Policy Development Intern

At the American Cancer Society, we're working to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. Our employees and 1.3 million volunteers are raising the bar every single day. We are a culture comprised of diverse backgrounds and experience, to better serve our communities. 

The people who work at the American Cancer Society focus their diverse talents on our lifesaving mission. It is a calling. And the people who answer it are fulfilled.

This is a remote, home-based internship. Full time students from all US geographies will be considered. Our 2026 Summer internship program is an 8-week Paid Internship that runs from June 1st – July 24th, at 37.5 hours weekly. The program will join interns across the country who are supporting different department focuses on American Cancer Society and ACS's Cancer Action Network. 85% of the time will be in working within the given department, with the Intern's manager, their mentor, and the team. The other 15% will be with a cohort of other interns around American Cancer Society and ACS CAN.

The Policy Development Intern will support the Legal and Risk Management Department in researching, drafting, and refining organizational policies that strengthen governance and compliance. This role contributes to enterprise-wide initiatives by ensuring policies are clear, current, and aligned with regulatory and operational needs. Success in this position looks like producing well‑researched recommendations, collaborating effectively with cross-functional partners, and helping advance the organization’s policy development strategy.

Responsibilities:

• Conducts legal, regulatory, and industry research to inform policy development and updates.
• Drafts, edits, and formats organizational policies, procedures, and related documentation.      
• Assists with maintaining the policy library, including version control and documentation tracking.
• Participates in meetings, provides administrative and project support to the Governance team and assist with special projects as needed.
• Preferred Degree: Public Policy, Legal Studies, Public Administration, Business, or related field.

Skills:

• Strong research, analytical, and critical‑thinking skills.
• Excellent written communication abilities.
• Ability to synthesize complex information into clear, concise summaries.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast‑paced environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Interest in policy, governance, compliance, or legal frameworks.
   

​ Position Requirements:

• Must be available for entirety of 8-week program: June 1st – July 24th, 2026, at 37.5 hours per week.
• Full-time student, if you are an undergraduate student, you have completed your freshman year of college.
• Have a minimum of a B average (cumulative 3.0 on 4.0 scale).
• Plan to continue your education in the following term/semester.
• Upload a resume upon application submission.
• Note: an internship assignment may coincide with your last term/trimester as a full-time student, but the internship must be disengaged upon graduation.

The hourly rate is $20/hour. The final candidate's relevant experience/skills will be considered before an offer is extended. Actual starting pay will vary based on non-discriminatory factors including, but not limited to, geographic location, experience, skills, specialty, and education.

ACS provides staff a generous paid time off policy; medical, dental, retirement benefits, wellness programs, and professional development programs to enhance staff skills. Further details on our benefits can be found on our careers site at: jobs.cancer.org/benefits. We are a proud equal opportunity employer.