You are viewing a preview of this job. Log in or register to view more details about this job.
Email

 

U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC)

Foreign Government Procurement Advocacy Unpaid

Spring 2026 Internship (Part-Time Remote or In-Person) Opportunity

 

Announcement Open Date: 2/20/2026

Announcement Closing Date: 2/27/2026 at 11:59 PM (EST)

 

Are you an undergraduate or graduate student interested in international business or foreign affairs? The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) Advocacy Center wants you! 

 

The DOC Advocacy Center (AC) is an in-person internship with the ability to telework for the Spring 2026 semester at our Washington, DC Office at DOC Headquarters.  If you are interested in extending through the Summer 2026, please also indicate that in your application. 

 

Students may do the internship for class credit if allowed by your school.

 

 

 

About Us:

Based in Washington, D.C., the Advocacy Center is a unit of the Global Markets/Commercial Service (GM/CS) bureau of the International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.

 

The Advocacy Center coordinates U.S. Government advocacy efforts on behalf of U.S. exporters bidding on foreign public-sector contracts. We work closely with Commercial Service Offices within U.S. embassies and other diplomatic missions overseas.

 

The Advocacy Center helps to ensure that U.S. exports have the best possible chance competing abroad. Advocacy assistance is wide and varied but often involves companies that want the U.S. Government to communicate a message to foreign governments on behalf of their commercial interest in a competitive bid contest.

 

Located within the International Trade Administration’s Advocacy Center, you will have the opportunity to be a student intern. In this internship you will be helping champion U.S. companies competing in foreign defense procurements by tracking filed Advocacy applications, supporting bid advocacy, and coordinating with U.S. embassies and Commerce teams. You’ll analyze market entry barriers, draft company letters, and assist outreach that strengthens U.S. industry competitiveness and compliance. Ideal for students in international affairs, business, or engineering. 

Our interns gain a broad view of how the U.S. Government interacts with players in international trade and policy, defense acquisition, and public private partnerships from domestic U.S. agencies to foreign governments. Since our interns often join us on calls and videoconferences with representatives from both U.S. businesses and government agencies for defense acquisitions, they gain valuable insight into issues faced by major companies when competing for foreign government contracts, while delivering real impact for American exporters.

Previous AC interns have gone on to careers in the highest echelons of government, non-profit organizations, and the private sector.

 

Dates of Internship:

Spring 2026 semesters.  (Start date by January 27, 2025 – June 27, 2025 (end dates are flexible) with the option to work through the Summer 2026.

 

Internship Requirements:

*Intern must be an enrolled student (undergraduate or graduate school)

*Student must be a rising junior or above

*3.25 minimum GPA

*U.S. citizenship

*Internship hours and dates are flexible, but students must be able to work at least 24 hours (3 full days) per week, with accommodation made for class schedule.

*Interns who will work virtual at times will need to have a workspace, a personal computer with internet access, and a personal phone.

 

 

 

What We Look For:

The Advocacy Center’s scope tends to fit well with students interested in subjects such as international affairs, trade, federal government, economics, national security, business, engineering, defense studies, law, history, and other political and social sciences. 

 

Much of the intern’s duties will focus on performing due diligence on companies, so attention to detail and research skills are helpful. Those with strong writing skills are highly encouraged.

 

Overall, strong communication skills and a positive, can-do attitude are essential!

 

How to Apply - Geographic or Industry Area of Interest:

Although based in Washington, DC, the Advocacy Center's scope of work is spread over different geographic regions: Europe/Western Hemisphere; Middle East/Africa; Indo-Pacific

 

(*Note: We encourage the prospective intern to apply for only one of the geographic/industry areas at a time*)

 

***Based on your geographic area of interest, please send your resume, cover letter, and unofficial transcripts (Pdf preferred) DIRECTLY to one of the contacts listed below***

 

Email Subject Line: “Advocacy Center Spring 2026 Internship Application”

 

Aerospace and Defense Industry: Andrea Berton at Andrea.Berton@Trade.gov  and “cc” Leila Odom at Leila.Odom@trade.gov (Internship Coordinator)

 

To find out more about the Advocacy Center, visit our website at https://www.trade.gov/advocacy

 

Applications will be reviewed as they are received so submission before the announcement closing date is highly encouraged. Thank you for your interest!

 

If selected for an internship: Applicants may wish to ask their school’s career center about financial aid or other funding options for public service or other unpaid internships and to research possible sources outside school. OCM is open to accommodating students seeking academic credit if the internship meets their school’s requirements. ITA interns may join U.S. Department of Commerce Employee Resource Groups. 

 

The U.S. Department of Commerce provides fair access, opportunities, and advancement for all, regardless of race, gender, socioeconomic status, or work arrangement.

 

 

 

Preferences

 

Graduation Date

No Graduation Date set

 

School Years

Junior, Senior, Masters

 

Majors

International policy, international commerce, national security, international management, intercultural relations, international development, global economy, government and foreign affairs, international business, international trade, international economics, international affairs, international relations, engineering, or other related fields of study.

 

American Sign Language, Social Work/Human Services, Counseling, Cognition & Neuroscience/Biopsychology, Anthropology, Human & Child Development, Family & Consumer Science, Geography, Sociology, Psychology, Liberal Arts, Religious Studies/Divinity/Theology, Philosophy/Ethics, Linguistics, History, Gender Studies, English, Creative Writing, Comparative Literature, Classical Studies, Foreign Languages & Literature, Cultural & Ethnic Studies, User Experience/Social Computing, Software Design, Library Sciences, Data Mining, Cyber Security, Information Systems Management, Computer Science, Computer Systems Networking & Telecommunications, Data Science, Computer Programming, Public Relations, Journalism, Public Policy, Public Administration, Law, International Studies/Comparative Politics, Emergency Management/Homeland Security, Political Science & Government, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Entrepreneurship, Economics, Consulting, Non Profit Management, Management Science, International Business, Business Administration & Management, Finance & Financial Management

 

GPA

3.25