Continuous Improvement High School Internship - Culture & Strategy - Denver International Airport (10 weeks)

City and County of Denver•Denver, CO

1d•$19 - $19•Hybrid

About The Position

This internship is an on-call position, which means it is a part-time, hourly role. The City and County of Denver offers a competitive pay rate to commensurate with education, with the pay range for this position between $19.29 hourly. This position is eligible to enroll in the City and County of Denver’s 457b retirement plan. This position is not eligible for other additional benefits. On-call positions may have routine or variable work schedules. Location Flexibility The City and County of Denver supports a hybrid workplace model with a required 3 days in office. Employees work where needed to support business at Denver International Airport (DEN). We do not offer housing or relocation assistance for this position. Employees must work within the state of Colorado. Internship Duration and Hours This is a 10-week internship from Monday, June 1, 2026 - Friday, August 7, 2026, with typical hours not exceeding 39 hours a week. Who We Are & What You’ll Do Since opening on Feb. 28, 1995, Denver International Airport (DEN) has become one of the world’s busiest airports. In 2025, 82,427,962 passengers passed through DEN, making DEN 4th busiest airport in the U.S. and the world’s 10th busiest airport. DEN is Colorado’s primary economic engine, generating $47.2 billion in annual economic impact for the state. At DEN, we are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. We celebrate individuality and strive to keep Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Accessibility (EDIA) at the center of all that we do. Through the DEN Intern (nicknamed “DENtern”) Program, students gain real world experience in aviation and workforce development while building professional skills. DENterns participate in a cohort-based model that emphasizes networking, collaboration, and professional growth, attending all scheduled professional development sessions, tours, and engaging in impactful projects across the airport. DEN’s Culture & Strategy Division is actively seeking a Continuous Improvement DENtern to contribute to their division. As part of DEN's Strategic Plan, Vision 100, which envisions reaching 100 million annual passengers, Culture & Strategy plays a pivotal role in setting strategic objectives, developing tactics and using associated data to measure and evaluate impacts. As part of the DEN Chief of Staff portfolio, the Culture & Strategy Division is responsible for leading DEN’s efforts in the following areas impacting the entire organization, including our stakeholders: (1) Strategy & Innovation; (2) Airport Access & Business Opportunity; and (3) Strategic Outreach & Engagement. As a DENTERN you will get to work alongside the Continuous Improvement team a variety of projects including the Green Belt Certification and the Everyday Innovation Program. Green Belt Certification is a beginner-level continuous improvement training where employees learn tools to solve problems, improve processes, and complete a small project that shows what they learned. It’s a great way for our staff to build real leadership and project‑management skills. Everyday Innovation is a program that empowers employees to improve how we are delivering value to our customers. You will work on projects such as, but not limited to: Project #1: Problem Solving & Innovation Support Help take notes during team problem solving workshops and capture key ideas and action steps. Support the Everyday Innovation program by organizing employee ideas and helping highlight creative suggestions. Assist staff with sharing and promoting innovation across the airport. Help lead a short activity or icebreaker with guidance from your supervisor. Project 2: DENtern Green Belt Certification Learn introductory Continuous Improvement tools (PDCA, problem‑solving basics, process maps) Apply these tools to create your own Green Belt project that helps the Continuous Improvement Team Assist the team in their effort to support other DENterns as they work toward their Green Belt certifications Project #3: Aviation Megatrend Research Collaborate with a team of fellow DENterns to conduct discovery research on a key aviation megatrend. This includes gathering data, interviewing industry experts, and analyzing findings. At the end of the summer, your team will present insights to DEN’s executive leadership to help shape strategic innovation and prepare the airport for the future.

Requirements

This position is open to 16 to 19 year olds who are currently enrolled in high school, are homeschooled, or up to one year post high school graduation.
1–2-page resume
Transcripts – either official or unofficial; dated within your current academic term.

Nice To Haves

Strong desire to solve complex problems with creativity and persistence
Curiosity about the future of aviation and a passion for exploring emerging trends
Ability to connect and relate to a diverse organization
Passion for data-informed decision-making, leveraging insights to drive improvements
Creativity: Generating innovative ideas and solutions
Customer Service: Understanding and addressing client needs
Interpersonal Skills: Building rapport and working well with others
Research Skills: Ability to gather and analyze data
Self-Motivation: Demonstrating drive and enthusiasm for learning
Cover letter detailing why you are interested in this position and 3-5 new skills, experiences, or tools you are hoping to take away from this experience.

Responsibilities

Help take notes during team problem solving workshops and capture key ideas and action steps.
Support the Everyday Innovation program by organizing employee ideas and helping highlight creative suggestions.
Assist staff with sharing and promoting innovation across the airport.
Help lead a short activity or icebreaker with guidance from your supervisor.
Learn introductory Continuous Improvement tools (PDCA, problem‑solving basics, process maps)
Apply these tools to create your own Green Belt project that helps the Continuous Improvement Team
Assist the team in their effort to support other DENterns as they work toward their Green Belt certifications
Collaborate with a team of fellow DENterns to conduct discovery research on a key aviation megatrend. This includes gathering data, interviewing industry experts, and analyzing findings.
Present insights to DEN’s executive leadership to help shape strategic innovation and prepare the airport for the future.