Economic Intelligence and Insights Intern

ECONOMIC INTELLIGENCE AND INSIGHTS INTERNSHIP

The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) is a dynamic, member-driven and impactful organization committed to promoting and sustaining the growth and development of the local restaurant industry while providing our members legislative and regulatory representation, marketing and small business support, programming, and events.

RAMW offers year-round internship opportunities and is currently seeking a motivated Economic Intelligence and Insights Intern to join our team. The successful candidate will play a central role in advancing our mission by designing and analyzing member surveys, conducting economic research on labor market data, and generating insights that inform our public policy and advocacy work. This internship provides a unique opportunity for individuals interested in survey research, applied economics, and data analysis, including:

• Hands-on experience designing survey questionnaires, fielding surveys, and analyzing responses to inform policy positions.
• Practical experience working with federal economic datasets including Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) data.
• Training in statistical analysis, data visualization, and translating research findings into actionable insights.
• Practical application of research methods to real-world policy challenges.
• Opportunities to build the intern's professional network in the advocacy, hospitality, and small business sector.

Key Responsibilities

Working closely with the Vice President of Government Affairs, major responsibilities of the Economic Intelligence and Insights Intern include:

• Survey Research Support: Assisting with designing survey questionnaires, supporting survey administration through platforms like SurveyMonkey, analyzing survey responses, and contributing to reports and presentations for members and policymakers.
• Economic Data Analysis: Assisting with collecting, organizing, and analyzing federal business and labor market data (such as QCEW, JOLTS, BLS) and identifying trends in restaurant industry employment and economic indicators.
• Statistical Analysis Support: Supporting quantitative analysis of both survey data and economic datasets, assisting with data visualizations, and contributing to insights that support advocacy priorities.
• Research and Policy Analysis: Assisting with review of economic research and policy developments to contextualize survey findings and data analysis, supporting advocacy strategies.
• Report Development: Contributing to policy briefs, research summaries, and data visualizations that translate complex survey and economic data into accessible narratives for members and policymakers.
• Project Support: Assisting with managing research timelines, maintaining organized datasets, supporting data quality efforts, and helping coordinate with survey participants.
• Collaboration: Working collaboratively with team members on research projects and supporting the sharing of insights across the organization and industry.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate or graduate student with coursework or demonstrated interest in economics, statistics, applied statistics, data science, survey methodology, or related quantitative fields.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills, with experience or coursework in statistical analysis.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with ability to translate complex data into accessible narratives.
• Experience with or interest in survey design and administration.
• Careful attention to detail and strong proofreading skills.
• Ability to problem solve, work independently, and manage multiple projects.
• Self-motivated with strong time management skills and willingness to ask questions as necessary.
• Strong service orientation and collaborative mindset.
• Computer competencies, including experience with G Suite tools (Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides), survey platforms like SurveyMonkey, and comfort learning new analytical tools.
• Interest in or knowledge of the local food, beverage, and hospitality industry is a plus.

Apply Today

Internships are 18 to 24 hours per week in person at the RAMW office and paid $20 an hour. To apply, send a cover letter, resume, and three samples of work to internships@ramw.org. Work samples should include at least one academic sample (coursework, papers, projects completed for classes) and at least one applied sample (work completed for internships, student organizations, volunteer roles, independent projects, or other non-classroom settings).

RAMW is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any individual on the grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, age, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or beliefs.

About RAMW 

For more than 100 years, RAMW has advocated and provided a community for more than 1,400 entrepreneurs and small businesses in the greater Washington area. We count among our members beloved neighborhood spots, family-owned businesses, homegrown restaurant groups, and national and regional favorites. Together we are one of the largest job creators in the District and leading contributors to revenues.