People & Culture Fall Intern 2026

The Innocence Project works to free the innocent, prevent wrongful convictions, and create fair, compassionate, and equitable systems of justice for everyone. Our work is guided by science and grounded in anti-racism. Since our inception, the Innocence Project has used DNA and other scientific advancements to prove wrongful conviction. To date, we have helped to free or exonerate more than 250 people who, collectively, spent more than 3,600 years behind bars. Our efforts have led to the passage of more than 200 transformative state laws and federal reforms. Today, the Innocence Project continues to fight for freedom, drive structural change, and advance the innocence movement. To learn more, please visit www.innocenceproject.org.

The People and Culture team delivers programs necessary to develop and maintain a high-performance and equity-focused workforce and a work culture which inspires and supports employees in meeting their mission-critical work. The People and Culture staff are stewards and champions of the Innocence Project’s values, particularly our commitments to dignity and respect of all staff, and inclusion, equity and belonging, and must hold these principles as foundational to the work.

The Innocence Project is seeking an intern to support the People and Culture (P C) Team. The Talent Intern will report to the Recruitment Manager and will work with other members of the P C team as needed. As a Talent Intern, you will play a crucial role in supporting talent acquisition and development initiatives within our dynamic People and Culture department. Among the listed internship duties, your responsibilities will include support with developing a talent pipeline for current and future job openings, communicating with candidates and hiring teams, updating job description templates to align with our organizational values and leadership competencies, and general assistance and shadowing of various HR functions. Through these projects, you will gain hands-on experience in recruitment and employee development best practices, while contributing to the overall effectiveness of our People and Culture operations. We encourage the Talent Intern to share what other aspects of human resources they are interested in and the team will provide learning opportunities for additional experience.

This internship will be a 10-week paid internship with a minimum requirement of 16 hours per week beginning in September 2026, the timeframe and schedule are flexible. If the selected intern lives within commuting distance from the Innocence Project’s office in New York, the internship will be hybrid with at least one day per week in the office.

All Innocence Project employees must embrace, respect, and value the rich diversity of perspectives and experiences of a diverse and heterogeneous staff. We recognize and appreciate that our work is better for having varied participants and thought partners.

We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, we are not able to sponsor visas and we are not an E-Verify employer.

The Talent Intern supports key areas impacting IP culture, specific to talent acquisition and talent development, and ongoing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The Talent Intern will assist with the following areas:

Candidate Sourcing and Pipeline Building

• Work with Recruitment Manager to identify and conduct outreach to bar associations, universities, and organizations regarding partnership opportunities 
• Post job openings in our applicant tracking system (Workable) and on external job boards
• Coordinate registration for career fairs and events
• Participate in virtual and in-person career fairs and events with the Recruitment Manager, including tabling at events and liaising with the Communications team on employer branding
• Support targeted outreach to prospective candidates using LinkedIn Recruiter
• Research external job boards and associated costs 
• Assist Recruitment Manager with data tracking and analysis

Hiring Communications

• Maintain consistent communication with candidates to provide timeline updates and schedule interviews
• Coordinate interview availability with hiring teams
• Assist Recruitment Manager with hiring team trainings, including tutorials for our applicant tracking system (Workable) and understanding implicit bias in interviews 
• Research systems and tools to create ongoing communication campaigns with prospective applicants and cultivate a talent pipeline for future job openings 

Learning and Development

• Coordinate logistics for employee training sessions and workshops
• Assist in creating and updating training materials and resources, including training records and tracking employee completion progress
• Assist in job description audit to ensure standard use of our organizational values and leadership competencies
• Provide administrative support for training initiatives

General P C Support 

• Seek opportunities to learn about various HR functions and best practices
• Provide administrative support for team-wide projects and initiatives
• Provide fresh perspectives and ideas to improve HR processes

• Currently enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's degree program in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Management, or coursework in a related field
• Basic knowledge of recruitment best practices and principles
• Proficiency in Google Suite and Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel
• Experience with applicant tracking systems (ATS) or client relationship management systems (CRM) is a plus
• Previous internship or work experience in HR is a plus

• Ability to manage multiple projects, set priorities, and adhere to timelines with meticulous attention to detail
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate with empathy and clarity ensuring a high-touch, transparent experience for all candidates
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills
• Ability to maintain the confidentiality of sensitive employee information and adhere to all relevant privacy laws and regulations
• Strong sense of personal responsibility and accountability for delivering high-quality work
• Enthusiasm for the work of the Innocence Project and for social justice, including a demonstrated commitment to public interest

The Innocence Project considers the diversity of its workforce to be vital to our organization’s success in meeting its mission.  We strongly encourage applicants from all cultures, races, educational backgrounds, life experiences, socio-economic classes, sexual orientations, age, gender, and physical abilities to apply. Individuals with personal connections to the criminal legal system are strongly encouraged to apply.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, it is our policy not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, familial status, marital status, predisposing genetic characteristics, actual or perceived domestic violence victim status, unemployment status, caregiver status, or any other category protected by law.

Upon submission of your application you will be requested to complete an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) survey. This survey is part of our commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. The information you provide is voluntary and confidential. Completing the survey helps us track our progress in creating a fair and equitable environment. This data is used for reporting purposes only. Please note, the identities presented in the survey reflect federal language required by law. The Innocence Project acknowledges that not all identities are included and any reference to gender explicitly refers to biological sex. We recognize these terms are limited and we strive to humanize our internal practices. Your completion of the survey is greatly appreciated.

To apply, please click 'Apply for this Job' below. Upload a resume titled with your name in this format (last name_first name_resume). In the space provided, add a cover letter expressing your interest in the role and the organization’s work. Only applications with cover letters will be considered complete applications. Information submitted through this secure site is kept confidential. 

$19.00 per hour for undergraduate students - $21.00 per hour for students in a post-graduate program

Salary : $19 - $21