Strategic Communication Intern

City of Arvada • Arvada, CO

5d • Onsite

About The Position

Supports the City’s Communications Department in implementing communication and engagement strategies that strengthen community trust and awareness of city services. This internship provides hands-on experience in public relations, message development, and campaign planning within a local government setting. The internship will be posted until filled and is scheduled to start ASAP and end on December 12. It is a part-time, paid position (or credit-based, if applicable), designed for students or recent graduates interested in public service communication careers. The internship provides a mix of entry-level type duties and the opportunity to work on a special project that aligns with the City’s strategic focus. It includes professional development sessions and exposure to city operations, allowing interns to apply strategic communication planning frameworks to real-world projects, strengthen media relations and public information writing skills, gain practical experience communicating with diverse community audiences, and develop a professional portfolio demonstrating PR and community engagement work.

Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Must pass a criminal background check and a driving record check, if required by the position.
• Strong writing, editing, and research skills.
• Interest in government communication, public policy, or civic engagement.
• Ability to translate technical or policy information into clear, relatable messages.
• Proficiency with Google Suite and collaboration tools; familiarity with content management platforms helpful.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, professional environment.

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience through coursework, student media, community engagement, or internships preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assists in implementing strategic communication plans for city projects and initiatives.
• Drafts press releases, talking points, and key messages for city programs, events, and announcements.
• Supports content creation for The Arvada Report, city newsletters, social media, and web pages.
• Researches community trends and supports audience analysis for targeted outreach campaigns.
• Participates in team meetings and brainstorming sessions.
• Assists with the coordination of community engagement activities and city events.
• Tracks and summarizes media coverage and community sentiment.
• Supports evaluation of campaign results through metrics and feedback collection.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Temporary, Variable Hour and Health Plan Eligible employees will earn 1 hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked, up to a maximum cap of 48 hours.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level