Internship- Communications

Frederick County Government•Landfill - Frederick, MD

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Division of Solid Waste and Recycling is looking for a Communications Student Intern for the Fall 2026 semester. This internship offers hands-on career exploration designed to bridge academic learning with real-world experience, allowing students to apply their knowledge in a professional setting, gain valuable insight into the operations of local government, and explore public service career paths. Participants will build meaningful professional connections, contribute to impactful projects, and discover how local government plays a vital role in serving the community. The Division of Solid Waste and Recycling is offering an internship that places you at the forefront of improving Frederick County’s curbside recycling program and advancing environmental stewardship across the community. In this role, you’ll gain firsthand insight into how the program operates and play a key part in transforming that data into strategic communication efforts. Your work will help strengthen community outreach, deepen public understanding of environmental impacts, and support the Division’s efforts to expand programs and achieve the County’s waste-diversion and sustainability goals. Frederick County Government values the principles of diversity and inclusion, and strives to ensure equal opportunities for its workforce, applicants and community members.

Requirements

Enrolled in a college or university pursuing a degree in Communications, Environmental Studies, Journalism, Marketing, Public Relations, Visual Arts or a closely related field
Cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.7 or higher. A college transcript is required as evidence of GPA. A copy of an unofficial transcript will be accepted
Knowledge of design, marketing, communication and social media software, tools and platforms
Working knowledge of the principles, practices and methods of informational and public relations writing, and of related media relationships, marketing and graphic arts design and production
Strong writing skills to support a range of content, including website copy, social media, and email communications
Strong and effective spoken and written (English) communication skills including the ability to compile, prepare and present clear, concise and accurate reports, forms, letters, and record
Strong collaborative and teamwork skills
Ability to use graphic principles to create original online/print marketing materials
Ability to effectively organize work, establish priorities, manage time effectively and complete assigned duties with minimal supervision in a fast-paced environment
Ability to be flexible, act as a team player and provide quality internal and external customer service
Ability to solve problems and to develop solutions and strategies
Ability to research and provide data
Ability to exercise sound technical judgment in the performance of assigned duties
Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, business representatives, and members of the public
Ability to effectively access and utilize computerized systems and equipment, including word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, databases, and email software (e.g. MS Office Suite)
Ability to provide own transportation to assigned internship location, training, meetings, events and other commitments

Nice To Haves

Experience in a public facing customer service role
Experience involving environmental projects or programs
Experience using Adobe Suite
Secondary language skills in American Sign Language

Responsibilities

Conduct curbside bin audits to assess recycling habits, identify contamination types, and analyze trends across different neighborhoods
Collaborate with the Communications Manager to develop targeted, data-driven outreach strategies based on data from bin audits
Attend and represent the Division of Solid Waste and Recycling at community events, engaging residents and answering questions about recycling and waste reduction
Create compelling social media content and posts to promote recycling education, waste reduction tips, and division initiatives
Work with the Communications Manager to enhance curriculum materials and develop new tools for school-based recycling and waste-education programs
Develop creative outreach strategies and identify meaningful opportunities within the community to more effectively reach and educate residents about the importance of recycling and waste reduction for both the environment and the community
Attend workshops, meetings and learning opportunities
Perform other related duties as assigned