Internships
Applications for Fall 2026 internships are now open! We will accept applications for Fall 2026 internships until July 10, 2026, at 11:59 PM. Internships will begin on August 3, 2026.
Ready to apply, or have questions you would like to ask? Please submit your resume and a cover letter (optional, but strongly encouraged) to internship@sandiegodiplomacy.org
Internships require a six-month commitment of 12-15 hours per week. Please note that this is an unpaid, hybrid internship position based in the San Diego-Tijuana region. We strongly encourage interns to seek academic credit for their internship.
Gain hands-on experience in public diplomacy while learning about the work of a nonprofit in San Diego. Our internship program is open to applicants with a high school diploma and above. Internships completed as part of a college course are eligible for credit. Our internship program is attractive to emerging global leaders looking to expand their skills and knowledge.
Interns will gain substantive experience working directly through one of the following portfolios:
- Professional Exchange Programs - Gain practical experience coordinating exchange programs for groups of international leaders, including supporting itinerary development for visiting delegations, preparing physical and virtual program materials, assisting in tracking program metrics and data collection, and accompanying international visitors to professional appointments and engagements.
- Youth Exchange Programs - Gain hands-on experience supporting youth-focused diplomacy and leadership programs, including assisting with planning and scheduling cultural and educational activities for visiting and outbound students, and helping coordinate itineraries. Intern also supports major youth initiatives, such as the Binational Youth Summit and other youth programs.
- Communications - Take on a high level of responsibility and exposure to local, national, and global media sources in a professional, intercultural environment. A communications intern contributes to writing and distributing press releases, creating content for social media platforms and newsletters, and attending exchange programs to document and photograph visitor interactions.
- Operations - Gain hands-on experience in nonprofit management and executive administration. This internship offers exposure to organizational operations, membership engagement, database maintenance, grant reporting, and project management. The operations intern will also support executive leadership with calendar management, meeting coordination, document preparation, and internal communications, gaining valuable insight into how nonprofit organizations operate and achieve their mission.
Internship Details and Timeline: Our volunteer internships are approximately 12-15 hours per week, for a duration of 6 months. We are currently recruiting for the Fall cohort of interns. The Spring cohort will commence on August 3, 2026.
To Apply: Email your resume and a cover letter (optional, but strongly encouraged) to internship@sandiegodiplomacy.org. Please include "Fall 2026 Internship Application" in your subject line and let us know if there is a specific intern role you are interested in applying for.
