Summer 2026 Operations Intern

The International Institute of New England is a 501(c)(3) non-profit serving refugees and immigrants in Boston, MA, Lowell, MA, and Manchester, NH. The Institute offers internships to students, graduate students, and recent graduates with demonstrated interest or experience in supporting refugee, asylee, and immigrant populations. Each internship includes an educational component, through which interns contextualize their experience and reflect on their service.

All internships are unpaid and correspond roughly with the US semester system.

First consideration is given to applicants that can commit at least 16 hours per week over the course of the semester outlined above. Applicants are encouraged to apply regardless of whether their schedule fits the semester system; IINE makes exceptions on a case-by-case basis.

Operations Internship Overview

We are seeking a curious, motivated, and proactive Operations Intern to join our team this summer. This role is a hands-on opportunity to learn how a mission-driven, non-profit organization runs day to day – while building practical skills in operations, project coordination, and process improvement.

As an Operations intern, you’ll work closely with our operations team to support internal systems, streamline workflows, and help ensure our staff and partners have what they need to do their best work. This is an ideal role for someone who enjoys problem-solving, organization, and making an impact behind the scenes.

Key responsibilities:

• Maintain and update resource webpages in SharePoint, helping keep information accessible and organized
• Assist in tracking and managing vendor and partner records
• Support documentation, scheduling, and digital file organization across teams
• Help improve and streamline internal workflows using tools like SharePoint, Asana, and Excel
• Participate in data entry and database maintenance in Salesforce
• Support employee onboarding and offboarding processes
• Assist with logistics for internal meetings, trainings, and events
• Provide general administrative and operational support as part of a collaborative team.

Qualifications:

• Currently pursuing a degree in Business Administration, Operations, Management, or a related field
• Interested in international, refugee, asylee, and immigrant issues
• Comfortable working respectfully in a multicultural and mission-driven environment
• Able to manage multiple tasks and to switch gears quickly as priorities shift
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail
• A clear and professional communicator with strong interpersonal skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel and Outlook)
• Familiarity with Asana, SharePoint, or Salesforce is a plus – but not required
• Trustworthy and able to handle sensitive information with discretion
• Eager to learn, ask questions, and take initiative

Learning Objectives:

1. key operational functions within a professional non-profit organization.
2. Hands-on experience with workflow tools, project coordination, and internal systems
3. Mentorship and collaboration with cross-functional teams
4. A deeper understanding of internal business processes, administration, and process improvement
5. Transferable skills you can apply to future roles in operations, program management, or administration