Internships and Employment

Current Employment Opportunities:

Program Assistant

The Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) seeks an entry-level administrative staff person to work with program staff. The Program Assistant provides administrative support to senior staff within a fast-paced human rights organization working in Washington and Latin America. S/he will have initiative, excellent problem-solving skills, and the ability to communicate effectively in both English and Spanish. The position is for two years, subject to an evaluation at the end of the first three months, and brings a committed individual into contact with the human rights, religious, and foreign policy communities in Washington and Latin America. WOLA’s Washington office has a paid staff of 18, plus seven interns and five fellows. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Draft correspondence; copy-edit and format documents.
2. Assist with publication and distribution of reports, memos, press work, and other materials. 
3. Assist in the coordination of public events, conferences, and delegations.
4. Maintain contact with U.S. and Latin American NGOs, attend coalition meetings, and accompany Latin American delegations while in Washington.
5. Monitor relevant congressional hearings and legislation.
6. Manage an intern in coordination with the Intern Coordinator.
7. Maintain and update website and social media content.
8. Coordinate travel, meetings, and scheduling for associates.
9. Other duties, including research assistance, will be assigned depending on the Associates’ needs and Assistant’s abilities.

 QUALIFICATIONS:

1. A demonstrated commitment to human rights, democracy, and social justice in Latin America.
2. Bachelor’s degree.
3. Excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills.
4. Spanish and English fluency required. Written translation experience highly desired.
5. Excellent organizational and administrative skills, follow-through, and attention to detail. Event planning skills preferred.
6. Experience working or living in Latin America preferred.
7. Human rights, political advocacy, and/or Capitol Hill experience highly desired.
8. Computer maintenance and IT trouble-shooting skills a plus.
9. High level of initiative and ability to work independently, as well as work on a team.
10. Flexibility; ability to work in a small, fast-paced, dynamic office environment with frequent international visitors.
11. Knowledge of desktop publishing, database management, and website maintenance a plus.

SALARY: $33,000, full health, dental, vision, and life insurance, three weeks annual vacation.
 
TIME COMMITMENT: Two-year commitment, subject to a favorable evaluation after the first three months.

APPLICATIONS DUE BY: Wednesday, June 26, 2013.
 
START DATE: Immediately.
 
TO APPLY:  Please submit in English the following items in one PDF document electronically to PASearch@wola.org.

1. Cover letter
2. Resume
3. Two page English writing sample
4. A list of two references with daytime telephone numbers and email addresses

For more information, please visit www.wola.org. Only candidates authorized to work in the U.S. without any restrictions need apply.
 
- No phone calls please-
 
WOLA encourages application by minority candidates and is an equal opportunity employer.

Sally Yudelman Internship Program:

WOLA’s Sally Yudelman Internship Program seeks to give interns hands-on experience and broad exposure to human rights advocacy and the foreign policy-making process. WOLA has hosted interns since the late 1980’s, and today our former interns can be found around the world working as human rights advocates, congressional aides, lawyers, journalists, professors, and even as members of WOLA’s senior staff.

Every semester WOLA’s new interns are paired with staff mentors and absorbed into the work of the organization. They collaborate on a mix of research, analytical, and administrative work, and they are invited to get involved in the day-to-day activities of their teams. WOLA selects seven interns per session (spring, summer, and fall), and each intern is assigned to a different program—communications or one of many policy areas. Interns also get involved in the behind-the-scenes work of running a non-profit organization, including helping with technology, the media, finance, and event planning.

Throughout the semester, interns have a series of “brown bag” lunch discussions with WOLA staff and representatives from other non-profits, foundations, governments, and multilateral institutions. Washington, DC serves as an additional classroom for interns, providing opportunities to attend NGO coalition meetings, congressional hearings, and other discussions and events to learn more about issues in Latin America.

WOLA’s internship program is named in honor of Sally Yudelman—for her commitment and contribution to WOLA and the cause of social justice. Following Sally’s example, we hope to provide unique mentoring opportunities through internships, encouraging the next generation of young people to get involved in advocating for human rights in Latin America.

Communications Internships -
Communications interns assist with social media, the website, press outreach, coordinating press lists, video filming and editing, and a variety of other responsibilities as a part of the communications team. The position provides an unique look at the intersection of strategic communications, social media, press work, and the promotion of human rights in Latin America.

Foreign Policy Internships -
Policy interns are each assigned to one of five programmatic areas at WOLA. Within each program, interns take on a wide range of tasks; on any given day, one intern might attend a hearing on Capitol Hill while another translates a press release and another conducts research for a memo. 

Winter Term Internship
The winter internship will be a short term opportunity for students to gain experience interning with WOLA outside of the spring, summer, and fall terms. The internship will begin in early January, and continue full time for four to five weeks. Successful candidates will be matched with an area of WOLA’s policy work while focusing on a specific project that will be expected to be brought to completion within the short duration of the internship.

To apply, please consult the description and requirements of the Sally Yudelman internship outlined below, as they apply equally to the winter term. To meet the needs of this winter’s projects, WOLA is seeking one candidate with Spanish proficiency and one candidate with Brazilian Portuguese proficiency, in addition to the qualifications below for the regular term Sally Yudelman Internship. Experience with translation is recommended. Applications to be considered for the winter term are due no later than October 27. Please specify in your application that you intend to apply for the winter term.
 

Application Instructions:

Approximately 30% of the internship is administrative in nature—answering phones, helping with clerical needs, or working on a specific task. All other time is spent on substantive work. The internship is unpaid. Interns are required to work 32 hours per week during the summer and 24 hours per week during the school year. While internships are unpaid, we offer an academically and professional enriching environment for interns to learn and grow.

Interested applicants should have a demonstrated interest in human rights, democracy and social justice in Latin America; initiative and flexibility; the ability to work in a fast-paced environment; good organizational skills; follow-through and attention to detail. Spanish proficiency is strongly recommended. Technical skills are highly desired.

Latin American and minority students are encouraged to apply. In general, the Yudelman Internship Program is not open to either graduate students or to students who have already graduated due to its significant administrative component.

In order to be considered for an internship, WOLA needs the following materials: 

1) Cover letter in which you state:

• That you understand the internship is unpaid.
• Your specific dates of availability.
• Your willingness to work at least 24 hours per week (32 hours per week for winter and summer internships).
• Your internship preference (communications or policy, or Spanish or Portuguese for the Winter Term).
• Why you want to intern at WOLA, an idea of your specific interests regarding Latin America, and your Spanish/Portuguese language abilities.

2) Resume.

3) The names of 2 references with email addresses and daytime phone numbers.  Contact information is preferred over written letters of recommendation.

4) Writing sample (no more than 2-3 pages) in English on a topic of your choice. It can be a paper you submitted for a class.