Environmental & Street Services Intern

City of Durham•Durham, NC

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The City of Durham’s Environmental and Street Services Department is hiring an intern to support communications, primarily by creating content for and helping manage two departmental social media channels. The intern will help build audiences and engagement, identify information residents may be interested in, explain departmental services, and improve communications between residents and the department. The role may also support other communications projects and includes opportunities to participate in outreach events, ride-alongs with crews, project-site visits, water quality testing observations, and regional environmental policy meetings. The internship is expected to require 10–15 hours per week. Hours generally fall Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., with flexibility to accommodate class schedules. The position is based onsite at ESS-North and City Hall, with occasional attendance at meetings and events. Applicants must attach a one- to two-page writing sample in a format of their choice. The hiring range is based on academic standing: Freshman $21.00, Sophomore $21.63, Junior $22.28, and Senior/Graduate Student $22.95.

Requirements

Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at an accredited college or university.
Pursuing a degree in communications, journalism, English, or a similar subject; students in environmental or sustainability studies, public policy, public administration, or related fields will also be considered.
Experience writing for both technical and non-technical audiences.
Access to reliable transportation to work onsite at ESS-North (1833 Camden Avenue) and City Hall (101 City Hall Plaza), and to occasionally attend meetings and events.
Attach a one- to two-page writing sample that represents the applicant’s writing abilities.

Nice To Haves

Ability to work 10–15 hours per week.
Strong writing, editing, and storytelling abilities.
Interest in social media strategy, public engagement, and multimedia storytelling.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Ability to work independently while collaborating across a large, dynamic department.
Strong interest in building connections and community.
Willingness to solicit and use constructive feedback to improve social media goals.
Curiosity, collaboration, and willingness to learn.
Ability to use a creative, entrepreneurial approach to work.
Interest in municipal government, process improvement, applied research and experiments, and storytelling.
One or more years of experience working with social media in a personal, professional, or volunteer context.
One or more years of experience working with Canva or other graphics software.
Ability to translate technical information into plain language.
Experience conducting exploratory research.
Experience with data analysis or visualization.

Responsibilities

Create content for and help manage two departmental social media channels, primarily Instagram and Facebook.
Help build audiences, improve engagement, and identify information audiences may be interested in.
Share information about departmental services, explain their nature, and improve communications between residents and the department.
Research and benchmark social media best practices and innovations at peer organizations and other cities.
Manage the Instagram and Facebook content calendar in coordination with City and Department activities and priorities.
Pitch written, visual, and multimedia content ideas.
Take photos and make short videos of departmental work, public events, and special services.
Organize and maintain photos, videos, and other digital assets for the Department’s digital library.
Create slideshows, reels, and visual and written posts using Canva.
Engage proactively with audiences, respond to questions and comments, and elevate audience-management issues.
Identify social media content that could be used on the Department website or inform new web content.
Help monitor and report social media metrics.
Research current government social media practices, channel algorithms, and audience questions and issues appearing on Reddit, Nextdoor, and neighborhood listservs.
Participate in tabling at in-person outreach events as needed.
Potentially participate in crew ride-alongs, visit project sites, observe water quality testing, and attend regional environmental policy meetings.