Opposition Research

The Opposition Research Intern documents the public record — statements, votes, filings, and published material — and verifies claims made in public debate. All work in this role is conducted using **publicly available sources only**, and every finding must be documented to a citable, retrievable source. Findings are delivered to staff with the source attached; the intern does not distribute research externally.

Core Duties

• Compile and organize public statements, votes, filings, and published material on assigned subjects.
• Build sourced timelines and documented records of public positions and changes in position.
• Verify or refute specific factual claims made in public debate, with citation.
• Search and retrieve public records, filings, and archived material.
• Maintain a research file structure in which every assertion links to its source document.
• Prepare research summaries and briefing memos for staff use.
• Flag findings that are ambiguous, contested, or unverifiable rather than overstating them.
• Follow all organizational policy on research methods and permitted sources without exception.

Role-Specific Qualifications

• Rigorous sourcing discipline; unsourced findings are not usable.
• Research capability with public records, archives, and legislative databases.
• Judgment to distinguish substantiated fact from inference.
• Discretion regarding internal research and its uses.

Standard Qualifications — All Internships

• Current enrollment in an accredited college or university; eligible for the Federal Work Study Program where applicable.
• Senior in high school, recent high school graduate, or GED equivalent.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and general computer literacy.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
• Reliable, punctual, and professional demeanor.
• Discretion with confidential and pre-release information; adherence to all organizational policies, including confidentiality, data handling, and workplace safety standards.
• Prior office or customer service experience is a plus but not required.

Internship: minimum 16 hours per week, in person, Alexandria, VA. You are allowed to work up to 40 hours a week with limited overtime opportunities.

Every intern completes the program's five core competencies and attends the annual conference. Expect a written midpoint review, weekly one-on-one supervision, and a documented portfolio of completed work.