The National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) is a research and education organization based in Washington, D.C. It is a values-driven organization that its staff has built from the ground up. Its leaders are in the trenches with staff—committed to advancing science and moving mountains to conserve high-quality, long lives.
The National Minority Quality Forum is looking for a talented and enthusiastic Public Affairs Intern to join our team. This internship opportunity is ideal for those eager to gain practical experience in public affairs, health policy, patient advocacy, and community engagement while developing their skills in a professional setting.
Position Summary:
As a Public Affairs Intern, you will support NMQF’s public affairs and community engagement work by monitoring policy developments, researching emerging issues, preparing briefing materials, and assisting with stakeholder engagement. You will have opportunities to contribute to public-facing campaigns, educational initiatives, congressional briefings, and grant-funded programs focused on improving health access and outcomes.
This internship is designed to provide hands-on experience, mentorship, and opportunities to develop a strong professional portfolio. While you will report directly to NMQF’s Internal Communications Manager for general internship guidance and support, your daily work will involve assisting and working closely with our Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs and collaborating with other NMQF teams.
Responsibilities:
- Policy and Public Affairs Research: Monitor federal, state, and local policy developments relevant to health access, patient advocacy, and NMQF’s priority program and disease areas.
- Policy Briefs and Issue Summaries: Prepare concise policy briefs, issue summaries, talking points, stakeholder profiles, and other materials for internal teams and organizational leadership.
- Public Affairs Writing: Assist with drafting and editing public statements, comment letters, op-eds, sign-on letters, educational materials, and other public affairs content.
- Legislative and Regulatory Research: Conduct background research on legislation, regulations, government agencies, coalitions, policymakers, and other relevant stakeholders.
- Stakeholder and Community Engagement: Help identify and map community partners, policymakers, patient advocacy organizations, professional associations, and other potential collaborators.
- Events and Briefings: Support the planning and execution of public-facing events, webinars, roundtables, and congressional educational briefings, including scheduling, preparation, note-taking, and follow-up.
- Public Affairs Content: Draft and edit web copy, social media posts, event descriptions, meeting recaps, outreach emails, and campaign materials related to public affairs initiatives.
- Patient and Community Perspectives: Help incorporate patient experiences and community perspectives into public affairs and educational materials in coordination with NMQF’s communications, patient advocacy, and community engagement teams.
- Research and Analysis: Conduct qualitative and quantitative research on health disparities, barriers to care, social determinants of health, patient advocacy, coalition-building, and effective public affairs campaigns.
- Project Coordination: Help maintain project trackers and support coordination across teams using tools such as Asana, Google Workspace, and Microsoft Office.
- Meeting Support: Assist with meeting preparation and follow-up, including agenda development, note-taking, and action-item tracking.
- Quality Assurance and Deadlines: Proofread and fact-check materials, follow organizational writing and brand standards, and manage multiple assignments and deadlines.
Qualifications:
- Learning Mindset: Enthusiasm for learning about public affairs, public policy, health communications, patient advocacy, and community engagement.
- Writing and Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex policy, research, and health information into clear language for different audiences.
- Research and Analysis: Ability to gather information from credible sources, identify key findings, and synthesize research into useful summaries and recommendations.
- Organization and Time Management: Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple assignments and meet deadlines.
- Attention to Detail: Commitment to accurate, polished work, including careful proofreading, fact-checking, and documentation.
- Initiative and Resourcefulness: Willingness to ask thoughtful questions, follow up when needed, and take ownership of assigned work.
- Judgment and Professionalism: Ability to handle information and external interactions with integrity, discretion, and sound judgment.
- Collaboration: Ability to work independently and as part of a team, with a positive and professional approach to collaboration.
- Technical Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace; familiarity with project-management and virtual-meeting platforms is preferred.
Not required, but a plus:
- Public Affairs Experience: Previous internship, volunteer, campus, or professional experience involving government relations, policy research, patient advocacy, or public affairs.
- Health or Community Experience: Experience with a health-focused, patient-centered, nonprofit, or community-based organization.
- Policy Writing: Experience preparing policy memos, issue briefs, position papers, public comments, or similar materials.
- Event Support: Experience supporting webinars, public programs, educational briefings, or stakeholder meetings.
- Data Analysis and Presentation: Experience using data to develop summaries, presentations, slide decks, or other materials for nontechnical audiences.
- Project-Management Tools: Familiarity with platforms such as Asana or similar project-management systems.
- Language Skills (Spanish preferred): Foreign-language proficiency, particularly Spanish, and the ability to assist with translating materials.
Education and Experience:
Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program in political science, public policy, public affairs, public health, communications, or a related field; or recently graduated from an undergraduate or graduate degree program.
Undergraduate applicants in their junior or senior year are preferred, although candidates with relevant experience from other academic levels or backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Benefits:
- Hands-on Experience: Gain practical experience in public affairs, health policy, patient advocacy, research, and stakeholder engagement.
- Mentorship: Receive mentorship and guidance from experienced communications and public affairs professionals.
- Portfolio Development: Produce research, briefing, and communications materials that demonstrate practical public affairs skills.
- Networking: Build connections within the communications, health policy, patient advocacy, community, and biopharmaceutical sectors.
- Recommendation: Letter of recommendation upon successful completion of the internship, upon request.
- Academic Credit: Potential for academic credit, if applicable.
- Flexible Scheduling: Distribute weekly work hours across weekdays as needed between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET to accommodate school commitments, in coordination with the intern’s supervisor.
Compensation:
- Pay: Paid internships at NMQF are $18.40 per hour.
- Location: This is a remote position. Based on availability, interns may occasionally be asked to attend or assist with in-person events, including congressional educational briefings or other NMQF activities. Any requested travel will be coordinated and paid for by NMQF.
- Duration: Minimum of six weeks preferred, beginning as early as July or August 2026.
- Hours: Minimum of 20 hours per week. Hours may be distributed flexibly across weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET to accommodate school commitments and organizational needs.
To Apply:
Join us on this exciting journey to improve health access through public affairs, patient advocacy, and community engagement. Apply now and help contribute to meaningful work.
Please complete your application on Indeed and submit the following in PDF format (recommended), Google Doc, or Microsoft Word format:
- Your resume, updated to reflect your current educational and professional history.
- A brief cover letter outlining your interest in the Public Affairs Intern position and any relevant experiences or skills you possess.
- Writing sample(s) from your educational, personal, or professional experience that demonstrate relevant research, analytical, or writing skills. Samples may include policy briefs, academic papers, position papers, articles, blog posts, or comparable work.
Questions may be sent to [email protected] with the subject line “Public Affairs Intern – 2026.”
Job Types: Internship, Temporary
Pay: $18.40 per hour
Application Question(s):
- Are you currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program, or have you recently graduated from one?
- Are you available to work a minimum of 20 hours per week, distributed across weekdays as needed between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET?
- Are you available to begin the internship in July or August 2026 and commit to a minimum of six weeks?
- Briefly describe your experience researching legislation, regulations, health policy, or related public affairs issues. Relevant coursework, internships, employment, campus activities, and volunteer work may be included.
- Please confirm that your application includes both a brief cover letter and at least one writing sample. Applications missing either required item may not be considered.
Work Location: Remote
