Athlete Internship (f/m/x)

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) offers the position of two full-time paid Athlete Internships (f/m/x) in an international and multicultural team at the IPC Headquarters in Bonn, Germany, starting in October 2026.

ABOUT THE IPC

At the IPC, we work as one team, aligned and focused on fulfilling our vision and mission.

The IPC’s vision is for an inclusive world through Para sport.

We believe that Change Starts With Sport, and that the work of the Paralympic Movement is a catalyst for driving social inclusion and advancing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

The IPC, a purpose-driven non-profit association, is the global governing body of the Paralympic Movement. We oversee the delivery of the Paralympic Games and Paralympic Winter Games and serve as International Federation for five Para sports. We enjoy a positive working relationship with the IPC Governing Board, members of which are democratically elected every four years by the IPC General Assembly. Since 1989, we have been creating change through sport with the Paralympic Games and Paralympic athletes at our core.

The IPC seeks to use the influential global position of the Paralympic Movement and the growing profile of Para athletes to challenge the stigma attached to disability and empower social transformation.

ROLE

The IPC seeks motivated Paralympians for the Athlete Internship Programme, a new 12-month programme designed to provide retired Paralympic athletes with experience within the sport management sector and Paralympic Movement. Participants will focus their application on one of the IPC’s departmental areas described below — Membership, Communications, Finance, Anti-Doping, IT/Technology — and, if selected, will gain hands-on experience, practical skills, and mentorship tailored to their selected role. This programme prepares participants to leverage their athletic experience, and in particular their personal insights from participating in a Paralympic Games and contribute meaningfully to the Paralympic Movement and the wider sports industry. Each Athlete Intern (f/m/x) is accountable to the Working Area/role Manager.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibilities will vary depending on the chosen department. Below are role specific responsibilities:

Membership Team – Membership Engagement

• Support the delivery of mass communications to IPC Members, assisting with content preparation, coordination and translating relevant materials.

• Assist in developing programmes to strengthen member relationships and enhance the overall membership experience.

• Support stakeholder and athlete engagement by fostering collaboration and diplomacy within a diverse global network through targeted communications.

Communications Team – Content

• Assist in digital content creation, marketing campaigns, and storytelling efforts to grow the IPC’s audience through various channels.

• Researching trends and content ideas.

• Contribute to the development and implementation of content strategies to elevate IPC’s visibility and reach

Finance Team – Financial Management

• Contribute to financial planning, budgeting, and reporting processes aligned with IPC’s strategic goals.

• Support data collection, analysis, and visualization to drive informed decision-making across departments.

• Gain exposure to financial practices within a global non-profit organisation, including resource allocation and business performance evaluation

IT/Technology Team – Business Applications

• Be part of the project for the implementation of a new business application (IPC Connect) at the IPC and with external stakeholders.

• Provide support for various project phases of the business application lifecycle, such as requirement analysis, implementation, rollout, user training, documentation, and troubleshooting.

Anti-Doping Team – Education Projects

• Be part of a project to conduct a review of available evidence-based research, of relevance to anti-doping education, with the aim of feeding into the IPC’s anti-doping programme to enhance it.

• Contribute to a project to specifically look at the IPC’s anti-doping programme from an athlete perspective (using own experience and collecting and reviewing feedback from other athletes) to collect evidence to increase its focus on the needs of athletes.

CORE REQUIREMENTS

• Retired Paralympian, with a strong interest in transitioning into the sport management sector and passing on the enthusiasm for the Paralympic Movement.

• Interest in one of the identified IPC departmental areas (Membership, Communications, Finance, IT/Technology, Anti-Doping).

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively in team settings.

• Self-motivated, proactive, and eager to learn, with a commitment to personal and professional growth.

• Fluency in English, with excellent communication skills, diplomacy, and sound judgment.

DESIRED REQUIREMENTS

• Commitment to actively engage in training, projects, and learning opportunities.

• Alignment with IPC’s organisational values: passion, authenticity, trust, inclusion, care, and strategy.

SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

Finance Team – Financial Management

• University degree or professional training in finance, accounting or business administration. Familiarity with general accounting procedures and basic knowledge of financial regulations are required for this role.

The Athlete Internship Programme includes two paid full-time internships, limited to a duration of 12 months in Bonn, Germany. Accessible housing will be provided.

Do you want to apply?

If you are interested and provide a good match with our requirements, please send your CV and cover letter in English and in pdf to [email protected].

For this position, we will review applications and interview candidates on a rolling basis, with final deadline of 10 August 2026.

The IPC is an equal opportunity employer, and we especially encourage individuals with a disability and members of minority groups to apply; we support the relocation process. For further information on the IPC, please contact us or visit our career website under http://www.paralympic.org/careers

We look forward to your application!