LHI is a rapidly growing humanitarian NGO founded in 2016 and registered in the United States. We provide aid to refugees and communities affected by crises through swift, needs-driven emergency response and durable, community-led solutions. We’re now preparing to expand operations in Europe – specifically Germany and Berlin – to build strong partnerships with local NGOs. Learn more at LHI.org.
Position Overview
To launch programs and partnerships in Germany, LHI must determine the most appropriate legal form and pathway for registering as a nonprofit, map operational requirements (governance, finance, HR, data protection, banking), and establish practical, scalable processes. This internship sits at the heart of that effort – turning a strategic intent into an actionable, compliant, and realistic plan.
Role Overview
As the Operations Team Assistant (Intern), you’ll work closely with our Operations leadership team to scope and map a potential pathway for registering an international NGO in Germany and to support early operational setup. You’ll also contribute to day-to-day operations and coordination tasks that keep a fast-moving humanitarian organization running smoothly.
This is an excellent fit for someone curious, organized, and mission-driven who enjoys research, structured problem-solving, and translating findings into practical checklists and workflows.
Key Responsibilities
1) Germany Registration & Compliance Scoping (Primary Focus)
- Research and compare plausible nonprofit legal forms, including governance, liability, tax benefits, and typical timelines.
- Map registration steps, documents, and stakeholders.
- Outline finance & banking prerequisites, HR basics, and risk & safeguarding considerations.
- Summarize data protection (GDPR) implications and minimum viable compliance for early operations.
- Produce a decision brief recommending a route with pros/cons, costs, dependencies, and a 90-day action plan.
2) Partnerships & Ecosystem Mapping - Identify and profile potential NGO, municipal, and institutional partners in Berlin/Germany aligned with LHI’s programs.
- Help schedule and (when needed) join introductory meetings; maintain a contact tracker and next-step log.
Qualifications
Required
- Familiarity with German civil society landscape and/or public administration.
- Based in Germany, with ability to attend occasional in-person meetings in Berlin.
- Strong research and synthesis skills; you can turn scattered info into clear next steps.
- Excellent written communication in English; conversational German for desk research and basic outreach.
- Organized, proactive, and comfortable working with checklists, trackers, and deadlines.
- Proficiency with Google Workspace.
Nice to Have
- Coursework or experience in nonprofit management, public policy, law, international relations, or business/operations.
- Basic understanding of GDPR, safeguarding, or nonprofit finance.
- Experience with vendor sourcing, budgeting, or light procurement.
Eligibility & Work Authorization
- Must be 18+ and currently enrolled in – or a recent graduate of – a higher-education program.
- Must have the right to live and undertake an internship in Germany for the duration of the role.
- LHI cannot currently sponsor visas for this internship.
Commitment & Stipend
- 10 hours/week for 10 weeks, remote with occasional in-person meetings in Berlin.
- €1,000 stipend upon successful completion to offset participation costs.
How to apply
To apply, please fill out an application here and email your CV to hr@lhi.org with the subject line “CV_Intern First Name Last Name”. For any questions, please contact us at hr@lhi.org.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Lifting Hands International is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible environment for all team members and applicants. We are an equal-opportunity employer and make employment decisions based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, physical or mental disability, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
We strongly encourage individuals from historically underrepresented groups, including women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and persons with disabilities to apply. If you need accommodation at any stage of the application process, please contact us at hr@lhi.org.