Government Affairs and Policy Research Internship

The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) is a dynamic, member-driven and impactful organization committed to promoting and sustaining the growth and development of the local restaurant industry while providing our members legislative and regulatory representation, marketing and small business support, programming, and events.

RAMW offers year-round internship opportunities and is currently seeking a motivated Government Affairs and Policy Research Intern to join our team. The successful candidate will work closely with our Government Affairs team to monitor legislative developments, mobilize restaurant owners and operators, engage with key stakeholders, and design and analyze member surveys and labor market data that generate the insights behind our public policy and advocacy work. 

This internship offers hands-on experience at the intersection of government relations, grassroots organizing, and applied economic research, including:

• Skill- and knowledge-building opportunities in government affairs and advocacy, especially as they relate to the hospitality industry and small business.
• Hands-on experience designing and fielding survey questionnaires and analyzing responses to inform policy positions.
• Practical experience working with federal economic datasets, including Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
• Training in translating research findings into actionable insights, alongside professional research, writing, and advocacy communications.
• Opportunities to build the intern's professional network in the policy, advocacy, hospitality, and small business sectors.

Key Responsibilities

• Working closely with the Vice President of Government Affairs, major responsibilities of the Government Affairs, Advocacy, and Economic Intelligence Intern include:
• Advocacy Support: Assisting with outreach to restaurant owners and operators for advocacy campaigns, supporting member participation in lobby days and public hearings, and contributing to grassroots support for policy priorities.
• Legislative Monitoring: Assisting with tracking and reporting on legislation in city and county governments in the Washington metropolitan area, with a strong focus on the District of Columbia.
• Hearing and Testimony Support: Attending public hearings, assisting with testimony preparation, supporting coordination of member and expert witnesses, and tracking legislative proceedings.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Assisting in building and maintaining relationships with government officials, regulatory agencies, and fellow business and industry associations.
• Survey Research Support: Assisting with designing survey questionnaires, supporting survey administration through platforms such as SurveyMonkey, analyzing responses, and contributing to reports and presentations for members and policymakers.
• Economic Data Analysis: Assisting with collecting, organizing, and analyzing federal business and labor market data (such as BLS) and identifying trends in restaurant industry employment and economic indicators.
• Statistical Analysis Support: Supporting quantitative analysis of survey data and economic datasets, assisting with data visualizations, and contributing insights that support advocacy priorities.
• Policy Research and Analysis: Conducting research on priority policy issues, reviewing economic research and policy developments to contextualize survey findings and data analysis, and contributing to policy recommendations.
• Report Development: Contributing to policy briefs, research summaries, and data visualizations that translate complex survey and economic data into accessible narratives for members and policymakers.
• Records and Project Management: Maintaining records of local policymakers, key staff, and member engagement activities, as well as organized datasets, research timelines, and data quality efforts, and helping coordinate with survey participants.
• Collaboration: Working collaboratively with cross-functional teams to support alignment between government affairs, research, and broader organizational goals, and sharing insights across the organization and industry.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate or graduate student with a strong interest in government affairs, public policy, advocacy, or with coursework or demonstrated interest in economics, statistics, data science, survey methodology, or related quantitative fields.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills, with experience or coursework in statistical analysis, and experience with or interest in survey design and administration.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex data into accessible narratives and to engage comfortably with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships with restaurant owners, community members, and policymakers.
• Careful attention to detail and strong proofreading skills.
• Ability to problem solve, multitask, and manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Self-motivated with strong time management skills and willingness to ask questions as necessary.
• Strong service orientation, collaborative mindset, and passion for advocacy.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace (Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides).
• Experience building and managing AI-automated workflows and fluency with AI tools.
• Experience in the local food, beverage, and hospitality industry is a plus.

Apply Today

Internships are 20 to 25 hours per week, in person at the RAMW office, and are available for academic credit or as a paid position. To apply, send a cover letter, resume, and two writing samples to internships@ramw.org.  

RAMW is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any individual on the grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, age, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or beliefs.

About RAMW

For more than 100 years, RAMW has advocated and provided a community for more than 1,400 entrepreneurs and small businesses in the greater Washington area. We count among our members beloved neighborhood spots, family-owned businesses, homegrown restaurant groups, and national and regional favorites. Together we are one of the largest job creators in the District and leading contributors to revenues.