[Summer 2025] Total Rewards Internship

The Whitney’s summer internship program is a full-time, paid, nine-week session primarily for undergraduate students. The program includes training, direct work experience, professional development, and a weekly speaker series. The 2025 Summer internship will be hybrid, meaning interns will work onsite at least three days per week. The program will begin on Monday, June 2, and end on Friday, August 1. Participants must be available Monday through Friday for nine consecutive weeks, five days per week.  

The application window for our Summer 2025 Hearst Family Internship is now open through 5pm ET on Friday March 7th. Please note that all candidates will be considered on a rolling basis, and as such, some opportunities may close before the deadline. 

The Whitney seeks a Total Rewards intern within the Office of People and Culture for Summer 2025. To view all Internship opportunities and to learn more about The Whitney's offerings, please refer to our Internships Page. 

Expected Projects & Assignments

• Assist the Total Rewards team in organizing and maintaining employee benefits information, including health, wellness, and retirement plans.
• Support communication efforts around employee benefits by helping prepare materials for open enrollment and employee information sessions.
• Help gather and organize benefits-related data and documents for internal use and employee distribution.
• Provide basic support with employee inquiries related to benefits, referring more complex issues to senior team members.
• Assist with routine data entry and checks for benefits enrollment and payroll coordination.
• Contribute to special projects aimed at improving the employee experience, such as assisting with wellness initiatives or gathering feedback on benefits programs.
• Help with administrative tasks, including organizing files and preparing internal memos or updates for staff.

Skills & Qualifications

• Interest in human resources, particularly in employee benefits and rewards.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Clear communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Familiarity with Microsoft 365 software (e.g., Excel, PowerPoint, Word).
• Ability to handle sensitive employee information confidentially.
• Must be an undergraduate or graduate student currently enrolled in an accredited program.
• Applicants must have completed at least two years of academic coursework; undergraduate freshmen are not eligible.

Provided Training

• Basic understanding of benefits administration and employee rewards.
• Hands-on experience with HRIS systems, such as PayPro.
• Introduction to data tracking and reporting for benefits programs.
• Exposure to HR policies and procedures, including benefits compliance.

Outcomes

• By the end of the internship, the intern will have gained foundational knowledge of benefits administration and employee rewards within a professional setting.
• The intern will understand how Total Rewards contributes to overall employee engagement and satisfaction.

Compensation 
Interns will be paid a stipend of $6,500 for full participation.  
Generous support for Hearst Summer Interns is provided by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation.
 
Not sure you meet 100% of our qualifications? Research shows that men apply for jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria. Yet, women and other people who are systematically marginalized tend to only apply if they meet every requirement. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Whether you’re new to arts and culture administration, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or take the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar. Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interest in the arts and culture space and what you hope to bring to this role. 
 
About the Whitney: 
The Whitney Museum of American Art, founded in 1930 by the artist and philanthropist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, houses the foremost collection of American art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. From her vision arose the Whitney Museum of American Art, which has been championing the most innovative art of the United States for 86 years. The core of the Whitney’s mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit American art of our time and serve a wide variety of audiences in celebration of the complexity and diversity of art and culture in the United States. Through this mission and a steadfast commitment to artists themselves, the Whitney has long been a powerful force in support of modern and contemporary art and continues to help define what is innovative and influential in American art today. 
 
EEO Statement: 
The Whitney Museum of American Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Museum does not discriminate because of age, sex, religion, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital status, partnership status, veteran status, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, or any other factor prohibited by law. The Museum hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled. The Museum encourages all qualified candidates to apply for vacant positions at all levels. This description shall not be construed as a contract of any sort for a specific period of employment