Emergency Management: Legislative Research Intern - OC Sheriff's Department (Unpaid Intern)

Emergency Management: Legislative Research Intern

This internship recruitment will remain posted on a continuous basis until the needs of the Agency are met. Students and recent graduates are encouraged to apply immediately. Applicants are encouraged to apply early as background investigations for this internship can take two to three months to process.

Orange County Sheriff-Coroner's Department is a modern, progressive law enforcement agency dedicated to protecting the peace and enhancing the quality of life for everyone in the County of Orange. The Department provides primary police services to 700,000 residents of 12 cities, the unincorporated areas of Orange County, as well as security for John Wayne Airport, harbors and coastline, public transportation, and courts.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Orange County Sheriff's Department's Emergency Management Division is to promote, facilitate and support the County of Orange and the Operational Area (OA) efforts to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters.

What We Do

The Emergency Management Division provides emergency management and preparedness services to the unincorporated areas of Orange County and supports the efforts of the Orange County Operational Area. There are currently over 100 jurisdictions in the Operational Area (OA) encompassing all County departments and agencies, public and private organizations and the general population within the boundaries of Orange County.

The Opportunity

The primary duty of the legislative intern will be to research pending legislation related to the emergency management field, preparing a report on legislative activity, and presenting the report and analysis to staff and officials. Duties may also include assisting staff in the day-to-day operations within the Emergency Management Division office; answering inquiries by phone and through written communications; preparing documents and reports; assisting with research assignments and special projects; attending meetings or community events; filing, faxing, photocopying, etc.

Educational Requirements

Applicants must be currently enrolled in an accredited college, university, or trade school and majoring in Emergency Management, Public Safety, Political Science, Public Administration, Law, Public Affairs, Communications, Public Relations, Public Policy, History, or related fields; or be a recent graduate (within 6 months) who has completed their degree in one of the above fields of study.

Skills and Qualifications

Excellent written and oral communication skills; ability to research information and prepare reports and other correspondence; experience with Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word and Excel; reliable, outgoing and able to work independently. Previous office experience preferred. Professional appearance and business attire required.

Time Commitment

The internship is in-person only. Minimum 5 hours per week over one semester or quarter, although internship can be extended to no more than 12 months. Hours must be scheduled during regular business hours (Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.). Summer internships are available.

This internship may be scheduled for a combination of remote and in-person work. In-person work will be performed at the Orange County Emergency Operations Center located at 2644 Santiago Canyon Road, Silverado, California.

Benefits Available to Interns

Internships with the Sheriff-Coroner's Department offer students experience in working within a large government entity. The Emergency Management Division provides exposure to many different aspects of legislative relations, as staff coordinate daily with local, state and federal governmental agencies as a part of routine operations. The EMD is one of the few assignments within the County that the intern may be exposed to a multi-agency and multi-discipline government coordination. This assignment also provides an opportunity for students to explore career options, gain career skills, build resumes and network with professionals in their field of interest.

Application Procedure

Applicants must attach a cover letter, resume, and unofficial transcripts to their application. The cover letter is an opportunity for applicants to describe career and academic goals, to elaborate upon personal and academic accomplishments, to share areas of interest that relate to the internship and to identify what type of internship experience they are seeking. Applications that do not include a cover letter, resume, and unofficial transcripts will not be considered.

Required Background Investigation

Background investigations that can take two three months to process will be conducted on applicants who have successfully interviewed for the internship and wish to pursue placement. The background investigation includes a 20 - 30-minute pre-screen interview. The pre-screen interview for out-of-state applicants can be conducted by phone. An additional three-hour in-person interview and Livescan fingerprinting are also required. The following documents will be completed by qualified applicants during the background investigation:

• Civilian Personal History form, includes employment history & arrest record
• Notarized Authorization to Release Information form

As part of the background investigation, applicants will be required to provide five references along with original copies of the following documents:

• Birth certificate (original or certified copy) or if applicable, naturalization certificate/resident card (Passport is not accepted.)
• Valid, state-issued driver's license or ID
• Social Security card
• Proof of current automobile liability insurance coverage, listing applicant as an insured driver
• Official college transcript(s) (Required for applicants who have completed their degree(s) and must be submitted in a sealed/unopened envelope.)

Additional Information

Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account. Note: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply. Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com." If your email address should change, please update your profile at

EEO Information

Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.