Intern, Global Programming

Abo ut the Milken Institute

The Milken Institute is a globally minded, publicly supported, non-partisan, and nonprofit think tank headquartered in Santa Monica, with offices in Washington, DC, New York, London, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore. For the past three decades, the Milken Institute has served as a catalyst for practical, scalable solutions to global challenges by connecting human, financial, and educational resources to those who need them. Guided by a conviction that the best ideas, under-resourced, cannot succeed, we conduct research and analysis and convene top experts, innovators, and influencers from different backgrounds and competing viewpoints. We leverage this expertise and insight to construct programs and policy initiatives. These activities are designed to help people build meaningful lives, in which they can experience health and well-being, pursue effective education and gainful employment, and access the resources required to create ever-expanding opportunities for themselves and their broader communities.

The Milken Institute’s events and programmatic activities, involve the exchange of ideas with leaders from around the world. The Institute hosts more than 200 events each year, with our annual flagship event, Global Conference, bringing together 4,500+ participants from around the world, featuring more than 900+ speakers throughout 200+ sessions over the course of the event.

About The Position

The Global Programming Department is seeking winter/spring 2026 interns to support our Global Programming in the lead up to Global Conference 2026. The expected duration of this internship would run from January to mid-May 2026, with candidates committing to a minimum of 20 hours per week and the ability to work out of the Milken Institute’s Santa Monica office.

The Milken Institute Global Conference convenes the best minds in the world to tackle its most urgent challenges and realize its most exciting opportunities. It is a unique experience in which individuals with the capital, power, and influence to change the world connect with those whose expertise and creativity are reinventing health, finance, business, technology, philanthropy, industry, and society.

The incoming intern(s) will be part of the dynamic team that is responsible for helping ensure the success of Global Conference by providing the highest quality of content and stakeholder engagement. Successful candidates will bring organization, attention to detail, and creativity to bear, adding value to the Institute’s programmatic reputation and event execution. Working closely with and reporting to senior members of the Global Programming team, the incoming intern(s) will support functions of the broader team.

Responsibilities

• Speaker and Topic Research:
• Research and identify contact points to industry leaders, social entrepreneurs, innovative corporate executives, leading researchers, and public influencers to complement the existing high-level Milken Institute network.
• Conduct research on timely global challenges, priorities, and trends to help inform program development, session descriptions, thought leadership, and speaker briefing materials.
  
  

• Speaker Invitation and Briefing Materials:
• Support speaker outreach and relationship management by drafting speaker invitation packages, researching principal expertise, and identifying direct/secondary paths of communication to principal offices.
• Prepare and design supporting documents sent to speakers to support a seamless engagement experience – including session-specific briefing materials, bespoke itineraries, etc.
  
  

• Internal Coordination:
• Keep relevant databases and Institute CRM up to date with accurate and thorough information.
• Maintain collaborative working documents within the programming department and across other teams as necessary/relevant.
• Capture salient points and circulate notes following internal check-ins, external stakeholder meetings, speaker briefing calls, etc.
  
  

• Event Execution:
• Attend and staff Global Conference as needed to support Global Programming team and assist with speaker greeting, escorting, and the execution of a timely program.
• Duties as assigned.
  

Qualifications

• Interested in, and have an in-depth knowledge of, current industry trends, international affairs, financial markets, public health, and global developments.
• Team-oriented. Individuals who seek out tasks when work is completed and assist colleagues to ensure goals, requirements, and deadlines are achieved.
• Multitaskers able to handle multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment, requiring the ability to effectively prioritize and respond promptly to internal requests.
• Innovative problem-solvers who can generate and coordinate workable solutions.
• Motivated self-starters and hard workers displaying high productivity and follow-through in all areas of responsibility.
• Entrepreneurial, with a can-do spirit. Exceptional interpersonal skills and positive, collaborative personality.
• Able to embrace an attitude of "no job is too small,”, with laser-sharp attention to detail and high standards of excellence.
• Able to interact professionally with corporate leaders, public figures, government officials, dignitaries, and other global policy leaders.
  
  

Requirements

• Recent bachelor’s degree graduates are welcome to apply. Current master’s degree candidates or recent graduates preferred, with a concentration in one or more of the following subjects: public affairs, political science, economics, finance, international affairs, and/or nonprofit management.
• Excellent writing, editing, and analytical skills. Effective communicator, both oral and written.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word required. Experience with Salesforce is a bonus.
• Excellent organizational skills and the willingness and ability to organize multiple, ongoing projects are critical.
• Internship will run from January to mid-May at minimum, with the opportunity to revisit the contract and extend upon completion.
• Ability to work at minimum 20+ hours a week and from our offices in Santa Monica.
• Ability to be on-site at The Beverly Hilton and support the execution of the Global Conference, Sunday, May 3 – Wednesday, May 6, 2026.
  
  

Working Conditions & Travel Requirements

This position will work in a professional office environment. This person may be required to travel occasionally to local venues to assist with events as needed, requiring occasional work outside of traditional hours. Additionally, this position requires interacting virtually on a regular basis with Milken Institute staff based in other locations in the United States and around the world.

Note

We are interested in qualified candidates who are eligible to work in the United States. Please note, we are not sponsoring visas at this time, being authorized to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment.

This position will work a hybrid schedule consisting of three (3) days per week reporting in-person to the Santa Monica office location (Tuesday – Thursday), with the remaining two (2) days working remotely. Please understand, this schedule is subject to change at the Institute’s sole discretion.

The statements herein are intended to describe the overall nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.

Please submit resume and cover letter illustrating how your experience and skills will contribute to the department and any unique qualities you bring to the position. If applying via Indeed, please upload your resume and any supporting documentation as one attachment. Any application that does not include both a resume and cover letter will be rejected. If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact our Human Resources department to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Our Culture

The Milken Institute is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran.

Every person at the Milken Institute is treated with respect, supported with resources and training, and exposed to a broad range of experiences. We foster a space for growth with opportunities to share knowledge and passion with both clients and colleagues. We are committed to building a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. Our leadership is actively involved in our commitment to diversity and inclusion, and fostering a culture that creates opportunities for everyone.