Note to applicants: Interns in the Events & Membership department of our organization will work out of the GACC Midwest office in Chicago. As such, applicants must either currently reside in the Greater Chicago Area or be available for relocation before the start date of the internship.

Compensation: $2900/month

Duration: 9-12 months

Who we are:

The mission of the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest (GACC Midwest) is to promote and assist bilateral trade and investment between Germany and the United States. All internships offer the opportunity to gain work experience in a truly bilingual and bicultural environment, with support from colleagues that can help speed the learning curve of understanding intercultural differences and nuances. Read more about our organization at www.gaccmidwest.org.

What does this internship entail?

Assist with full-cycle event management and membership activities, including:

• Carrying out logistical arrangements for events such as creating run-of-show plans, developing event workflows/timelines, researching venue and vendor options, and creating conceptual event materials
• Event onsite execution, welcoming attendees, being able to communicate with members and non-members about GACC Midwest and its activities
• Strategically promoting events through various communication channels (ConstantContact) to target attendees and acquiring event sponsors
• Regularly publishing and updating events on GACC Midwest website Events Calendar (Ibexa)
• Performing comprehensive post-event follow-up and review activities to collect valuable feedback, identifying strengths and areas for future growth
• Assist Membership Engagement Manager with member meetings and outreach strategy
• Assist and maintain accurate communication records for all GACC Midwest members and external vendors in NetSuite
• Engage in member/event-related activities to retain and acquire new members for the Chamber
• Designing invitations on Canva, event brochures and event programs

Who are we looking for?

• experienced in event planning and event coordinating (strongly preferred, but not required) or have a strong interest in gaining experience and skills in this field
• skilled in organizational and planning activities
• strong problem solving skills and quick adaptability (specifically for events)
• proactive, self-initiated/driven and have a strong attention to detail and a high level of accountability
• available to attend Chamber and partner events, including occasionally outside of normal business hours
• strong communication and interpersonal skills, including writing, proof reading and speaking
• experienced in social media communications; publishing and usability a plus
• advanced user in Microsoft Office programs (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint), Constant Contact, Ibexa (preferred), HandBid (preferred), Oracle NetSuite (preferred)
• a team player

Why join GACC Midwest?

Our organization, GACC Midwest, strives to provide our interns with an environment that allows them to succeed in every aspect of their role. Our interns have the opportunity to gain the ability to put new things into practice and network and meet key members in our extensive membership base while learning more about German-American business efforts happening day in and day out.

With a beautiful state-of-the-art office space in the heart of the city overlooking Millennium Park, interns are able to easily navigate throughout Downtown Chicago and experience the rich culture the city has to offer – such as complimentary German lessons offered by the Goethe Institute specifically for our employees. Within our office building, all GACC Midwest team members have access to the fitness center with free classes being offered regularly as well as general community events as planned by the building staff.