Graduate Student Intern for Community & Civic Engagement

Position Title: Graduate Student Intern – Community & Civic Engagement Partnership Mapping Project
Department: Student Engagement – Community & Civic Engagement
Location: Hybrid (on-campus with some remote work opportunities)
Supervisor: Rachel DiDomizio, Associate Director
Employment Dates: 2026-27 Academic Year
Expected Hours per Week: 5 hours per week 

Pay Rate: $20.00 per hour

Position Overview

The Graduate Student Intern will support a Community & Civic Engagement initiative to document and strengthen partnerships between the University at Buffalo and nonprofit organizations throughout the Buffalo-Niagara region. The student will help develop a community partnership mapping tool that illustrates collaborations between university departments and community organizations.

This position is ideal for a graduate student interested in community engagement, nonprofit organizations, public policy, higher education, research, geographic information systems (GIS), data management, or project coordination. Students will gain experience working across academic and community settings while contributing to a project that supports collaboration and community impact.

Training, supervision, and ongoing support will be provided throughout the appointment.

Primary Responsibilities

• Gather and organize information about existing partnerships between university departments and nonprofit organizations. 
• Communicate with university faculty, staff, and community partners to collect and verify partnership information. 
• Help develop and maintain a community partnership database that will eventually populate a mapping tool. 
• Assist with creating visualizations that illustrate campus-community partnerships across the Buffalo-Niagara region. 
• Help identify opportunities to strengthen connections between university departments and community organizations. 
• Prepare summaries, reports, and presentations that communicate project findings. 
• Participate in project meetings and contribute ideas for improving data collection and community engagement. 
• Complete other project-related tasks as assigned. 

Required Qualifications

• Current graduate student at the University at Buffalo. 
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail. 
• Comfortable communicating professionally in writing and in conversation. 
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team. 
• Willingness to learn software, research methods, and project management tools. 
• Basic familiarity with Microsoft Office or Google Workspace. 

Preferred Qualifications

The following qualifications are helpful but not required:

• Interest in community engagement, nonprofit organizations, higher education, public administration, urban planning, social sciences, or related fields. 
• Experience organizing information through coursework, research, volunteer work, student organizations, internships, or employment. 
• Familiarity with spreadsheet software, databases, GIS, or data visualization tools. 
• Experience conducting research or working with community organizations. 
• Interest in building relationships across diverse organizations and communities. 

Training & Support Provided

Students will receive training, supervision, and ongoing mentoring throughout the project. No prior professional experience with partnership mapping is required. Support will be provided in:

• Community-engaged research practices 
• Data collection and organization 
• Community partnership mapping tools 
• Professional communication with campus and community partners 
• Project planning and collaboration 

Schedule Information

Intern will work approximately 5 hours per week. The work schedule is flexible, and the supervisor will work with students to accommodate class schedules. Some remote work may be available depending on project needs.

Physical or Environmental Expectations

• Position primarily involves computer-based work which may involve sitting at a desk for extended periods. 
• Occasional attendance at meetings or community events on or off campus may be requested. 
• No significant physical requirements. 

Accessibility & Accommodations Statement

Students requiring accommodations during the application, interview, or employment process are encouraged to contact the University at Buffalo's Department of Human Resources at ub-hr@buffalo.edu.

We welcome applicants with a variety of experiences and backgrounds. Students may demonstrate relevant skills through coursework, research, student organizations, volunteer work, internships, caregiving, or other experiences. If you are interested in community engagement and are eager to learn, we encourage you to apply.

Application Instructions

Application Deadline: September 1, 2026

Required Application Materials:

• Resume 
• Cover letter describing your interest in the position 

How to Apply: Through Bullseye powered by Handshake.

Learning Outcomes & Skill Development

Students in this position may gain experience in:

• Community-engaged research 
• Cross-sector collaboration and project management
• Professional communication and Stakeholder relationship building 
• Database development and data management 
• Report writing and presentations 

Career readiness and professional development