Strategic Communication Intern

Internal Candidates must apply through Jobs Hub in Workday.

Apply to join our team today! The City of Arvada promotes Equal Pay for Equal Work.  Starting salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity. The range listed reflects the entire range and typical placement is entry to mid range.

Pay Rate - $18/hr

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.

Internship Schedule: Start ASAP - December 12.

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.

Knowledge Skills Abilities Preferred

• Previous experience through coursework, student media, community engagement, or internships preferred.

Education Degree

• Currently enrolled in or recently completed a bachelor’s program. 

Education 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

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.

The City’s Core values are in every employee’s individual Performance Plan which helps us to reinforce our expectations for living and working by our Core Values. 

Every City employee is expected to perform his/her job to the highest professional standards.  This includes upholding the City’s values with integrity and accountability, acting in a manner that is respectful and inclusive towards others, and adhering to the City’s policy on employee conduct as detailed in the personnel rules sec. 70-143. 

The City is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.