Strategic Communication Intern

Pay Rate Pay Rate - $18/hr Internship Schedule Start ASAP - December 12. Position Purpose Supports the City’s Communications Department in implementing communication and engagement strategies that strengthen community trust and awareness of city services. This internship provides hands‑on experience in public relations, message development, and campaign planning within a local government setting. Internship will be posted until filled. Essential Job Functions Assists in implementing strategic communication plans for city projects and initiatives. Drafts press releases, talking points, and key messages for city programs, events, and announcements. Supports content creation for The Arvada Report, city newsletters, social media, and web pages. Researchs community trends and support audience analysis for targeted outreach campaigns. Participates in team meetings and brainstorming sessions. Assists with the coordination of community engagement activities and city events. Tracks and summarizes media coverage and community sentiment. Supports evaluation of campaign results through metrics and feedback collection. Internship Structure / Outcomes Provides a mix of entry-level type duties and the opportunity to work on a special project that aligns with the City’s strategic focus. Includes professional development sessions and exposure to city operations. Applies strategic communication planning frameworks to real‑world projects. Strengthens media relations and public information writing skills. Gains practical experience communicating with diverse community audiences. Develops a professional portfolio demonstrating PR and community engagement work. Part-time, paid position (or credit-based, if applicable), designed for students or recent graduates interested in public service communication careers. Other Job Functions Perform other duties as assigned. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Strong writing, editing, and research skills. Interest in government communication, public policy, or civic engagement. Ability to translate technical or policy information into clear, relatable messages. Proficiency with Google Suite and collaboration tools; familiarity with content management platforms helpful. Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, professional environment. Preferred Qualifications Previous experience through coursework, student media, community engagement, or internships preferred. Education Currently enrolled in or recently completed a bachelor’s program. Major Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Political Science, or related field. Other Qualifications Must be at least 18 years of age. Must pass a criminal background check and a driving record check, if required by the position. Physical Demands Minimal physical effort typically found in clerical work. Primarily sedentary, may occasionally lift and carry light objects. Walking and/or standing as needed and minimal. Hazards Minimal exposure to hazards are typically found in general office environment where there is rarely to no exposure to injury or accident. Work Environment Exposure to routine office noise and equipment. Total Rewards The City of Arvada offers a robust Total Rewards package. To find out more details, select here. The City of Arvada does not offer benefits to temporary and/or seasonal employees. Temporary, Variable Hour and Health Plan Eligible employees will earn 1 hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked, up to a maximum cap of 48 hours. Vision We Dream Big and Deliver Mission We are dedicated to delivering superior services to enhance the lives of everyone in our community. Values Innovation: We excel in creativity, flexibility and the use of best practices while valuing diverse backgrounds, ideas and perspectives. Passion: We are a high performing, inclusive team inspiring each other to pursue excellence. Opportunity: We value our diversity, embrace possibilities, face challenges, persevere and take action to deliver quality results. Equal Employment Opportunity The City of Arvada promotes Equal Pay for Equal Work. The City is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We have consistently received Top Workplace awards since 2012. Most recently, we received USA Today’s Top Workplaces Award. I am Arvada videos show team members talking about their work with the city. #J-18808-Ljbffr City of Arvada