Communications Intern

Introduction

Since 1987, Independent Project Analysis (IPA) has delivered groundbreaking research and quantitative risk analyses to enhance the value generated by our industrial clients’ capital project systems and meet their obligations for sustainable and safe performance. We guide our clients to establish the right combination of people, work process, and governance to maximize their performance across cost, schedule, safety, operability, and sustainability. Our clients are leading companies in the energy, minerals, infrastructure, chemicals, pharmaceutical, and consumer products sectors. IPA is committed to social and ethical responsibility, and all global offices initiate or participate in local charity initiatives to support those in need.

The Communications Intern Role

IPA is seeking a bright, motivated, and intellectually curious undergraduate or graduate student for a winter internship in the company’s Communications Department at our corporate headquarters in Ashburn, Virginia, from December 2026 to January 2027. The internship is a full-time (40 hours per week) paid position, with compensation depending on years of school/experience. If you have an interest in developing and launching marketing campaigns to help clients overcome key challenges, you may be a great fit for IPA!

The intern will spend the winter working on marketing and communications activities that support key company growth initiatives. Major responsibilities include:

• Assisting with developing and launching marketing campaigns
• Preparing targeted email marketing messages
• Preparing social media content calendars
• Optimizing web content to rank higher in search engine results
• Organizing marketing assets for cross-functional team access
• Sending media pitches to industry publications and conferences

Core Qualifications

• Excellent oral and written communication skills (writing samples/portfolio required)
• Interest or experience in B2B content marketing, email marketing, and social media
• Good organization skills, ability to manage competing priorities
• Experience with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
• Experience with WordPress and Adobe Creative Suite is a plus
• Basic familiarity with SEO Best Practices
• Strong work ethic
• Self-motivated and able to work independently
• Positive attitude and willingness to work in a team

Education

Candidates should be students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in marketing, communications, or a related field.

Location

The role is on-site and located in our office in Ashburn, VA.

Hourly Wage and Perks

Hourly compensation is determined by education level: $25 for Bachelor’s, $30 for Master’s, and $32 for PhD students/graduates. IPA interns have the opportunity to collaborate with industry professionals while fostering technical and organizational skills. All interns are assigned a day-to-day mentor who will be responsible for orienting, training, and overseeing their progress on a given department task/project.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested candidates should complete the form below, including a cover letter and resume outlining their academic and professional interests. Please ensure the resume or cover letter notes your undergraduate and/or graduate GPA, along with a link to a writing sample or portfolio.

IPA is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees.