ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION AND THE OPPORTUNITY

EdTrust-Tennessee seeks a Government Affairs Intern to join its Advocacy & Engagement team.

The Intern will have the exciting opportunity to help EdTrust-Tennessee track relevant legislative policy developments at the Tennessee General Assembly during the 2025 legislative session around equity in pre-K through postsecondary education. This role will help synthesize key takeaways gathered from statehouse activity as education-related bills move through the legislative process, with the ultimate goal of achieving comprehensive coverage of relevant subcommittee and committee actions and disseminating information internally. The Intern will learn more about the state legislative process, government relations, and public policy advocacy, and they will build an in-depth understanding of elected and appointed officials and other key stakeholders in Tennessee’s education policy ecosystem.

Ed Trust is committed to advancing policies and practices to dismantle the racial and economic barriers embedded in the U.S. education system. Through our research and advocacy, Ed Trust improves equity in education from preschool through college, engages diverse communities dedicated to equity and justice, and increases political and public will to build an education system where all students will thrive.

Available November 25, 2024, this role is based in our Tennessee office. While the role will be largely telework, the Government Affairs Intern must reside in Tennessee during the internship and report to the Ed Trust-Tennessee office (in Nashville) within 3 days of hire for employment verification. The intern reports to the Senior Manager, Government Relations. This role is budgeted for no more than 30 hours per week , concluding no later than May 24, 2024. Exact hours are negotiable and dependent on budget.

ABOUT THE INTERN ROLE

Major responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Summarize bill and committee activity for our legislative strategy meetings and to inform other EdTrust-TN communications, resources, and events

• Monitor, analyze, and track legislative developments in the Tennessee General Assembly related to Ed Trust priority issues to inform our policy strategy

• Update relevant information in EdTrust-Tennessee policymaker database to inform our engagement strategy

• Helping with additional tasks as needed to support the EdTrust-TN team during their coverage of Tennessee’s legislative session.

• Stay current and knowledgeable on organizational priorities and recent research from Ed Trust and our partners

IDEAL SKILLS AND CHARACTERISTICS

• Shared belief in EdTrust’s mission and a commitment to improving educational equity, with a focus on race equity

• Willingness to receive and act upon constructive feedback

• Ability to organize, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines

• Strong communication skills, with a focus on writing and concise summaries

• Attention to detail and ability to multitask

• Ability to take initiative and be self-directed

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications and experience:

• At least a high school diploma or GED, and enrolled in a higher education degree program

• Experience using MS Office software such as Word, Excel, and Outlook

• General knowledge of the legislative process and education policy

• Previous public policy experience preferred, including, but not limited to, previous internships in state or local government; or with other advocacy or education policy organizations

COMPENSATION

The pay for this role ranges from $19-$30/hr depending on candidate experience. We do not negotiate on intern pay in order to maintain equity within our intern pay scale; pay rates for internships are primarily determined based on level of education. Sick leave is accrued in this role.

VACCINATION FOR COVID-19

EdTrust-Tennessee, the health and safety of our employees is of the utmost importance. As such, all EdTrust employees are required to be fully vaccinated and remain up to date on their vaccinations for COVID-19. Any new interns should be fully vaccinated and up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations prior to their first day of work. Requests for accommodation due to medical or religious reasons will be reviewed by Human Resources.

QUALIFIED CANDIDATES, PLEASE APPLY

EdTrust is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds.

To apply: We invite you to complete the application in ADP, including submitting a resume and brief cover letter highlighting your interest and fit for the position.