Job Description

Graphic Designer, Creative + Paid Media Internship – 2025

APCO is hiring rising seniors (graduating in May 2025) and recent graduates to join our full-time, paid internship program. APCO’s clients include local, national and global organizations in the technology, trade, food and beverage, and healthcare sectors.

This role will be based in our Washington DC office.

APCO’s in-house creative and paid media teams are comprised of paid media strategists, designers, video editors, copywriters, animators, creative directors, media buyers and production coordinators. APCO builds brands and leverages creative content, amplifying it with paid media strategies, when necessary, to tell our clients’ powerful stories, delivering key facts and communications that convey unique value propositions. The ultimate goal of our work is to drive awareness and encourage interest and action among our target audiences in a way that is measurable against client goals.

Our interns will experience on-the-job training in client services, global marketing, or new business development, and are involved in a wide variety of daily client account activities. Interns are treated as professional staff, participate in team meetings and actively contribute ideas, and support the overall management and growth of client work and the firm.

The ideal candidate will be entrepreneurial, creative, comfortable in a fast-paced environment, and attentive to detail. Applicants are expected to have excellent written and oral communication skills, strong visual design ability, and experience successfully balancing multiple tasks.

You’ll also have an opportunity to be part of meetings with the creative team, work with art directors and senior designers, develop skills, and work on high-profile brands—all of which will make for excellent contributions to your portfolio/resume at the end of your time here.

Core Responsibilities

Assist the Studio team with multimedia creative projects
General production support, including:
- Photo sourcing and retouching
- Incorporating edits to print and digital projects (ex: one-pagers and social media graphics)
- Preparing/editing PowerPoint presentations and Word documents
- File management and archiving
- Work with creative directors, designers, producers, editors, writers and project/account staff
- Monitor issues, news events and competitor happenings
- Research topics and issues and analyze findings
- Help with social media research and creation of social media content
- Assist in the development of client proposals
- Other tasks and projects as assigned

Qualifications

Portfolio that demonstrates expertise in design, typography, composition, and color
Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, XD, etc.)
Previous work in an agency or in-house creative team preferred
Candidates must be team players with excellent communication and organizational skills as well as the ability to work against tight deadlines
Available to work 40 hours per week, with at least Tuesdays-Thursdays in office
Knowledge of project management software is a plus
Demonstrated interest in marketing, communications, or journalism
Knowledge of wireframing, prototyping, HTML/CSS is a plus
Requires US Work Authorization, unable to consider candidates with OPT/Post-OPT status

Application Materials

To apply, please submit your resume and portfolio. We are unable to consider candidates who do not link to a design portfolio.

What are the core working hours and will I need to be in an office?

Interns will be expected to work 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

We are committed to a hybrid and flexible working environment, with the opportunity to decide to work from home or in the office on Mondays and Fridays. We ask all colleagues to work from the office Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays so that you get to explore more of our culture, find cross functional opportunities and meet other colleagues. You will be provided with a company laptop so that you are able to work from home and in the office easily.

Compensation

This is a paid internship at a fixed hourly rate of $17.50.

When is the closing date for applications?

Applications will close on Friday, December 6th.

When does the internship commence?

Our intern program begins on Monday, January 13th and ends on Friday, May 16 th , 2025.

With our commitment to recruit, hire, promote and retain people who reflect the diverse communities in which we operate, APCO Worldwide ensures our teams bring the best possible expertise and diverse perspectives to our clients. We embrace diversity of identity, experience and thought, starting with our values and extending to our behaviors, policies and practices. We aim to create a positive work experience and welcoming environment where everyone feels they belong and can thrive.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourage applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, national origin, citizenship, native language, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, religion, age, veteran status, neurodivergence, mental or physical disability, medical history, pregnancy, political belief or affiliation or any other characteristic protected by law.

EOE M/F/V/D

About APCO

ABOUT US

APCO is a global advisory and advocacy firm helping leading corporations, foundations and governments navigate a complex world and create lasting impact.

Founded in 1984, with one woman’s vision and bold action, APCO has grown into an independent, majority women-owned firm of more than 1,200 employees with work spanning 80 markets around the world.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., APCO is comprised of strategic advisers, consultants and creators, working together across borders and functions, to provide services and expertise on financial, competitive, political and societal issues.

APCO is a trusted partner to bold purpose-led leaders, lawmakers, government officials, NGOs, the media and other stakeholders in the health, energy, technology, transportation & infrastructure and food & consumer products sectors. For 40 years, the firm has provided public affairs, crisis & reputation, impact, corporate reputation and global solutions services.

APCO is renowned for its ability to champion clients’ interests and permission to operate, build their reputation and strengthen their standing. APCO’s integrated approach and team of tenacious and empathic talent create connections and winning strategies that accelerate progress and deepen impact.

By bringing diverse people and ideas together, and working beyond traditional boundaries, APCO builds the un/common ground upon which progress is made.

APCO

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