Digital Marketing Intern

Digital Marketing Intern Housing & Community Development Program

Organization:   Panhandle Area Development District (PADD)

Location:   Scottsbluff, Nebraska (some regional travel included)

Compensation:   Hourly wage — $15.00/hr

Work Schedule:   Flexible — minimum hours will align with academic credit requirements

Academic Credit:   Eligible; PADD will coordinate with the student’s faculty advisor

Target Disciplines:   Marketing, Digital Media, Communications, Business, Entrepreneurship, or related fields

ABOUT PADD

The Panhandle Area Development District (PADD) is a nonprofit regional planning and economic development organization serving the eleven-county Nebraska Panhandle — Banner, Box Butte, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, and Sioux counties. PADD leads regional efforts in housing, workforce development, infrastructure, and economic resilience. Our work is guided by the 2026–2031 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), a living framework built around measurable outcomes and genuine community accountability.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Digital Marketing Intern will support PADD’s housing program by developing and executing digital outreach strategies that raise awareness of the region’s housing challenges, promote available resources, and help build community momentum around housing solutions. The intern will also contribute to PADD’s broader economic development work, including support for the 2026–2031 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) — a federally recognized, five-year regional plan that guides investment, infrastructure, and workforce decisions across the eleven-county Panhandle.

This is a hands-on, project-based internship with real impact. The work you do will directly support PADD’s goal of increasing available workforce housing across the 11-county Panhandle region by 2031, while giving you firsthand exposure to how rural economic development strategy is built, communicated, and put into action.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Housing Program — Digital Marketing & Outreach

The intern will work on a range of tasks aligned with their skills and the program’s needs, which may include:

• Developing and managing social media content across platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn) to promote PADD’s housing initiatives and community resources
• Creating digital content including graphics, short-form video, and written posts communicating housing program information to residents, employers, builders, and contractors
• Supporting outreach for PADD’s planned “Build in the Panhandle” regional convening — a key event connecting builders, contractors, and city officials around regional housing solutions
• Assisting with design and distribution of digital newsletters, flyers, and campaign materials
• Researching best practices from comparable rural housing marketing and community outreach campaigns
• Tracking and reporting on social media engagement, content performance, and outreach reach
• Contributing to PADD’s broader communications and community visibility as opportunities arise

Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Support

In conjunction with PADD’s Community Consultant and under the direction of the site supervisor, the intern will also provide support to PADD’s five-year CEDS process and the Panhandle Economic Strategy Council, including:

• Assisting with data collection, interpretation, and compilation in support of the 2026–2031 CEDS — including regional demographic, housing, workforce, and economic indicators across the eleven-county Panhandle
• Supporting preparation of materials, presentations, and summary documents for the Panhandle Economic Strategy Council, the regional advisory body that guides CEDS implementation
• Helping communicate CEDS goals, progress, and community impact through digital channels — translating planning content into accessible, engaging outreach for residents, partners, and stakeholders
• Assisting with outreach and engagement efforts tied to CEDS objectives, including workforce pipeline development, business succession awareness, and regional coordination initiatives
• Contributing to the public-facing project status tracker and other accountability tools designed to keep communities informed of regional economic development progress

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the conclusion of this internship, the student will be able to:

• Apply digital marketing strategies in a real-world nonprofit and economic development setting
• Demonstrate understanding of rural housing challenges and community development approaches in the Nebraska Panhandle
• Describe the structure and purpose of a federally recognized Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy and articulate its connection to community outcomes
• Create a professional content portfolio spanning multiple platforms and formats suitable for future employment
• Collect, interpret, and present data in support of regional planning and community engagement goals
• Communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders including local governments, businesses, advisory councils, and community members
• Manage multiple projects and deadlines in a professional office environment

QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

• Currently enrolled in a degree program in Marketing, Digital Media, Communications, Business, Entrepreneurship, or a related field
• Proficiency with social media platforms and digital content creation tools
• Strong written communication skills
• Self-motivated with the ability to manage time and priorities independently

Desired:

• Experience with Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar design tools
• Familiarity with short-form video production and editing
• Comfort working with data, spreadsheets, or basic research tasks
• Interest in rural community development, economic development, or public service
• Nebraska resident or strong personal or professional ties to the Panhandle region

SUPERVISION AND SUPPORT

The intern will report directly to PADD’s site supervisor and will receive a structured onboarding orientation, regularly scheduled supervisory conferences, biweekly hour verification, and formal midterm and final evaluations. PADD is committed to providing a high-quality internship experience with meaningful work, professional mentorship, and exposure to the full scope of regional economic development practice.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

To apply, please submit a letter of interest, resume, and two professional or academic references to:

Bryan Venable

bryanv@nepadd.com

Optional: include a sample of relevant digital or creative work. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; priority consideration given to applications received by Friday, May 8, 2026.

PADD is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other factor prohibited by law.