Community Engagement and Services Intern (City of Reno - Community Engagement and Services, Pack Intern, Spring '27)
**This internship is hosted by City of Reno – Community Engagement and Services and sponsored by the Nevada Career Studio and ASUN.
Students are highly encouraged to complete a 15 minute drop-in or schedule an in-person or virtual 30- minute appointment with a Career Mentor BEFORE submitting an application. Resumes and cover letters that do not meet NCS best practices will not be included in applicant packages to employers.
After the application period closes in Handshake, the NCS Internships Team reviews the applicants and sends eligible students' applicant packages to employers for them to reach out to conduct interviews and make the final intern selection. Employers will contact students directly if they are interested in moving forward with them as a candidate.
About City of Reno – Community Engagement and Services:
The City of Reno is a municipal government serving Nevada's third-largest city, located in the Truckee Meadows at the eastern base of the Sierra Nevada and serving as the county seat of Washoe County. Known as "The Biggest Little City in the World," Reno is home to an estimated 283,000 residents and anchors a metropolitan region of nearly half a million people. The City provides the full range of municipal services contemplated by statute and charter, including police and fire protection, municipal court services, 911 dispatch, water reclamation and stormwater management, streets and traffic, parks and recreation, community development and planning, and general government functions such as finance, human resources, information technology, and records management. The City also exercises oversight of the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Reno. The Community Engagement & Services Department brings Reno together through empowering initiative and programs that inspire pride, build trust, and strengthen connections. By creating welcoming spaces for all, we ensure every voice is heard and every person belongs. Initiatives under the Community Engagement and Services Department include Public Engagement, Reno Direct, Reno Community Institute, Environmental Services, Language Access and more.
Internship Description:
The Community Engagement and Services Intern will support a variety of projects, activities, and initiatives that help enhance services and engagement efforts across the City of Reno. This position will assist with data collection, analysis, and reporting to support informed decision-making and improve community outcomes.
Interns will gain practical experience collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to support City initiatives, improve services, and inform decision-making. They will work on real-world projects that demonstrate how data is used to identify trends, measure outcomes, and address community needs. In addition to developing technical and analytical skills, interns will build professional competencies in communication, collaboration, and problem-solving. The intern will work collaboratively with multiple City departments, providing support on special projects, community initiatives, research, and administrative tasks as needed. Through hands-on experience, the intern will gain exposure to local government operations and develop an understanding of how different departments work together to serve the community.
This internship offers an opportunity to build professional skills, contribute to meaningful work, and learn about the City of Reno's structure, services, and commitment to improving the quality of life for residents.
Duties/Responsibilities:
- Collect, organize, and analyze data to support City projects and initiatives.
- Assist with research, reports, presentations, and other project materials.
- Support community engagement activities, events, and outreach efforts.
- Collaborate with staff across multiple City departments on special projects and assignments.
- Provide administrative and project support to the Community Engagement and Services team.
- Attend meetings and assist with follow-up tasks and action items.
- Gain hands-on experience learning about the City of Reno's operations, services, and organizational structure.
Goals and Expectations of the Intern:
- Complete 120 hours of work as an intern (8-15 hours per week, 15 weeks total)
- Develop an understanding of the City of Reno's organizational structure, operations, and services.
- Gain hands-on experience working in a professional local government environment.
- Support data-driven projects through research, data collection, analysis, and reporting.
- Collaborate effectively with staff across multiple departments and contribute to team projects.
- Demonstrate professionalism, reliability, and a willingness to learn.
- Build communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills while contributing to meaningful community-focused work.
Required Qualifications:
- Must be a degree-seeking undergraduate student at the University of Nevada, Reno during the Spring ‘27 semester
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint).
- Ability to organize information, manage multiple tasks, and meet deadlines.
- Interest in local government, public service, community engagement, or data analysis.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Willingness to learn and contribute to a variety of projects and assignments.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Pursuing a degree in Public Administration, Political Science, Business, Data Analytics, Communications, Sociology, Urban Planning, or a related field.
- December ‘26 or earlier graduates are not eligible for the Pack Internship Grant Program
- Experience working with data collection, analysis, or reporting.
- Familiarity with Microsoft Excel and data visualization tools.
- Experience with research, community engagement, or project coordination.
- Strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills.
- Interest in local government, public service, and community-focused initiatives.
- Previous internship, volunteer, leadership, or customer service experience.
Desired Schedule for Intern:
Flexible schedule within regular City business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., totaling approximately 8–10 hours per week between January 19 and May 4 for a total of 120 internship hours. Work hours will be coordinated with the intern's academic schedule.
PIGP internships require interns to complete 120 hours during their internship. It is the intern’s responsibility to ensure this requirement is met.