Intern - Community Liaison and Hazard Outreach Mitigation

Institute for Building Technology and Safety•San Juan, PR

3d•Onsite

About The Position

This is a temporary, part-time position not to exceed 29 hours per week. We are seeking proactive, dynamic, and community-oriented college students committed to community resilience to join our team as Community Liaison Interns in the WCRP and Hazard Mitigation Program. This temporary position offers invaluable hands-on experience in the design and implementation of citizen engagement strategies, project management, and technical assistance in the development of Hazard Mitigation Plans under federal guidelines. The primary objective of the intern will be to support the comprehensive coordination of public participation processes, ensuring that community voices are effectively integrated into planning efforts and that field logistics and operational activities are executed with excellence.

Requirements

Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to prepare clear and detailed reports.
Strong teamwork skills, empathy, and cultural sensitivity to respectfully engage with diverse communities.
Basic proficiency in office software, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Availability of working flexible hours in the field (community workshops may occasionally be scheduled in the evenings).

Responsibilities

Assist in promoting activities, including the distribution of informational materials, direct contact with community leaders, and support in local outreach and engagement strategies.
Actively assist in event preparation and day-of logistics, ensuring the setup and breakdown of necessary equipment (tables, chairs, sound systems, projectors, and interactive activity materials).
Support the team with attendance registration, facilitation of working groups, and preparation of detailed meeting minutes during community assemblies and workshops.
Assist in designing and preparing educational and interactive materials (such as large-scale printed maps and visual tools) to help residents geographically identify areas vulnerable to flooding, landslides, and other hazards.
Conduct research using historical data, news archives, and institutional reports regarding the impact of past disasters on the communities being studied.
Accompany technical staff on site visits to collect photographic evidence, document the condition of critical infrastructure (shelters, bridges, pumping systems), and validate vulnerabilities reported by residents.
Assist with entering survey data into spreadsheets (Excel) and generating simple charts and graphs to summarize key community concerns.
Collect updated demographic and socioeconomic data from official sources (such as the U.S. Census) to help focus mitigation strategies on vulnerable populations.
Compile and maintain organized digital records that serve as official documentation for approval requirements (signed attendance sheets, captioned photographs, invitation correspondence, and promotional materials).