NPR

IT Operations Internship - Fall 2026

Posted Yesterday

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Washington, DC, USA

In-Office

20-20 Annually

Internship

Digital Media

The Role

The internship focuses on providing technical support to NPR staff, troubleshooting hardware and software, managing user accounts, and assisting with IT projects in a collaborative team environment.

Summary Generated by Built In

OVERVIEW

A thriving, mission-driven multimedia organization, NPR produces award-winning news, information, and music programming in partnership with hundreds of independent public radio stations across the nation. The NPR audience values information, creativity, curiosity, and social responsibility – and our employees do too. We are innovators and leaders in diverse fields, from journalism and digital media to IT and development. Every day, our employees and member stations touch the lives of millions worldwide.

Across our organization, we’re building a workplace where collaboration is essential, diverse voices are heard, and inclusion is the key to our success. We are committed to doing the right thing in our journalism and in every role at NPR. This means that integrity, adherence to our ethical standards, and compliance with legal obligations are fundamental responsibilities for every employee at NPR.

Internship Program Duration: October 5th, 2026 - April 16th, 2027

Application Instructions: Applications close on Sunday, June 14th at 11:59 pm ET.

Intro to Position

In this role you will be the first point of contact to support staff and the technology they use at NPR, from business applications to network connectivity, broadcast and podcast production. You will provide staff with training and troubleshooting assistance at the application and hardware level. This role works closely with other technology teams to support our tools and services so that technology issues are addressed quickly.

The ideal candidate will have the desire to enter into the IT Operations fields and have relevant coursework or IT Support experience. You will work as part of the IT Operations team to support NPR staff and the technology they use. The internship will focus on resolving issues with applications, hardware, accounts, and connectivity in an enterprise IT environment as well as helping with reporting and projects.

Responsibilities

Provide end-user support to resolve technical incidents for staff working in-person and remotely
Diagnose issues with computers, mobile devices, and peripheral hardware
Diagnose issues with network connectivity over ethernet, wireless, and VPN
Troubleshoot applications on PC, Mac, mobile
Manage accounts for mail, telecom, and access controls
Administer user and computer accounts using Active Directory, Azure, Exchange Admin Center, MFA
Monitor, triage, and take ownership of support incidents
Assist in building PCs, installing applications, testing, maintaining, and supporting PCs, mobile devices, and peripherals
Provide creative troubleshooting and support for applications and production systems
Responds to service requests within required Service Level Agreement
Collaborate with other teams to support local infrastructure and services and assist with projects
Address system outages by following appropriate escalation path
Perform periodic audits of equipment, access, and accounts
Correspond with internal NPR clients and departments
Create knowledgebase articles for repeatable processes
Adhere to Service Desk policies and procedures and all organizational security standards

The above duties and responsibilities are not an exhaustive list of required responsibilities, duties and skills. Other duties may be assigned, and this job description can be modified at any time.

Qualifications

The candidate selected will have a majority of the following skills, abilities, competencies and knowledge:

Familiarity with Microsoft Office
Computer hardware, application, OS, and mobile troubleshooting skills
Exceptional customer service/interpersonal skills
Excellent verbal and written communications skills
Ability to operate in a deadline driven environment and successfully prioritize multiple responsibilities
Must be able to work cooperatively with others as part of a team, hold own work to high standards, and inspire others to do the same
Self-Starter, detail oriented, with strong organizational skills especially as it pertains to process execution, testing, following policy and procedures
Prior Service Desk experience or equivalent education/technical training or internship is a plus

Application Requirements

Resume
Cover Letter

Education Requirements

Must be a current student in an accredited degree program or a recent graduate of no more than 12 months from the month of the start of the internship.

Work Location & Requirements

On-site: This is an on-site role based in Washington, D.C.

Job Type

This is a full-time, non-exempt internship.

Schedule

This is a full-time (40 hours/week) internship with a standard schedule of Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM EST, with an hour lunch break.

Compensation

Hourly Rate The U.S.-based anticipated hourly rate for this opportunity is $20.00 per hour. The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum hourly rate NPR expects to provide for new hires for the position across all US locations.

NPR Benefits: NPR offers interns a robust package of benefits and resources designed to foster their professional development and support their overall well-being. Interns are eligible to make elective contributions to the NPR 403(b) retirement plan. As an intern, you have access to Transit Commuter benefits through HealthEquity, which allow you to set aside pre tax funds for eligible commuting expenses. You are also eligible for membership with the Signal Financial Federal Credit Union, giving you access to a range of financial services and resources. At our DC Headquarters, interns enjoy free access to on-site Wellness Center, free fitness center membership, secure bike facilities, garage parking, and onsite cafeteria. Other benefits include the Employee Assistance Program with up to six face-to-face counseling sessions per issue, Global Guardian worldwide assistance, and Business Travel Accident coverage. Additionally, interns working 30 or more hours per week receive holiday pay for 10 observed holidays plus one floating holiday per year and accrue 3.08 hours of sick leave each pay period with no waiting period. NPR also supports career growth and work-life balance through professional development opportunities, flexible work hours, and telecommuting options.

Does this sound like you? If so, we want to hear from you.

#LI-ONSITE

The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum salaries NPR expects to provide for new hires for the position across all US locations.

NPR Pay Range

$20—$20 USD

NPR is an Equal Opportunity Employer. NPR is committed to being an inclusive workplace that welcomes diverse and unique perspectives, all working toward the same goal – to create a more informed public. Qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, religious belief, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, lactation, and reproductive health decisions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, transgender status, gender non-conforming status, intersex status, sexual stereotypes, nationality, citizenship status, personal appearance, marital status, family status, family responsibilities, military status, veteran status, mental and physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, genetic characteristics of yourself or a family member, political views and affiliation, unemployment status, protective order status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or any other basis prohibited under applicable law.

If you are a person with a disability needing assistance with the application process, please reach out to [email protected].

You may read NPR’s privacy policy to learn about how NPR may handle information you submit with any application.

Want more NPR? Explore the stories behind the stories on our NPR Extra blog. Get social with NPR Extra on Facebook and Instagram. Find more career opportunities at NPR.org/careers.

Skills Required

Familiarity with Microsoft Office
Computer hardware, application, OS, and mobile troubleshooting skills
Exceptional customer service/interpersonal skills
Excellent verbal and written communications skills
Ability to operate in a deadline driven environment
Self-Starter, detail oriented
Prior Service Desk experience or equivalent education/technical training or internship

NPR Compensation & Benefits Highlights

The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about NPR and has not been reviewed or approved by NPR.

Parental & Family Support — Fully paid parental leave is described as expanded to 20 weeks with extended job protection, indicating robust family support. Feedback suggests these protections meaningfully strengthen total compensation beyond base pay.
Retirement Support — An employer 403(b) contribution fixed at 7% for covered roles provides steady retirement value. Feedback suggests this reliable contribution helps offset modest cash pay in certain positions.
Affordable Benefits — An employer-paid share of 70% of health premiums for specific union roles reduces employee costs materially. Feedback suggests this cost share contributes notably to overall package value.