2027 Operations - Records Management Internship

Operations - Records Management Internship Reports to: Manager, Operations & Logistics Team: Operations FLSA Status: Full-time, Hourly, Non-Exempt Employment Type: Student Intern Session: Summer (late May – mid August) Location: DC Based Pay Rate: $18.40 per hour. – This internship is intended for educational benefit; we support receiving school credit for participation. Application Deadline: The application portal will close on January 3, 2027, 3:00 ET. Who We Are Americans for the Arts is the nation's leading arts advocacy organization. We mobilize advocates, produce trusted research, and secure bipartisan wins that protect funding and expand arts access nationwide — work we've been doing for more than 65 years. We advance the people, organizations, and systems supporting arts and culture across America through advocacy, research, and national convening. We envision a nation where freedom of creative expression is upheld as a fundamental human right, where arts and culture are woven into the fabric of civic life, resourced in every community, and accessible to everyone. About the Team The Operations (Ops) Team plays a key role in AFTA’s success as a mission driven organization who values its people and the physical and virtual environments, they work within. This team considers every staff member and consultant its clients, placing their experience at the center of its decision-making process. Its mission is to create, implement, and support internal infrastructures, policies, and practices that are agile, inclusive, accessible, and responsive to the needs of its staff and supporting entities. The Ops team is led by a Chief Operations Officer (COO) and comprised of a vice president of people and culture and manager of operations and logistics. We are ready to support a summer intern who has a desire to learn more about developing and implementing a corporate records management program. About the Position The Records Management Intern will help AFTA organize its large collection of organizational records, ranging from vital corporate material to day-to-day correspondence to archival publications dating back to the 1960s. By engaging in a variety of projects, this position will have tangible opportunities to witness how records management practices can help staff and constituents better find the information they need to fulfil our mission of arts advocacy. Participation in this program provides the opportunity to attend our annual conference , in Atlanta June 7 – 11, 2027, and working across teams to experience the behind-the-scenes organizational lead up and execution of hosting a national conference. Key Responsibilities Inventory records in long-term storage to determine if records fall within existing retention schedules or have archival value. Assist with inventory of records at our office through physical inspection and staff interviews Assist in the development and implementation of physical and digital filing systems, file naming conventions, and other classification schemes. Consolidate AFTA’s archival publications and digitize records on demand. Explore options and make recommendations for enterprise content management solutions Experience and Skills That Matter Most Candidates are encouraged to apply, even if they do not possess all the experience and skills listed: A commitment to advancing the AFTA mission, with a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility and a passion for arts, public policy, and non-profit advocacy. Pursuing (or recently completed) studies in History, Library Science or Records Management, or Non-Profit or Business Administration. A passion, curiosity, and excitement to learn and shape organizational infrastructure and processes. An independent self-starter who also enjoys being a part of a team Ability to lift up to 30lbs Knowledge of Microsoft 360 Suite Strong interpersonal skills and a customer-service mindset that ensure all feel valued and respected. More About the Internship Eligibility: High school graduates, current college students, mid-career professionals, and those looking to transition to a new career field in the arts and culture ecosystem. Must be eligible to work in and reside within the United States Must be available to work between 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. ET, Monday – Friday (37.50-hour work week) and commit to participating for the full 12 weeks program. Ability to attend in-person AFTACON 2027 in Atlanta, Georgia, June 7 – 11, 2027. Travel and lodging cost are fully covered as part of your participation in the internship. Program Duration: The program is scheduled to run for a 12-week period. We anticipate the program to begin in Summer 2027, starting in late May and concluding in mid-August. There is the potential for flexibility in the program start and end dates, depending upon the ideal candidate and team needs. Work hours and office: This internship is DC-Based with regular time spent working directly with staff in our DC office. There is potential to work remotely on occasion. We have a 7.50-hour day Monday - Friday, for a total of 37.50 hours work week. You will be provided with a laptop and other equipment in support of the internship. In person dress code is business casual .