Intern, The Hive

SUMMARY   

USA for UNHCR, a certified Great Place to Work non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, DC, is excited to announce its Early Talent Program Summer 2026. USA for UNHCR’s vision is “a world where every person forced to flee can build a better future” and its mission is to protect and support refugees by mobilizing resources, elevating awareness, and driving action through a network of engaged supporters.   

The Hive team seeks a highly motivated, creative, and technically skilled individual to serve as an intern. The Hive is USA for UNHCR’s innovation lab, leveraging data science and technology to design, develop, and implement solutions that improve refugee outcomes. This paid internship will provide excellent opportunities for contributing to USA for UNHCR’s mission by providing hands-on experience to support the software development lifecycle of the Refugee Data Hub. 

This internship is open to undergraduate students completing a degree in Information Systems, UX/UI Design, Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, or equivalent coursework. This is an in-person 10-week assignment. The intern will be expected to work with the Hive team and participate in various programmatic team activities.  The intern must embody USA for UNHCR values: Passionate, Data-Driven, Transparent, Forward-Thinking, Cutting Edge, and Dynamic.  

This paid internship runs from June 1, 2026, to August 7, 2026. The position is hybrid, requiring in-office work on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and remote work on Monday and Friday. The intern must be available for the entire 10-week duration. The internship is based at our office in NYC. Room and board are not included.    

DIVERSITY STATEMENT  

USA for UNHCR takes pride in cultivating a diverse and inclusive workplace, producing diversity and difference of our staff at all levels. The more diversity we have in our team, the more unique perspectives, and bright ideas we share. At USA for UNHCR, we are driven by the value of excellence, while also acknowledging the multi-dimensional ways in which excellence can be achieved. In our work, excellence means that every employee, stakeholder and partner deserve the best care, regardless of their race, color, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical ability, sex, sexual orientation, and veteran status. We embrace employees and candidates from these underrepresented groups to help make our vision a reality.  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES   

The candidate will receive guidance and training from The Hive team, and assist with tasks, such as: 

• Ideate new features and identify opportunities for improvement
• Conduct quality assurance testing to identify bugs, usability issues, and areas for improvement across the digital platform
• Test and document API endpoints
• Update technical documentation 
• Help conduct user research sessions with partner organizations to understand user workflows 
• Support user acceptance testing by coordinating test scenarios, gathering feedback, and documenting results
• Participate in Agile/Scrum daily stand-ups
• Engage with cross-functional, cross-cultural team members throughout the product lifecycle 

QUALIFICATIONS  

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

TECHNICAL SKILLS 

• Familiarity with at least (3) of the following: 

• • Figma
  • React.js
  • Node.js
  • PostgreSQL
  • Kubernetes  
  • Postman
  • Python 

• Understanding of system architecture 
• Basic understanding of RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation)
• Strong technical fluency with the ability and drive to quickly learn 
• Proficient in Microsoft Office 
• Ability to quickly learn new software and database programs and ability to understand programming language documentation 

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES 

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail 
• Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Well organized, and proven ability to multi-task and manage their time  
• Collaborative team player with strong communication skills
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently 
• Open-minded, professional, and neutral when navigating differing perspectives or sensitive topics
• Completes tasks in a timely manner
• Demonstrates passion for USA for UNHCR’s mission 

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE   

• Currently enrolled as an undergraduate student in Information Systems, UX/UI Design, Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, or equivalent coursework required
• 0-2 years of relevant experience (academic, internship, or professional) required
• Project-based experience demonstrating technical proficiency preferred
• Previous internship or work experience in technology, product development, or related fields preferred
• Portfolio or examples of technical projects preferred
• Exposure to Agile/Scrum methodologies or human-centered design processes preferred

WORK LOCATION   

USA for UNHCR Office – New York, NY  

COMPENSATION  

$20 per hour  

DISABILITY SPECIFICATIONS  

USA for UNHCR will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. 

USA for UNHCR is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Refugees and all other protected classes are encouraged to apply.