Student Intern III, Utilities Communications (City of Palo Alto)

Final Filing Date: First review of applications will be on April 17, 2025. NCPA reserves the right to close this posting once a sufficient number of applications have been received. 

This position will work full-time during the summer months in Palo Alto, CA.

The Utilities Communication Intern is a non-benefited entry-level position in the City of Palo Alto Utilities Administrative Department. Responsibilities will include working on special projects, programs, and outreach related to the City’s sustainability and climate action initiatives, including energy efficiency, water conservation, renewable energy, greenhouse gas emissions reductions, sustainable landscaping, plus topics related to general utility safety. The communication assistance provided will include work with social media, advertisements, bill inserts, video, photography, website, email newsletters, direct mail campaigns, school/youth outreach, and participation in community outreach events. Other responsibilities may include assisting with marketing calendar updates and event and inventory management. This role is ideal for someone interested in environmental issues and public education. It is a great opportunity to gain experience and understanding of what it is like to work in local government, delivering services to a community.

Job Duties:

• Website maintenance: content updates, new webpage creation, update online calendar, ADA compliance, punctuation and grammar review, correct broken links, create and upload header images for pages, create online “smart” forms, other web maintenance duties 
• Assist with social media outreach, create and post content, explore tools and help with ways to improve social media presence 
• Create ad content – graphic design, copy 
• Create and send email newsletters to subscribers 
• Assist with marketing calendar and scheduling ads, bill inserts, etc. 
• Assist with posting events on community calendars Review literature, brochures, reports, assist with updates as needed, including: Utilities at a Glance Annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) for water quality 
• Annual gas safety awareness brochure Gas Public Awareness Plan - compile outreach materials, including web pages, social media posts, copies of ads and bill inserts 
• Assist CPAU in meeting regulatory compliance requirements for gas safety Public Awareness Plan (PAP) Save copies of outreach materials for gas safety to include in annual PAP Update mailing list and provide assistance with distributing annual gas safety awareness brochure to stakeholders: Plumbers Excavators Contractors Locators Customers, non-customers living near pipeline 
• Assist with mailing list updates, and mailing postcards for annual CCR (water quality report) 
• Create educational, recruitment, and other topic videos for social media, web and YouTube Seek out local outreach opportunities and partnerships 
• Help reinvigorate school outreach program Help management develop curriculum and content 
• Research and evaluate partnerships with organizations focusing education on climate change, sustainability 
• Research educational outreach, collateral items, and curriculum for utilities safety and supply resources Inventory management 
• Assist with new customer welcome packets 
• Distribute bill inserts and brochures to community centers, libraries, Development Services, Customer Service, etc.  
• Help coordinate, prepare for, and staff community outreach and tabling events Volunteer coordination for some events

Qualifications: 

Academic status at an accredited college or university taking courses as a full-time student with a concentration in Communications, Marketing, Environmental Studies, or a similar related field leading to a Bachelor's or Master’s degree in a field related to the work which is performed.

Required Knowledge: 

• General environmental sustainability and climate change issues 
• Energy and water conservation methods and techniques 
• Renewable energy programs 
• Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, Powerpoint), word processing, spreadsheet, and database programs 
• Social media experience with Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. 
• Experience with website HTML editing is a plus

Required Job Abilities:

• Communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing 
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work 
• Work in a team-based environment to achieve common goals; evaluate situations, identify problems, and exercise sound independent judgment within established guidelines 
• Be detail-oriented and maintain the organization of files, spreadsheets, and software programs for entering and tracking information related to the job functions 
• Walk or stand for extended periods of time and bend, stoop, crawl, climb, and lift as necessary to perform assigned duties; and lift, carry, and relocate a variety of equipment weighing up to 25 pounds 
• Work public events

EOE