Working With CCSI

Program Associate

CCSI is seeking candidates for two Program Associate positions who have recently earned a degree from an undergraduate institution to support a wide range of research, operational, and administrative responsibilities. The center’s core areas of research include: Investment Law & Policy; Extractive Industries; Land, Agriculture & Food Systems; Energy Transition; Climate Change; Human Rights & Investment; and SDG-Aligned Business & Finance.

For more details regarding responsibilities and qualifications, and to apply, see here. This posting has been active since January 11, 2024, and applications have been reviewed on a rolling basis.

Responsibilities

  • Conduct substantive qualitative and quantitative research on a broad range of topics for research and technical support projects, publications, meetings, and events. 
  • Support drafting of various texts and materials alongside the Director and CCSI researchers. 
  • Plan and oversee the logistics for high-level meetings and events.
  • Serve as primary liaison with collaborators and partners on CCSI projects.
  • Provide administrative support for research and project management.
  • Represent the Center in calls, meetings, and fora with external collaborators and potential partners and sponsors.
  • Additional assignments as requested by CCSI research and operational staff.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree required. 
  • Excellent writing and editing skills. 
  • Must be able to work with diverse constituencies and support an inclusive work environment.

Preferred Qualifications

  • One to two years related experience through internships and coursework. 
  • Preference given to those in their final academic semester of a bachelor's degree program or those who have graduated in the past year. Some research experience is optimal. 
  • Accuracy, strong organizational skills and attention to detail required. Excellent communication, interpersonal and writing skills necessary. 
  • Ability to exercise discretion and handle confidential information essential. Ability to work under pressure on competing responsibilities with resilience, discretion, and diplomacy. 
  • Capable of working on projects independently as well as working well as part of a team. 
  • Advanced French or Spanish language skills is a plus.

Part-Time Communications Associate

CCSI is seeking a Part-Time Communications Associate. The position will be responsible for managing and implementing CCSI’s communications efforts, including digital and social media, media and stakeholder outreach, and working closely with CCSI researchers and support staff to develop communication strategies and assist with dissemination and outreach. For more details regarding responsibilities and qualifications, and to apply, see here.


We offer a limited number of unpaid and paid research and administrative internships for undergraduate and graduate students (including graduate students in law, business, international affairs, and environmental studies) during the fall, spring and summer. Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, CV, and writing sample ALL TOGETHER IN A SINGLE FILE, in that order. The cover letter should include a distinct list of which internships you are applying for (you may include as many as you’d like). Please submit materials to Nancy Siporin ([email protected]), unless otherwise specified.  

Application deadlines are as follows unless otherwise noted (although applications will be considered on a rolling basis):

  • Fall semester: September 15 
  • Spring semester: January 15
  • Summer: March 15

Candidates must currently be enrolled in a degree program, have astute research, analytical and writing skills, and enjoy working on a team. Students enrolled at other academic institutions may apply for all positions, but only students currently enrolled at Columbia University are eligible to receive payment if selected for a paid position. Candidates must commit to at least 10-15 hours per week for Spring or Fall internships unless otherwise indicated, but more hours are possible. Summer internships are full-time (35-40 hours per week) unless otherwise noted. Continuation into subsequent semesters is possible, and course or academic internship credit can be granted in limited cases.

If you are applying for a paid internship, please indicate if you are work-study eligible (preferred but not required).


Internship opportunities available for Summer 2024 (remote possible):

Paid internship: Developing SDG-based Development Plans for Coffee-producing Regions

CCSI, together with several partners including the World Coffee Producers Forum, is working to develop SDG-based development plans for coffee-producing regions. Based on on-the-ground engagements in three coffee producing regions in Latin America, the team will develop multi-sectoral, integrated sustainability plans, with suggestions of corresponding financing. In addition to developing plans in those three sites, the team will produce a guide and tools for other coffee-growing regions to use in the design of their own national sustainability plans. Spanish or Portuguese fluency is required.

Unpaid internship: International Investment Law and Policy

CCSI is seeking a JD or LLM student to support a number of projects requiring data-gathering, research and analysis of international trade and investment treaties, treaty-based investor-state arbitration claims, and debates around reform of the investment treaty regime. One project will require the intern to help with research and analysis for a report targeting governments worldwide (and especially developing countries) on available legal strategies to exit the investment treaty regime and ISDS specifically. This will include some detailed data gathering and research on the law of treaties. Familiarity with international investment law and international law more generally is required. Preference will be given to applicants with some Spanish, as well as strong research and writing skills, and attention to detail.

Unpaid internship: SDG-Aligned Finance and Investing

CCSI seeks to strengthen the alignment of global finance and investment with the Sustainable Development Goals. On one hand, there remains a substantial financing gap for the investments needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, including the global energy transformation. On the other hand, despite the widespread recognition of the risks to, and opportunities for, investors and other financial actors with respect to the SDGs, existing practices, standards, disclosure frameworks, and metrics are not sufficient to meaningfully shift practices or to address the major financing needs. CCSI seeks one or more students to conduct research and analysis to support its work in this area. Preference will be given to students with experience or familiarity with ESG and other investing frameworks and reporting standards, banking and investment products (e.g. debt, equity, bonds), objectives and trends in responsible business practices, investment promotion and screening, among other areas.

What CCSI offers: Through the internship experience, interns can expect to make substantive contributions to research and/or administrative activities at CCSI. The internship experience is a mutually beneficial one, and provides interns with opportunities for professional growth and learning. CCSI develops specific terms of reference for every intern each semester, with clear tasks and timelines.

What CCSI looks for: Ideal candidates should be detailed-oriented, well-organized and responsive, and prioritize and carry out tasks with minimal supervision. Candidates should also have excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Our interns have included both undergraduate and graduate students from Columbia College, Columbia Law School, the School of International and Public Affairs, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and Columbia Business School. We also occasionally accept Interns from outside the university.

Visiting Scholars can include international scholars, professors, judges, practitioners, and government officials, as well as doctoral students at the start of their scholarly careers. Visiting Scholars must apply through Columbia Law School’s Visiting Scholars Program. Applications for Visiting Scholars are reviewed three times during the year, corresponding with three program intakes, as follows:

  • Fall semester: applications due no later than April 1.
  • Spring semester: applications due no later than September 1.
  • Summer semester: applications due no later than March 1.