Metro Transit Marine Division – Undergraduate Internships
Summary
King County Metro Transit's Marine Division has an exciting opportunity for three undergraduate student interns to increase their marketing, outreach and social media skills while developing knowledge of the maritime industry! Selected student interns will gain hands-on experience, learn from experts, and collaborate with teams that provide communications and marketing for mass public transit in a major metropolitan region!
Ideal start time for interns to start is June 1, 2020. This is a 10 week internship and is expected to end on August 7, 2020.
About King County
As the only county in the United States named after Martin Luther King Jr, one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the artistic and social traditions of many cultures. Together we are changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. We continue to build on an enduring legacy of shared values of equity and social justice, employee engagement, innovative thinking and continuous improvement. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda aimed at advancing regional change and is developing the systems and standards necessary to achieve better outcomes for all of our residents, regardless of their race or income. All of these qualities make this King County one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.
King County Metro Transit
King County Metro Transit is a regional and national leader in getting people to work quickly, reducing commuter stress, addressing climate change and improving urban air quality through sustainable transportation strategies, and by providing comfortable, effective and equitable regional mobility services for commuters, residents, and visitors of King County, Washington.
The Marine Division operates Water Taxi ferry service on two routes in Puget Sound, both originating at Pier 50 in downtown Seattle: one route to West Seattle and the other to Vashon Island. Both routes provide year-round service during peak commute times Monday through Friday. From March 23rd through October 30th the West Seattle route adds service on weekends, late nights, during the midday and provides extra service for Mariner, Sounder and Seahawks home games. This added service on the West Seattle route brings in beach goers, game attendees and residents heading to town for a late summer evening.
Who May Apply
These internships are open ONLY to:
- Students currently enrolled in an undergraduate program (Full or part-time undergraduate student majoring in marketing, communications, advertising, business, government or urban/transportation planning or related field). Students must be full-time or part-time status during the entire internship.
Work Schedule
Student applicants should expect to work up to 20 hours/week. Work will generally be carried out during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 8am- 5pm). Interns/fellows may work with their supervisors to accommodate class schedules or other conflicts.
Benefits
Free ORCA transit fare pass for unlimited rides on King County Metro, Pierce Transit, Kitsap Transit, Kitsap Fast Ferries, Community Transit, Everett Transit, Sound Transit and King County Water Taxi, Seattle Streetcar and Seattle Monorail. Additionally, Interns will accrue .025 hours of paid sick leave for each hour in pay status. This position is not eligible for retirement, holiday and vacation pay.
Job Duties
Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. In this role you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of the work. Each student intern assignment will involve a set of customized learning objectives and deliverables that provide hands-on experience assisting with and accomplishing specific work tasks or projects within each work group.
Learning Objectives include:
Grow skills in public outreach, marketing, community engagement, government relations and social media. The majority of work performed will be in downtown Seattle and along the waterfront. Student intern will provide information to water taxi riders, and assist with marketing and outreach efforts as it relates to the public transportation and the Marine division.
In addition, the selected candidate should expect to:
- Promote Metro Water taxi services including connecting forms of multimodal transit, with the goals of growing overall awareness of public transportation options in the Puget Sound region.
- Increase water taxi ridership by utilizing social media, tabling events, surveys, blogs, creating banners, and using other available resources to promote a safe, reliable, efficient and enjoyable means of transportation.
- Interact with public, hotel concierges and tourist/travel organizations on a daily basis to ensure brochures and rack cards are properly stocked, and questions about Water Taxi service are answered.
- Gain better understanding of government and transportation issues affecting the Puget Sound region.
- Manage Marine Division's Instagram social media account and onboard slide show presentations.
- Learn about the fundamentals of the maritime industry and the importance of waterborne public transportation.
Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
Minimum Qualifications:
- Full or part-time undergraduate student majoring in marketing, communications, advertising, business, government or urban/transportation planning or related field.
- Demonstrated skills in working with the public (can either be through past work or volunteer experience).
- Understanding and advancement of King County's Equity and Social Justice Policies.
- Self-starter with the ability to work both independently and as part of a dynamic team while contributing to performance driven goals.
- Able to work well and respectfully with a diverse group of individuals from a variety of different positions and backgrounds.
- Have the ability to work outdoors, walk and stand for long durations at a time; interact with the public and ability to lift 15 pounds.
- Demonstrated skill in planning and developing social media content.
Desired Qualifications:
- Experience with public interaction that includes engaging with various personality types.
- Strong interpersonal skills.
- Ability to engage and strike up conversations with strangers.
Supplemental Information
Required Application Materials:
- An employment application completed at www.kingcounty.gov/jobs with complete employment history, answers to the supplemental questions.
- Attach a cover letter in PDF format– Tell us why you are interested in this internship and how you meet the qualifications.
NOTE: Please answer all questions in the online employment application, with each of your jobs listed (listing each position for each employer separately), with duties explained, reasons for leaving, etc. Applications that are not complete, or do not include all required materials may be rejected as incomplete, and not advanced in the process.
If you are unable to apply online, you may submit a paper King County application form and answers to the required supplemental questions and a resume. Your application materials must be received prior to the closing date/time, March 29, 2020. Send your materials to: King County Metro Transit Department – Human Resources, 201 South Jackson Street, Suite 419, Seattle, WA 98104.
Selection Process
Candidates will be screened for qualifications and clarity, and completeness. The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews and a writing exercise or test. Final offers are contingent on successful completion of reference checks.
Questions? Please contact:
Angela Alcaraz, HR Analyst, aalcaraz@kingcounty.gov, 206-263-2466
King County is an equal employment opportunity employer. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workplace and workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding values--we are one team, we solve problems, we focus on the customer, we drive for results, we are racially just, we respect all people, we lead the way, we are responsible stewards. We welcome and encourage people of all backgrounds to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.