OVERVIEW

ABOUT SWING LEFT

SWING LEFT IS A NATIONAL GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION WORKING TO ELECT DEMOCRATS UP AND DOWN THE BALLOT. WE MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR ANYONE TO MAKE A BIG IMPACT ON THE ELECTIONS THAT DETERMINE THE BALANCE OF POWER IN OUR COUNTRY, BY VOLUNTEERING AND DONATING IN KEY RACES. SINCE OUR FOUNDING IN 2017, THE SWING LEFT COMMUNITY HAS RAISED $38 MILLION DIRECTLY FOR DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMPLETED 35 MILLION VOLUNTEER-DRIVEN VOTER CONTACT ACTIONS, INCLUDING DOOR KNOCKING, PHONE CALLS, AND LETTER WRITING. READ ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION'S VALUES HERE.

ABOUT THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

SWING LEFT INTERNS WILL GAIN SKILLS AND INSIGHT INTO THE WORK THAT DRIVES OUR ORGANIZATION WHILE GAINING EXPERIENCE WITHIN A FIELD OF PROFESSIONAL INTEREST. INTERNS WILL APPLY THEIR INTERESTS AND SKILLS TO RELEVANT WORKSTREAMS MANAGED BY THEIR RESPECTIVE DEPARTMENTS, JOIN SKILL-BASED AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOCUSED TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES WITH THEIR INTERN COHORT, AND HAVE THE CHANCE TO LEARN FROM AND FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS WITH SWING LEFT STAFF MEMBERS ACROSS DEPARTMENTS.

LOCATION: REMOTE

TERM: FALL SEMESTER 2021, AUGUST 30 – DECEMBER 3

HOURS: ABOUT 20 HOURS PER WEEK, WITH APPROXIMATELY 50% OF HOURS FALLING BETWEEN SWING LEFT'S CORE WORKING HOURS OF 12-5PM ET. INTERNS WILL WORK WITH THEIR MANAGER TO DETERMINE AN EXACT SCHEDULE.

PAY: $15/HOUR

INTERN POSITIONS

DIGITAL INTERN | MARKETING DEPARTMENT

THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING THE MESSAGING AND CREATIVE CONTENT THAT CONVEYS SWING LEFT'S WORK AND MISSION TO THE WORLD VIA EMAIL, SOCIAL MEDIA, EVENTS, AND IN THE PRESS. THE DIGITAL INTERN WILL SUPPORT SWING LEFT'S DIGITAL TEAM IN THE CONCEPTUALIZATION AND EXECUTION OF PLATFORM-SPECIFIC EMAIL AND SOCIAL CREATIVE CONTENT.

POLITICAL INTERN | POLITICAL STRATEGY DEPARTMENT

THE POLITICAL STRATEGY DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DETERMINING SWING LEFT'S ELECTORAL STRATEGY AND IDENTIFYING KEY VALIDATORS TO MEET AND FURTHER AMPLIFY THIS STRATEGIC VISION. THE POLITICAL INTERN WILL BE VITAL TO THE POLITICAL TEAM'S WORK TO TRACK REDISTRICTING PROCESSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY THIS FALL, AND WILL PRIMARILY BE INVOLVED WITH PROJECTS RELATED TO 2022 CONGRESSIONAL AND STATE LEGISLATURE TARGETING.

COMMUNITY INTERN | COMMUNITY DEPARTMENT

THE COMMUNITY DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SWING LEFT'S GRASSROOTS AND DIGITAL ORGANIZING EFFORTS, LEADING ORGANIZING PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS AND VOLUNTEER GROUPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS THEY TAKE EFFECTIVE ACTION TO IMPACT ELECTIONS YEAR-ROUND. THE COMMUNITY INTERN WILL WORK WITH THE DIGITAL ORGANIZING PROGRAM DIRECTOR TO SUPPORT DISTRIBUTED ORGANIZING PROGRAMS AND THE WORK OF GRASSROOTS VOLUNTEER GROUPS AS THEY RAMP UP EVENTS THIS FALL. 

DEVELOPMENT INTERN | OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT

THE OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING SWING LEFT RUNNING BY MANAGING FUNDRAISING, PEOPLE PROGRAMS, FINANCES, AND MORE. THE DEVELOPMENT INTERN WILL WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE SENIOR DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT TO DRIVE THE FUNDRAISING EFFORTS THAT ALLOW THE ORGANIZATION TO OPERATE, ASSIST IN SECURING AND ENGAGING NEW SWING LEFT DONORS, AND LEARN THE BASICS OF FUNDRAISING FOR A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR OPERATION.

ANALYTICS INTERN | PRODUCT/TECH DEPARTMENT

THE PRODUCT/TECH DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING AND MAINTAINING ORGANIZATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE (THINK: WEBSITES AND TOOLS) AND TRACKING AND ANALYZING CRITICAL DATA THAT ALLOWS SWING LEFT TO CREATE PRODUCTS THAT HELP OUR USERS MAKE AN IMPACT. SWING LEFT'S SUITE OF VOLUNTEER AND FUNDRAISING PRODUCTS MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR ANYONE TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THEIR OWN AND/OR WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY. THE ANALYTICS INTERN WILL ASSIST WITH AND LEARN ABOUT PROJECTS AIMED AT SUPPORTING THE ORGANIZATION'S LONG TERM GROWTH AND CAPACITY, INCLUDING DASHBOARD DOCUMENTATION AND USING INTERNAL AND THIRD PARTY DATA (I.E. FROM CIVIS) TO CONDUCT STATISTICAL ANALYSIS ABOUT OUR USERS AND SUBSCRIBERS.

EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES

DEPENDING ON THE POSITION, SWING LEFT INTERNS SHOULD EXPECT TO LEARN ABOUT AND GAIN EXPERIENCE IN THE FOLLOWING SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES:

1. DATA ANALYTICS: INTERNS WILL GAIN EXPERIENCE WITH TRACKING, ANALYZING AND REPORTING ON DATA TO INFORM KEY DECISIONS ON OUR PROGRAMS AND STRATEGY. DEPENDING ON THE ROLE, THEY MAY ALSO LEARN ABOUT THE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AND DOCUMENTATION FOR TECHNICAL AND NON-TECHNICAL STAKEHOLDERS.
2. RESEARCH: INTERNS WILL GAIN EXPERIENCE WITH RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS TO INFORM KEY DECISIONS ON OUR PROGRAMS AND STRATEGY. 
3. COMMUNICATION: INTERNS WILL USE THEIR WRITTEN AND ORAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS. DEPENDING ON THE ROLE, THEY WILL GAIN EXPERIENCE IN PRESENTATION SKILLS AND CONTRIBUTE TO INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS ACROSS MULTIPLE PLATFORMS AND AUDIENCES.
4. PROJECT MANAGEMENT: INTERNS WILL GAIN PROJECT MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE BY PLANNING, ORGANIZING, AND EXECUTING PROJECT LOGISTICS AND BY USING OUR PROJECT MANAGEMENT TOOLS AND RESOURCES. 
5. MESSAGING AND BRANDING: INTERNS WILL GAIN EXPERIENCE IN MESSAGING AND BRANDING BY CONTRIBUTING TO EXTERNAL-FACING COMMUNICATIONS ACROSS MULTIPLE PLATFORMS AND AUDIENCES.   
6. BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS: INTERNS WILL GAIN EXPERIENCE BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION BY WORKING AND COLLABORATING ACROSS OUR TEAMS AND PROGRAMS. THEY MAY ALSO LEARN ABOUT VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT AND DIRECT VOTER CONTACT, DEPENDING ON THE ROLE.
7. STRATEGIC PLANNING: INTERNS WILL GAIN EXPERIENCE WITH STRATEGIC PLANNING BY WORKING WITH THE TEAM TO ANTICIPATE AND PREPARE FOR VARIOUS OUTCOMES THAT MAY OR MAY NOT OCCUR AND EVENTUALITIES THAT MIGHT UNFOLD AS WE EXECUTE OUR STRATEGIC INITIATIVES
8. PROBLEM SOLVING: INTERNS WILL GAIN EXPERIENCE BY WORKING ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION TO ANALYZE SITUATIONS AND APPLY CRITICAL THINKING IN ORDER TO RESOLVE PROBLEMS AND DECIDE ON COURSES OF ACTION. 
9. TECHNICAL SKILLS: INTERNS WILL GAIN EXPERIENCE WITH TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE USED TO SUPPORT AND BUILD OUR PROGRAMS.

SUCCESSFUL INTERN CANDIDATES WILL HAVE

• PASSION AND DRIVE FOR SWING LEFT'S MISSION AND WORK
• STRONG WRITTEN AND VERBAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS
• DEMONSTRATED ABILITY TO CREATE QUALITY WORK AND COMPLETE PROJECTS ON TIME
• AMBITION TO LEARN AND GROW VIA RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, ASSIGNED WORK, AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
• ABILITY TO DEDICATE 20 HOURS PER WEEK TO THIS PROGRAM BETWEEN AUGUST 30TH AND DECEMBER 3RD, WITH AT LEAST 50% OF THOSE HOURS BETWEEN OUR CORE WORKING HOURS OF 12-5PM ET

INTERNING AT SWING LEFT 

SWING LEFT IS A COMPLETELY REMOTE ORGANIZATION AND INTERNS SHOULD EXPECT TO WORK WITH STAFF AND OTHER INTERNS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. IF REQUESTED, SWING LEFT WILL SEND INTERNS A CHROMEBOOK TO USE FOR THE DURATION OF THE PROGRAM. ALL INTERNS WILL BE ALSO ELIGIBLE FOR OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT BENEFIT, A $500 STIPEND TO BE USED FOR TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, COACHING, CONFERENCE ADMISSION, ETC.

WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND SEEK APPLICATIONS FROM ALL QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO WORK IN THE UNITED STATES. HOWEVER, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO SPONSOR VISAS AT THIS TIME. 

WE BELIEVE THAT THE GOP'S BAD BEHAVIOR DISPROPORTIONATELY HURTS THE MOST MARGINALIZED PEOPLE IN SOCIETY — INCLUDING PEOPLE OF COLOR, PEOPLE FROM WORKING-CLASS BACKGROUNDS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, WOMEN AND LGBTQ PEOPLE. AS WE SEEK TO BUILD BOTH A POLITICAL SYSTEM AND ORGANIZATION THAT REPRESENTS AND UPLIFTS THESE VOICES, WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE APPLICATIONS FROM PEOPLE WITH THESE IDENTITIES AND MEMBERS OF OTHER MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.