City Council Internship Program

Job Description

City Council Internship Program | City of Durham

The Tone:
This is an internship at the City of Durham, located in Durham, NC. The City of Durham is dedicated to advancing careers while making a real difference in the community it serves. This role is designed to introduce undergraduate or graduate students to potential careers in local government policy making. The selected candidate will contribute to the community by supporting the City Council’s Office on special projects and research assignments.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Type: Part-time (Up to 15 hours per week, some nights and weekends required)
• Location: In-person, Durham, NC
• Pay: $21–$22.95 hourly
• Team: City Council’s Office, working directly with City Council Members
• Mission: To introduce students to local government policy making through hands-on project and research assignments.
• Tech Stack: Microsoft products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Adobe products, ArcGIS, social media

What You’ll Actually Do
• Research: Collect data and research proposed and pending policy issues for the City Council.
• Meetings: Prepare for and attend key committee, board, and council meetings.
• Communications: Manage various communications, including email, social media, and mass media.
• Policy Support: Draft and edit resolutions and policy memoranda for review.
• Engagement: Facilitate dialogue with other elected officials, city staff, governmental jurisdictions, and community partners.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Currently enrolled in a graduate or undergraduate program from an accredited institution, studying City Planning, Public Administration, Public Policy, or a related degree. Demonstrated interest in local government issues such as planning, zoning, housing, or transportation.
• Experience: Significant experience working with low-wealth communities. Experience or interest in learning communication through social media, branding, layout, and design.
• Skills: Strong analytical and data skills. Strong written and oral communication skills. Proficiency in MS Office applications.
• Bonus: Knowledge of the Durham community. Ability to build and maintain relationships with individuals from varied cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.