Administrative Student Intern (OPEN/CONTINUOUS)

Internship Opportunities with the City of Richmond (CA)

We're looking for tomorrow's leaders. People who are bold, creative, curious, and excited to contribute to the City of Richmond community. The current vacancies are in the City Council Office, Public Works - Civil Engineering Division, Department of Children and Youth, Information Technology, and the Finance Department. Candidates may also be considered for internships in other City departments.

City of Richmond Public Works Civil Engineering - Outreach & Digital Media Internship

About the Internship: The selected intern will assist with social media content creation, video production, event outreach, and communications efforts in the Public Works department. Projects may include designing flyers, drafting digital content, supporting event coordination, and contributing to multimedia campaigns. Ideal candidates are studying communications, journalism, public administration, urban studies, marketing, or a related field. Strong writing, design, and organizational skills are preferred. Familiarity with Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, or video editing software is a plus. The ability to create content in multiple languages, especially Spanish, is highly desirable.

Responsibilities may include:

• Assist with planning and promoting community events and public information campaigns.
• Help create and distribute outreach materials such as flyers and newsletters.
• Participate in outreach efforts with the public and promote City programs.
• Draft and schedule posts for different platforms
• Monitor basic analytics and help suggest strategies for improving reach and interaction
• Research trends and best practices in digital public engagement.
• Assist in planning, filming, and editing short videos
• Capture photos and footage at events.
• Organize media files and contribute to content planning.

Content Creation & Design:

• Design graphics using Canva or Adobe Creative Suite.
• Support updates to internal and external presentations and reports.
• Assist with maintaining a shared content calendar and coordinating deadlines.

Work Schedule: This position is intended to be full-time during the summer months and transition to a flexible, part-time schedule during the academic year to accommodate class commitments.

City Council Office - Public Policy

• Participate in implementing public policy: Performing a wide range of policy, program, and administrative duties for members of the City Council and may be assigned to projects related to the Sister City Program or the Race Equity Program. (Hours are approximately 5-20 hours per week)

City of Richmond Department of Children and Youth Internship

• Equitable Community Engagement: Ensure equitable community engagement among various youth groups and governmental, philanthropic, faith-based, and community-based organizations
• Create community materials that are youth and family-friendly
• Develop professional and communication skills through collaborative work with Department staff and service providers in the Richmond and North Richmond community
• Development of Funding Program: Support the creation of a program to provide funding to youth-serving organizations in Richmond and North Richmond
• Assist Department staff in the day-to-day management of a newly-created funding program
• Gain a better understanding of funding priorities and issues affecting youth in Richmond and North Richmond
• Data Management and Community Reporting: Gather, analyze, and share data with community stakeholders and our 15-member Oversight Board
• Increase social media engagement on Instagram and Facebook by 20% and develop webpages to create a repository of community data and information
• Support Department staff in providing 1-3 updates to our 15-member Oversight Board made up of youth and adults

City of Richmond Finance Department Internship

• Participate in implementing a local legislature: Receive first-hand exposure to how local government works and the implementation of voter-supported measures.
• Data Management: Gather, data regarding Measure U inquiries from our community stakeholders
• May be responsible for maintenance of databases
• Produce reports for the purpose of analyzing the data
• Support management in regular and routine data analysis

City of Richmond Information Technology Department Internship

• Marketing the City of Richmond: Support the modernization of the City's website by having direct exposure to local government marketing strategies.
• Delivery of Customer Service: Receive valuable experience in the administration of a thriving and busy information technology department while learning and assisting with the implementation of the City's Green initiatives.
• Support for managing Help Desk calls
• Basic equipment configuration deployment
• E-waste inventory collection and disposal
• Back up mailroom and copy center duties
• Cable Television Production and Broadcasting: Assist with production of City of Richmond's television station KCRT programming.
• Broadcast KCRT TV meeting support (this will require after hours, i.e., Tuesdays and Thursdays, for City Council and Planning Commission meetings)

Position Description and Duties

Under general supervision and guidance, an Administrative Student Intern performs a range of duties that include but are not limited to administrative, paraprofessional or technical within a City department or specialized office. Administrative Student Interns are expected to have strong written and verbal communication skills and possess knowledge of basic computer programs. Interns will provide administrative support, conduct research, and may be assigned to projects related to City operations; in areas such as City management, fiscal policy, human and community services, economic development, housing, public safety, port operations, and other City functions. As knowledge and skills are acquired, assignments will increase in complexity. The following list is intended to be illustrative in nature and does not necessarily represent the entire range of work duties expected of employees within the job classification.

1. Responds to requests for information and provides necessary customer service to members of the community, business organizations, and other City employees.
2. Answers phones, greets members of the public and provides referrals to the appropriate departments or agencies; assists with general clerical duties.
3. Provides support to the Youth Council; creates and maintains relationships with organizations that support youth, serves as a mentor and youth advisor to youth council members, researches youth development opportunities, and arranges civic educational opportunities.
4. Assists in the preparation of analytical reports, agenda reports, briefings, proclamations, recognition certificates, letters, meeting minutes, records, ordinances, and resolutions for review by City staff.
5. Independently researches and prepares position papers, public policy documents, grant proposals, instructions, notices, general rules or operating procedures, and additional documents.
6. Assists in preparing organizational budgets, accounting systems, spreadsheets, or maintaining accounting records.
7. Conducts audits, program evaluations or surveys as a team member or on an individual basis and submits results to City staff.
8. Analyzes current organizational systems and procedures and provides realistic recommendations to enhance organizational service delivery, communications or effectiveness.
9. Coordinates special projects with various City departments, specialized staff, other jurisdictions, community-based organizations, or the private sector.
10. Conducts briefings before the City Council, various City boards and commissions, community-based organizations, other jurisdictions or the private sector.

Minimum Qualifications

General knowledge of: basic principles and methods of public administration, administrative procedure, statistics and research methodology, organizational planning, public finance, problem identification, and problem-solving techniques. Skill in: communicating effectively orally and in writing with individuals who represent a diverse population, comprehending and anticipating issues and problems which could impact the assigned project; understanding the functions and structure of municipal government and the organization assigned in order to complete assigned responsibilities. Ability to: apply sound techniques of administrative analysis, organizational planning, program evaluation and problem-solving; interpret laws, regulations, policies, and procedures; accept feedback regarding assigned projects. Desirable Qualifications: experience conducting research, or knowledge of research methodology and techniques; experience working with public officials; education/knowledge in the areas of public policy, political science, or a closely related field; and office or customer service experience.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE Graduation from high school or equivalent and current enrollment in a post-high school accredited academic, training, or technical institution. Proof of enrollment must be submitted on an annual basis during employment by providing official transcripts. Emphasis on Political Science. Government, Public Policy, or