Investigations and Law Enforcement Development Internships and Fellowships – January 2027 Field Office Deployment (Latin America)

Who We Are  

International Justice Mission (IJM) is the global leader in protecting vulnerable people from violence around the world. Our team of over 1,200 professionals are at work worldwide in over 30 offices. Together we are on a mission to rescue millions, protect half a billion, and make justice unstoppable.  

We are a global community that cares for one another. We believe that the way we work is as important as the results we achieve. We provide professional excellence with joy and celebration to all those we serve.   

The Need  

For over 25 years, IJM has pioneered the work to protect vulnerable people from violence. 9 out of 9 times in the last decade, IJM’s Justice System Strengthening Projects have reduced slavery and violence between 50 and 85% for very large populations of people in poverty. As we grow to expand our impact to protect 500 million people from violence, we are seeking Investigations & Law Enforcement Development Interns & Fellows. 

Investigations and Law Enforcement Development Interns and Fellows support IJM staff in liaising with local law enforcement officials to ensure that they intervene to rescue identified victims and arrest and charge the identified perpetrators. Depending on your level of experience, your role may involve some of the following responsibilities as well as other relevant duties assigned by the Field Office Director or Supervisor.  

• Assist with writing and editing reports of investigation activities;  

• Organize and track progress of ongoing operations, including the operation stage and expenses incurred for each operation;  

• Create intelligence reports that organize and analyze data;  

• Maintain department databases and files;  

• Assist in the development of protocols, procedures and best practices for the Investigations department;  

• Assist with organizing, administering and documenting ongoing training in Investigations;  

• Research future equipment needs and purchases;  

• Operate and maintain investigative equipment;  

• Facilitate investigations through logistical support as needed;  

• Develop and train Investigations Staff in investigations techniques;  

• Assist the Investigations staff in case development and case management;  

• Assist in the review of case investigations and provide appropriate feedback;  

• Compile criminal intelligence, enter the information in the intelligence database and analyze the intelligence to provide investigative leads to the Investigations Staff; and  

• Assist in operations planning, risk assessment and risk management.  

Positions may be available in: San Salvador, El Salvador; Lima, Peru; Guatemala City, Guatemala.  Not every position will be available in every office.   

Program duration is 12 months, from January 2027 – December 2027. 

Internship General Qualifications and Required Skills  

• Bachelor's degree;  

• Organizational and administrative skills;  

• Attention to detail;  

• Knowledge of Microsoft software and Windows strongly preferred; and  

• Fluency in Spanish required 

Fellowship General Qualifications and Required Skills  

• Minimum of five years as a commission local, state or federal law enforcement officer;  

• Minimum of two years Vice and Narcotics and / or undercover investigations experience and Field Training Officer experience preferred;  

• Tactical experience and / or critical incident management experience preferred; and  

• Fluency in Spanish required for Latin America offices.  

Critical Qualities  

• Mature orthodox Christian faith;  

• Humble and resilient;  

• Pursues excellence;  

• Culturally aware and appreciative of difference;  

• Strong service ethic;  

• Innovative problem solver;   

• Ability to build trust and strong partnerships with others;  

• Courageous in pursuing opportunities and challenges;   

• Tenacious in achieving goals; and  

• Professional.  

As volunteers, interns and fellows receive a monthly stipend to help defray their expenses related to participating in the internship program. This volunteer stipend is not an hourly wage, nor wages paid for services provided by the intern or fellow. 

Application Process:   

Upload Resume, Cover Letter & Statement of Faith* in one PDF document.  

 *What is a statement of faith?  
A statement of faith should describe your Christian faith and how you see it as relevant to your involvement with IJM. The statement can either be incorporated into the cover letter or submitted as a separate document and should include, at a minimum, a description of your spiritual disciplines (prayer, study, etc.) and your current fellowship or place of worship.  

IJM holds strict safeguarding principles and a zero tolerance to violations of the Safeguarding Policy, Protection against Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment Policy, and Code of Ethics. Candidate selection is based on technical competence, recruitment, selection and hiring criteria subject to assessing the candidate’s value congruence and thorough background, police clearance, and reference check processes.  

At IJM, we’re committed to building a diverse workforce through fair and equitable employment practices. IJM encourages people of any race, color, age, sex, marital status or political ideology to apply for employment. While we welcome everyone into this work, we truly believe that the work we are doing is God’s work, not our own, and practice spiritual disciplines together daily. That’s why we legally require under SEC. 2000e-1 [Section702] of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that all employees practice a mature orthodox Christian faith, as defined by the Apostles’ Creed.  

IJM requires a background check, police clearance and thorough review of references with an employment offer and/or employment contract. 

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