Intern - Global Food and Water Security Program (Fall 2025)

 

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is a non-profit, bipartisan public policy organization established in 1962 to provide strategic insights and practical policy solutions to decision makers concerned with global security and prosperity. Over the years, it has grown to be one of the largest organizations of its kind, with a full-time staff of over 250 employees, including more than 120 analysts working to address the changing dynamics of international security across the globe.

 

The CSIS Global Food and Water Security Program (GFWSP) serves as an independent forum for analysis of food and water security in the United States and around the world. The program aims to increase the level of dialogue surrounding food and water security and to develop policy solutions and political will to address today’s challenges. The program conducts original research and writing, hosts public and private events, and regularly engages practitioners, scholars, and policymakers in Washington, D.C. and around the world on issues relevant to domestic and global food and water security. Special areas of focus include the impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war on global food security and Ukraine’s agriculture sector, artificial intelligence to improve food security, U.S.-China cooperation on global food security, agricultural biodiversity, global nutrition, climate change, and improving the coherence of U.S. global food and water security policy. 

 

For more information on the Global Food and Water Security Program please visit: https://www.csis.org/programs/global-food-security-program.  

 

CSIS seeks a full-time Intern to provide administrative, strategic communications, event coordination, and research support to the Global Food and Water Security Program. The intern will be an integral part of a small team and will often be required to complete a variety of tasks in short timeframes. 

 

The Intern will work closely with their supervisor in managing communications around program activities and the program’s social media platforms. The Intern will provide additional support for the planning and execution of all public and private events. The Intern will also provide administrative support to the program, including assisting the coordination of scheduling and the updating of program data. Additional tasks include prepping background information on experts and organizations ahead of meetings, media engagements, and events. 

 

The hired candidate will be paid hourly, commensurate with experience ($18.00/hour for current undergraduate hires, $19.00/hour for hires with a bachelor’s degree, and $20.00/hour for hires with a master’s degree).

 

Essential functions may include, but are not limited to the following:

 

• Social Media and Communications

o Draft social media copy and visual materials to regularly publicize the program’s publications and events on Twitter and LinkedIn.

o Draft monthly GFWSP newsletter, highlighting recent program engagements and activities.

o Track engagement data to create and maintain an effective social media strategy.

o Strategize creative new approaches to effectively communicate the findings of GFWSP research, particularly to emphasize how focus areas are addressed across disparate engagements.

• Events

o Assist in event planning, outreach, and day-of coordination for public and private events.

• Research

o Monitor media for events and trends in food and water security on a bi-weekly basis. 

o Contribute to preparatory research for media, meetings, new project development efforts, and/or publications.

o Attend events and meetings and compile notes to share with program staff.

• Administrative 

o Assist in the management of calendars and scheduling of high-level meetings.

o Maintain and update program data, including research materials, program mailing lists, and webpages.

o Provide general administrative support for program staff. 

 

 

• Successful candidates will have:

o Comfort working in a hybrid setting, including managing concurrent tasks with minimal supervision under tight deadlines and quick turnarounds.

o An interest in communications and social media strategy.

o Familiarity and experience with social media platforms in professional settings.

o Experience planning and executing events.

o Impeccable attention to detail and coordination skills.

o Strong professional communication and interpersonal skills.

o Ability to work both independently and as a cohesive member of a small team.

o A strong interest in food and/or water security as evidenced by academic or professional experience in food security, water security, or a related field. 

• Additional requirements include:

o Eligibility to work in the United States.

o At least two years of study toward a bachelor’s degree; candidates may have a bachelor’s degree and up to two years of experience or a master’s degree.

 

 

The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee working in an office environment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

 

 

 

 

The program is looking to hire someone available to work from September to December 2025. The Intern is expected to work five days a week, Monday through Friday, for a total of 35 hours. The hired candidate will be paid hourly, commensurate with experience ($17.50/hour for current undergraduate hires, $18.50/hour for hires with a bachelor’s degree, and $19.50/hour for hires with a master’s degree). There is an opportunity to complete this internship for institutional credit. This position is based in Washington, D.C. and will take place in an in-person format.

 

Interested applicants should submit:

 

1. A one-page resume in PDF format.

2. A one-page cover letter in PDF format.

3. A one-page backgrounder in PDF format including the following material:

a. A backgrounder on any one (1) of our program focus areas or past research topics, all of which are available on the CSIS Global Food and Water Security Program’s webpage (250 words or less). This should briefly summarize the issue for a U.S. national security policy audience. Please hyperlink all sources.

b. 3 sources listed and hyperlinked that the applicant would print for the program Director for further reading on the chosen topic.

c. 1 post for X/Twitter the applicant would draft to promote the program’s work on the chosen focus area. Please be mindful of X/Twitter’s formatting requirements and restrictions.

4. A list of 3 references (including name, title, affiliation, relationship, email address, and phone number) in PDF format.

 

In order to be considered, applicants must correctly submit the requested documentation at https://careers.csis.org/. Please submit documents using the following nomenclature [Last Name_First Name_Document type]. Other materials submitted will not be reviewed.