PRINCIPAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Research associate interns are integral to the BENS team. They have substantive research and administrative responsibilities, supporting BENS’ organizational goals and the work BENS is doing with its government partners and members in the national security community. Work includes:
- Tracking and analyzing developments of relevant policy issues, including:
- Critical mineral supply/demand challenges;
- Resiliency of the energy grid from man-made and natural threats;
- Efforts to recruit and retain a talented national security workforce; and
- Transformative organizational changes to address great power competition.
- Working with BENS staff to provide supporting research for work with BENS national security-focused government partners and business leaders, including literature reviews,
report summaries, bibliographies, and analyses of relevant articles.
- Working with BENS staff to provide support for work and outreach with BENS national security-focused government partners and business leaders.
- Engaging with business leaders who are BENS members, and other public and private sector partners, to support BENS work.
- Assisting with the preparation of and participating in events, including drafting background memos, taking meeting notes, and contributing to recommendations and next steps.
- Helping to draft products such as media pieces, correspondence, reports, and memos to government partners.
- Covering Congressional hearings or other key meetings, including taking notes and drafting follow-up memoranda.
- Drafting products such as media pieces, correspondence, reports, infographics, and memos to government partners and senior BENS staff.
- Actively and continuously updating membership databases for Engagement and project-related efforts.
- Setting up and breaking down all project-related events.
- General office administrative support.
SKILLS
- Effective research and data-use skills required.
- Strong writing, communication, and organizational skills required.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced work environment and juggle multiple things at once required.
- Interpersonal and professional skills, including the ability to interact with senior business and industry executives and military and government leaders, required.
- Collaborative and independent work skills required.
TERM
BENS offers research associate internship positions throughout the year. Spring terms typically run January-May, summer terms June-August, and fall terms September-December. Research associate interns are paid an hourly wage set at the current D.C. minimum wage, and receive metro travel benefits. We prefer those who are available to work full-time for four or five days each week, but will consider other outstanding candidates as well.
REQUIREMENTS
BENS accepts applicants from all backgrounds and degree programs (e.g., International Affairs, Security Studies, Public Policy, Economics, Business, Engineering, technical programs, or any professional school graduate program). Most applicants have or are in the process of completing, an undergraduate or graduate degree. However, candidates are selected at a variety of career points, depending on their skills and prior experience. Strong writing and research skills are required, as is an interest in making government work more effectively with respect to national security efforts. Applicants must also be computer-literate and Internet-savvy. For more information, please email Senior Associate Jamie Hood at jhood@bens.org.
TO APPLY
All applicants are encouraged to explore our website before applying; demonstrating an interest in, and understanding of, BENS’ mission is critical to a competitive application.
Please send a concise cover letter, a one-page resume, and a 2–3-page writing sample to Jamie Hood, Senior Associate responsible for coordinating research associate internships, at jhood@bens.org. Applications should include all documents to be considered.
