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Extern and Internships

At USADA, we are committed to preserving the integrity of competition, inspiring true sport, and protecting the rights of athletes. If you’re interested in working with and for clean athletes, an internship or externship with USADA might be the right fit for you, regardless of your field of study. We accept candidates with diverse skills and offer opportunities within our various teams, such as Education, Science, and Finance. During the program, participants will gain experience working in a fast-paced office environment, collaborating with teams, and contributing to department-specific projects.

What our interns have to say...

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

INTERNSHIPS

  • All internships are paid
  • Internships are 40 hours per week at our Colorado Springs office
  • Internships are open to juniors and seniors in college
  • Sessions are typically May to August
  • Candidates are evaluated based on the position
  • Applications accepted yearly, January 10-March 15 

EXTERNSHIPS

  • All externships are paid
  • Externships are 20-40 hours per week at our Colorado Springs office
  • Sessions run from August 1-May 31
  • Candidates are evaluated based on the position
  • Candidates must have completed their degree within the past year
  • Applications accepted yearly, May 15-July 1

To apply, please email your resume and a thoughtful cover letter by the deadlines noted above, outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position, to Tammy Hanson (thanson@usada.org).  Please include the type of internship in the subject line.

Available Opportunities

REPORTS TO:

Elite Education Director

EXTERNSHIP SUMMARY:

Under supervision of the Elite Education Director, this internship will provide a hands-on opportunity to assist the Elite Education Department to include presentation coordination, development, communications and administration.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Assist the Education Director in identifying potential distribution channels
  • Assist in the creation of presentations to RTP athletes, junior athletes, coaches, NGBs and those involved in the Olympic and Paralympic movement
  • Contribute to the development of Elite Education content
  • As directed, other office support functions including compiling and formatting USADA presentation materials, prepare shipments and mailings, and tracking inventory
  • Work on special projects as assigned

BENEFITS:

  • Valuable experience working in a dynamic, diverse and creative environment
  • Close interactions with the Education Director and opportunity to build professional network
  • Opportunity to complete a resume building project based on Interns interest and goals
  • Have an ongoing mentor after the internship program

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Obtaining a Bachelor or Masters degree in a related field
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Strong organizational and time-management skills
  • Independent, highly organized and detail-oriented
  • Ability to work flexible hours as needed
  • Proficiency in MS Office programs (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
  • Desire to work in athletics and sport after graduation

COMPENSATION AND TERMS:

The Elite Education Intern position is a paid imternship and allows for school credit. General hours are Monday – Friday, with flexibility around athlete presentations. The internship is 20-40 hours per week.

REPORTS TO:

Elite Education Director

EXTERNSHIP SUMMARY:

Under supervision of the Elite Education Director, this externship will provide a hands-on opportunity to assist the Elite Education Department to include presentation coordination, development, communications and administration.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Assist the Education Director in identifying potential distribution channels
  • Assist in the creation of presentations to RTP athletes, junior athletes, coaches, NGBs and those involved in the Olympic and Paralympic movement
  • Contribute to the development of Elite Education content
  • As directed, other office support functions including compiling and formatting USADA presentation materials, prepare shipments and mailings, and tracking inventory
  • Work on special projects as assigned

BENEFITS:

  • Valuable experience working in a dynamic, diverse and creative environment
  • Close interactions with the Education Director and opportunity to build professional network
  • Opportunity to complete a resume building project based on Externs interest and goals
  • Have an ongoing mentor after the externship program

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Obtaining a Bachelor or Masters degree in a related field
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Strong organizational and time-management skills
  • Independent, highly organized and detail-oriented
  • Ability to work flexible hours as needed
  • Proficiency in MS Office programs (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
  • Desire to work in athletics and sport after graduation

COMPENSATION AND TERMS:

The Elite Education Extern position is a paid externship and allows for school credit. General hours are Monday – Friday, with flexibility around athlete presentations. The internship is 20-40 hours per week.

REPORTS TO:

Olympic & Paralympic Counsel

INTERNSHIP SUMMARY:

Responsible for providing support for investigation and prosecution of anti-doping rule violations and contributing to development of internal policies and procedures by conducting research, preparing documents, and other tasks as assigned.  

OBJECTIVES:

With this internship, you will gain a mentor, have the ability to complete a resume building project based on your interests and goals in coordination with supervising staff at USADA, and learn about the rules and regulations related to anti-doping in sport. 

TERMS:

  • One internship is available for Summer 2023, from mid-May through mid-August
  • Applications are due by January 6. Please send applications to Samantha Coleman, Legal Assistant, at scoleman@USADA.org
  • This is a paid internship $14-18/hour and allows school credit
  • General hours are Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • 1L applicants must supplement applications with complete fall semester grades once available

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Must have completed your first or second year of law school
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Strong record of academic achievement
  • Values Diversity, Equity and Inclusion among internal and external constituents
  • Ability to work with various levels of management
  • Ability to multitask and to work accurately under pressure
  • Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
  • Able to perform in a team environment
  • Ability to work flexible hours as needed
  • Moderate proficiency in MS Office programs (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Desire to work in athletics and sport after graduation
  • Previous experience in sport is preferred, but not required

If you have questions or wish to learn more about the position, please contact Spencer Crowell, USADA’s Olympic and Paralympic Counsel, at scrowell@usada.org.

CORE COMPETENCIES 

PROJECT/PROGRAM PERFORMANCE 

Plan, coordinate, and implement tasks and projects related to current cases and/or Legal Department projects/policies

  • Facilitate and complete detail-oriented tasks 
  • Execute a project plan to deliver and maintain program functions 
  • Adhere to policies and procedures set by the organization 
  • Represent the organization with professionalism and integrity 
  • Maintain confidentiality at all times 

RESEARCH 

Legal and factual research in connection with preparation of briefs, policies, and other projects

  • Effectively summarize and apply research to particular legal team matters 

PRIORITY MANAGEMENT

Manage multiple assignments and effectively prioritize to meet deadlines 

COMMUNICATION AND INTERACTION SKILLS

Articulates thoughts, ideas and objectives clearly and concisely 

  • Use oral and written communication skills effectively and appropriately
  • Respond to organizational needs effectively and on a timely basis 
  • Positive attitude and sense of humor

REPORTS TO:

Director of Operations and Special Projects

EXTERNSHIP SUMMARY:

Under supervision of the Director of Operations and Special Projects, this externship will provide a hands-on opportunity with the execution of a gold standard anti-doping program to include operations administration, logistics, training & development, and cross department collaboration with the wider organization, in particular other Operations teams (Olympic/Paralympic, Client Services & UFC).

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Assist the DCO Operations team in monitoring and triaging e-mails/phone calls from Doping Control Officers on DCO Ops related issues, such as supply requests
  • Assist in shipping & logistics, working under direction with USADA’s external shipping supplier
  • Assist in the planning and logistics for DCO Committee meetings, Regional Team Leader meetings, DCO Conference, and other meetings, as required
  • Support the internal DCO Operations team in maintaining a strong connection and support system to USADA’s field team
  • Contribute to the development and updating of DCO Operations standard operating procedures
  • As directed, other office support functions to the Operations team
  • Special Projects and other duties as assigned to support our DCO Operations team

BENEFITS:

  • Valuable experience working in a dynamic, diverse and creative environment
  • Close interactions with the Director of Operations and Special Projects and opportunity to build professional network
  • Play a role in ensuring the integrity of sport at the highest level
  • Opportunity to complete a resume building project based on Externs interest and goals
  • Have an ongoing mentor after the externship program
  • Maintain confidentiality at all times

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Strong organizational and time-management skills
  • Independent, highly organized and detail-oriented
  • Ability to work flexible hours as needed
  • Excellent interpersonal skills
  • Values Diversity, Equity and Inclusion among internal and external parties Proficiency in MS Office programs (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
  • Desire to work in athletics and sport

COMPENSATION AND TERMS:

The DCO Operations Extern position is a paid externship and allows for school credit. General hours are Monday – Friday, with possibility of some weekend work if desired. The externship is 20-40 hours per week.

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INTERNSHIP VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

FEMALE INTERN #1: USADA is really more than just a workplace, it’s a community of people all of whom are very passionate about clean sport and putting in that effort every single day in the fight for clean sport.

MALE INTERN #1: You’re going to be working with people that are going to push you to do your best, and also give you the resources and support you need to make sure you reach your maximum potential.

TAMMY HANSON, Education Manager: So, USADA has had interns for a number of years. It is a paid internship, so we want to make sure that we’re getting top quality candidates, and that it’s the right fit for them and for us. Some of the qualities we’re looking for in an intern is their willingness to learn, because, obviously, this is a new field to a lot of them; eagerness, we want to see excitement and passion about the work that we do; and a great attention to detail. Many of our internships are not just giving them daily tasks, we’re never going to ask an intern to go on a coffee run for us. This is actual work that we need to accomplish for clean sport, and they absolutely have a meaningful impact on that work.

FEMALE INTERN #2: My most significant achievement here was, definitely, creating the DCO newsletter.

FEMALE INTERN #3: Analyzing the data that we have from our educational surveys and turning those into reports for different national governing bodies.

MALE INTERN #2: Coming up with a marketing pitch to give to NCAA universities’ athlete directors.

FEMALE INTERN #1: Writing a memo about all of the major changes to the International Standards for Laboratories that WADA released about a week before I started here.

MALE INTERN #1: Helped redesign the Olympic Education survey that we give to everyone we present to.

TAMMY HANSON, Education Manager: They don’t just get experience and learning job skills of USADA, but they also get that mentor, that person who’s going to be with them, that reference letter, whatever it happens to be to help them in their next step.

MALE INTERN #1: If you put in the effort, you’re going to get so much benefit out of it. If you’re asking questions, if you’re making connections, the benefit you’re going to get is huge, the experience that you’re going to gain is going to lead you to great things.

FEMALE INTERN #1: And so, if future interns are interested in a potential future career in sport, this is a great place to start for that in terms of making those connections.

MALE INTERN #2: And yeah, I think that’s a very unique experience and not one you’re going to find many other places.

TAMMY HANSON, Education Manager: The internships generally last one semester and we do them year-round. So, whether it be the summer or the fall or spring, we are always taking different internship positions and taking different internship positions in different departments.