Scope and Structure

Internships are available year-round, with typical schedules of:

  • Summer: 20–25 hours/week for 10 weeks (minimum 3-month commitment)
  • Fall/Spring: 10–15 hours/week for 14 weeks
    Internships run during standard business hours (Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.).

Fall: September–mid-December, Spring: January–Beginning of May, Summer: End of May–End of August

Must be 18+, enrolled in or recently graduated from a college/university, and able to pass a background check and obtain an Arizona Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Card.

Course credit is often available; some roles require remote work capabilities (personal devices must meet IRC security requirements)

 

Intern Roles & Responsibilities

Please note: Not all roles are available every cycle.

Internships span multiple IRC programs, including:

  • Refugee Social Services Intern – supports employability, interpretation, daycare, and benefit enrollment.
  • Survivor Services / Anti‑Trafficking & Victim Services Intern – assists survivors of violence, trafficking, and torture, providing trauma-informed, person-centered support.
  • Case Coordination Intern – supports case managers with scheduling, documentation, and connecting clients to resources to address urgent needs and promote stability.
  • Intensive Case Management Intern – works closely with case managers to assist clients with complex needs, providing individualized support and helping navigate housing, healthcare, and social services.
  • Employment Program / Matching Grant Intern – aids job readiness, placements, case management, and employment coaching for newly arrived refugees.
  • Operations & Supply Chain Intern – engages in inventory, logistics, and process improvement, including Kanban pull initiatives.
  • Administrative Assistant (Immigration Legal Services) Intern – manages communication, client appointments, filing, and case coordination.
  • Psychosocial Support Intern – offers therapeutic and psychoeducational support to those experiencing emotional distress.
  • New Roots Farm and Education & Outreach Interns – support urban agriculture, aquaponics, marketing, educational outreach, and community engagement.

 

Application & Onboarding

  • Submit resume and application via  Handshake  or the IRC’s portal; internship postings are listed and updated throughout the recruitment cycle. A brief cover letter is not required but suggested.
  • Interview: Applicants chosen to move forward will interview with the supervisor of the program their internship falls under.
  • Onboarding: After an internship offer is accepted, each intern will work with an IRC staff member to guide them through onboarding. This process includes completing both the IRC Background Check and the Centralized Background Check, obtaining an Arizona non-IVP Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card, and filling out and signing all three required waivers.
  • Orientation: After acceptance, interns attend a brief orientation covering IRC policies, confidentiality, and required training.

Deadline notes:

  • Summer – apply by April 15
  • Spring/Fall – rolling deadlines until positions are filled

 

What Interns Gain

  • Real-world experience in nonprofit operations: case management, community engagement, legal assistance, supply logistics, and urban agriculture.
  • Collaboration in multicultural teams, professional networking, and development of adaptability, creativity, and cultural competency skills.
  • A meaningful opportunity to serve vulnerable populations and support their transition to self-sufficiency and community stability.

Please note: all IRC internships with IRC Phoenix are unpaid.

 

 

For questions or more information, email VolunteerPHX@rescue.org.