including commentaries, essays, reports, and analyses.
• Grant Development: tracking development and grant opportunities; assisting with scoping and drafting project proposal narratives.
• Event Planning: providing administrative support for conferences, workshops, presentations, and briefings (including drafting agendas, assisting with travel, accommodation, and venue arrangements, sending and responding to invitations, note-taking, managing logistics, etc.).
• Administrative Support and Database Administration: drafting and managing independent contractor agreements for external project experts, submitting invoices and receipts through the online financial management system, and supporting other NBR activities as needed.

Qualifications

• Strong interest in political and security-related developments in the Asia-Pacific.
• Degree holder preferably in Asia Studies, International Relations, Political Science, Security Studies, or a related field, preferably a current M.A. candidate or recent M.A. or B.A. graduate.
• Professional experience with research, writing, editing, event planning, or other responsibilities listed above preferred.
• Demonstrated proficiency in a relevant geographical or functional area of Asian studies and/or U.S.-Asia policy, particularly Chinese foreign policy, the PLA, Taiwan, maritime security issues, and/or nuclear issues.
• Reading and research proficiency in an Asian language, Chinese, Japanese and/or Korean preferred.

About NBR

The National Bureau of Asian Research is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research institution dedicated to informing and strengthening policy in the Asia-Pacific. NBR conducts advanced independent research on strategic, political, economic, energy, and environmental issues affecting U.S. relations with Asia. To learn more about NBR, please visit www.nbr.org.

Application Instructions

The application period for this position will close on January 2, 2024. To apply, submit the following materials with your application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

• Resume
• Cover letter summarizing your experience as it applies to the outlined responsibilities and qualifications.
• Recent 3-5-page writing sample that has not undergone external editing, such as a paper for school or a draft of a published piece.
• Contact information for 3 professional and/or academic references (will not be contacted until final interview stage).

Additional Information:

This is a hybrid position based in our Washington, DC office. Full-Time staff are expected to work in-office at least two days per week. The expected pay range for this position is $20.00 per hour to $21.00 per hour, depending on education level.

This is a full-time position and includes 25 paid holidays per year, up to 56 hours of paid sick leave (calculated at the rate of 1 hour for every 30 hours worked), and 2 days of paid professional development leave. NBR covers 80% of employees' Public Transit commuting costs.

NBR is committed to a workplace where inclusion is not only valued but prioritized. We're an equal opportunity employer and strive to create a welcoming and diverse environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, pregnancy or parental status, creed, military or veteran status, religion, ancestry, or national origin, disability, or other status or characteristic protected by applicable law.

If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during either the application or the recruiting process, please email your request to employment@nbr.org.

Applicants must successfully pass a background check, which will be conducted in accordance with Seattle's Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17. Applicants will be given a chance to explain or correct background information and provide verifiable information of good conduct and rehabilitation.

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