About the role#
APCO hires seniors and recent graduates for a full-time, paid internship program. Interns gain experience in strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, and policy advocacy. You will be treated as professional staff by participating in team meetings, contributing ideas, and supporting the management of client work.
What you'll do#
- Conduct research on legislative, regulatory, and political developments to support client strategy.
- Assist in drafting policy briefs, memos, and advocacy materials.
- Support stakeholder and issues mapping by identifying key influencers and tracking their positions.
- Contribute to the development of advocacy campaigns, coalition materials, and public-affairs programming.
- Monitor media and industry news to synthesize insights for client priorities.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
What you'll need#
- Recent college graduate or senior in class standing.
- Demonstrated interest in communications, public relations, journalism, or political science.
- Excellent written and oral communication and research skills.
- Entrepreneurial mindset with strong critical thinking abilities.
- Ability to multi-task and work independently.
- Organized and attentive to detail.
- Strong working knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite.
- Ability to work 40 hours per week.
- US Work Authorization is required. We are unable to consider candidates with CPT, OPT, or Post-OPT status.
Location & details#
- Location: Washington, DC.
- Term: Winter 2027 (January 12, 2027, to May 21, 2027).
- Modality: Hybrid.
- Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday.
- Compensation: $18.40 per hour.
About APCO
APCO is a global advisory and advocacy firm founded in 1984. It assists organizations in building common ground across various sectors. The firm specializes in public affairs, corporate communication, and crisis management. It is a privately held company based in Washington, DC, with a staff size between 1,001 and 5,000 employees.
How to get in at APCO
Applying to APCO early provides a distinct advantage because recruiters review applications as they arrive. Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your target is published, so you can apply among the first before the pile grows. This helps you avoid the frustration of submitting your resume to a crowded queue. You can then focus your energy on the next steps of the process. Intern Insider also surfaces the recruiters behind the company roles so you can reach out directly to ask about the position or a referral. Connecting with a human recruiter materially improves your response rates compared to a standard submission. It is a more effective way to demonstrate your interest in the firm.
