Strategic Government & Community Affairs Intern

Job Description

Government & Community Affairs Intern | Harris County–Houston Sports Authority

The Tone:
This is an internship at Harris County–Houston Sports Authority, located in Houston, TX. The Harris County–Houston Sports Authority (HCHSA) functions as the sports marketing agency for the city of Houston and Harris County, responsible for bidding on, attracting, and overseeing major sports events. This role is a graduate-level, executive-facing internship that directly supports the Chief Executive Officer, contributing to public policy, government relations, and community partnerships. The intern will operate as a high-trust extension of senior leadership, with significant exposure and responsibility.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Type: Temporary (Fall 2026, minimum 20 hours a week)
• Location: In-person, Houston, TX

• Team: Works directly with the Chief Executive Officer, supporting senior leadership.
• Mission: Supports the CEO on public policy, government relations, funding strategy, venue-related issues, and community partnerships.
• Tech Stack: Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, OneDrive.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Government Affairs: Monitor and synthesize local, county, regional, state, and federal political and policy developments impacting the organization.
• Strategic Briefings: Prepare CEO-ready briefing materials, including political context, stakeholder interests, risks, opportunities, and recommended talking points.
• Executive Representation: Attend meetings with elected officials, agency leadership, and partners, capturing notes, commitments, and follow-up actions as delegated.
• Policy Research: Conduct high-quality research on public funding mechanisms, grants, appropriations, reimbursement programs, and venue-related policy issues.
• Community Engagement: Support community and civic engagement efforts tied to organizational initiatives, assisting with preparations for outward-facing engagements.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Current graduate student in public policy, political science, public administration, law, urban planning, economics, communications, or a related field. Must be able to receive academic credit for the internship.
• Experience: Familiarity with the Houston and Harris County political landscape.
• Skills: Exceptional writing and analytical skills, demonstrated interest in government affairs, public-sector strategy, and community engagement.
• Bonus: Prior experience in government, legislative offices, policy research, public-sector consulting, campaigns, or community organizations; comfort interacting with senior leaders and external stakeholders; proficiency with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, and OneDrive.