Based in: Manila
Overview
The US-ASEAN Business Council is the premier advocacy organization for U.S. corporations operating within the dynamic Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), serving as the leading voice of the U.S. private sector in promoting mutually beneficial trade and investment relationships between the United States and Southeast Asia. The Council is the only U.S.-based organization recognized in the ASEAN charter as a supporting organization of ASEAN. The Council's members include more than 170 of the most successful and innovative corporations in the world, including Apple, Boeing, Citi, The Coca-Cola Company, Google, Harley Davidson and Microsoft. Combined, these 170 companies generate over $6 trillion in revenue and employ more than 13 million people worldwide.
Cradled between China, India and Australia, ASEAN is the third largest economy in the Indo-Pacific and the fifth largest in the world with a GDP of $2.8 trillion and a population of 650 million. As a critical hub for global trade, more than $3.4 trillion in global trade transits through ASEAN each year. In 2019, ASEAN became the 4th largest goods export market for the U.S. after Canada, Mexico, and China, reaching over $105 billion in exports in goods and services. It has also attracted more U.S. investment than any other destination in the whole of Indo-Pacific, receiving almost $329 billion in investment, more than the United States has directed to China, India, Japan and South Korea combined.
The US-ASEAN Business Council believes that a diverse and inclusive workforce drives innovation and creates a culture of respect and understanding. We are committed to fostering an environment where all employees feel valued, respected and supported, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age or background. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply and to bring their unique perspectives to our organization.
Internship Duties and Learning Outcomes
Interns under the Business and Policy Internship program in the Philippines will undertake substantive work, consisting largely of research and other projects in support of Council goals. The internship offers a wealth of enriching opportunities, such as access to our high-level conferences and events with ASEAN policymakers and business leaders. The Philippines Business and Policy Intern will assist the Philippine Team in providing forward-looking research and support to the Council's 160+ members.
The internship will be output-based. The intern is expected to attend virtual meetings, calls, and events during the work week. He/she is expected to respond to calls and emails during the work week. It will be primarily a work-from-home internship except for two weeks during the Philippine Business Mission and other in-person events. An average of 20 hours per week will be expected over the internship's five-month duration.
Business and Policy Internship Duties
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Assist in stakeholder mapping and external relations development under the supervision of the Philippine Office.
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Assist Council staff with programming run out of the Philippine office including member meetings, business missions, and special projects
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Work directly with Philippine and D.C.-based staff on a business mission and other Council events preparation
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Assist in the development of programming such as roundtables, briefings, seminars and workshops that advance the objectives of member companies
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Monitor major news and policy developments and contribute to the preparation of Council intelligence updates
Internship Stipend
Interns will be paid a modest monthly stipend.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college in, Business Administration, Economics, Development Studies, International Relations, Political Science, or a related field. A Master’s Degree is highly preferred. Undergraduates are welcome to apply.
- Must be eligible to work legally in the Philippines.
- Knowledge of and experience working with the Philippine government is a plus.
- Must have strong research skills and be able to learn and absorb quickly.
- Must be organized, detail-oriented and be able to successfully handle multiple tasks at the same time.
- Must be fluent in English with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Application Procedures, Deadlines and Internship Periods
To apply to the Council’s internship program, please submit a resume, one brief writing sample (no more than two pages) and a cover letter to phoffice@usasean.org. The cover letter should include information about your availability and a brief description of your academic and professional goals.
While the timeframes for the internships are flexible, deadlines are not. If your materials are not received by a given deadline, you will not be considered for that term’s program.
Internship Duration and Application Deadlines
Term 1: January – May ( Deadline: November 15 )
Term 2: July – November ( Deadline: March 15 )