PW Winter 2026 Intern – Surface Water and Sewers Communications & Outreach Intern

Position Description

The Surface Water & Sewers division of the Minneapolis Public Works Department is seeking a motivated intern to support communications, education and community outreach initiatives focused on water quality and environmental stewardship.

The intern will work closely with the Outreach & Engagement Coordinator and technical subject-matter experts to support the development of educational materials, training resources and outreach activities for City staff and community audiences. Primary projects may include Follow the Rain Minneapolis education, stormwater utility program education, illicit discharge training, and Smart Salting and chloride reduction education.

This internship will provide hands-on experience translating technical water quality information into clear, accessible and engaging educational content, while supporting outreach, engagement and environmental education programs across the division.

The Public Works Department is seeking motivated and detail-oriented Engineering Interns to support a variety of infrastructure and municipal projects. Interns will work closely with professional engineers, project managers, and technical teams to gain hands-on experience in public sector of engineering and operations.

To ensure consideration, candidates are required to apply separately to each internship opportunity of interest. Applications are not automatically applied to other openings.

We are currently seeking qualified candidates to fill the following internship positions:

• Surface Water and Sewers Communications and Outreach Intern

  • 2 Position available

Compensation: Wages start at $23.40 hourly, $23.75 hourly for returning interns

Duration: Start date January 4th, 2026: Up to 6 months.

Hours:

• 40 hours per week
• Willing to accommodate school schedules
• Monday - Friday, 8:00AM - 4:30PM

Location

This position is in person.

• Public Service Center (250 South 4^th Street Room: 300)

The City of Minneapolis does not sponsor applicants for work visas.

Public Works has determined that a criminal background check, qualifications check and /or Drug and Alcohol testing may be necessary for this position.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Support the development of education and training materials for Follow the Rain Minneapolis, illicit discharge identification and reporting, stormwater utility, and Smart Salting/chloride reduction initiatives.
• Support outreach, engagement and water quality education efforts, including community events, educational programming and stewardship activities.
• Attend project and group meetings and assist with meeting coordination, documentation and follow-up as needed.
• Provide administrative and project support for Surface Water & Sewers outreach and education programs.
• Contribute creative ideas, research and best practices to strengthen communications, education and engagement efforts.
• Collaborate with staff and subject-matter experts to help translate technical water quality information into clear, engaging and accessible resources for City staff and community audiences.

Required Qualifications

All applicants must:

• Be 18 or older
• Have a valid driver’s license
• Currently enrolled in or recently graduated (within one year) from an associate’s, bachelor’s, or technical school program in an engineering discipline or a closely related field.

Preferred Qualifications:

• The ideal candidate will have education or experience in one or more of the following: Communications, Environmental Education, Environmental Studies or Science, Education, Public Relations, Community Engagement, Marketing, Sustainability, Public Administration, or another closely related field.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with an interest in translating technical or complex information into clear, engaging and accessible educational materials.
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills, including the ability to work with technical subject-matter experts, City staff, community partners and members of the public.
• Interest in water quality, environmental stewardship, public education, outreach and community engagement.
• Experience or interest in developing presentations, educational materials, training resources, webpages, graphics or other communications content.
• An understanding, awareness and sensitivity to the experiences of individuals and communities that have been historically marginalized.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, creativity and willingness to learn.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365, including Teams, Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint and SharePoint.
• Experience with public speaking, facilitation, graphic design, photography, video production or digital communications is beneficial but not required.

A cover letter and updated resume uploaded to your application are strongly encouraged but not required.

Selection Process

The selection process for this position will consist of a review of the application, resume and cover letter and then a panel interview. Since the selection process will consist of a review of the application, resume and cover letter, it is to your advantage to be as complete and thorough on your application forms, supplemental application and other support documentation/materials as is possible. The Human Resources Department reserves the right to limit the number of person invited to interview.

Background Check

The City has determined that a criminal background check and/or qualifications check may be necessary for certain positions with this job title. Applicants may be required to sign an informed consent form allowing the City to obtain their criminal history and/or verify their qualifications in connection with the position sought. Applicants who do not sign the informed consent form will not be further considered for the position.

Drug and Alcohol Testing

All job applicants must pass a pre-employment drug and alcohol test once a conditional offer of employment has been made. Applicants will be required to sign a notification and consent form prior to undergoing drug and alcohol testing. Applicants who do not consent to undergo drug and alcohol testing will not be required to do so and the City will withdraw the conditional job offer, resulting in the job applicant no longer being considered for the position.

Union Representation

These positions are not represented by a collective bargaining agreement. For more information on the terms and conditions of employment please see the Civil Service Rules.

Eligible List Statement

The names of applicants who meet minimum qualification and who pass the screening process shall be placed on the eligible list for employment consideration. This list will be certified to the hiring manager who may use the list to fill a vacancy of the same job title. This eligible list will expire three months after it has been established.

Working Conditions:

Working conditions may vary depending on the division the intern is placed in. Office setting and field work. Field work may include exposure to all weather conditions; exposure to outdoor elements such as loud noise, dust, dirt, gases, fumes and chemicals; exposure to high traffic areas; exposure to other types of conditions that may be found in a construction, plant or other hazardous location; exposure to rough, uneven and/or slippery surfaces; working in tunnels and/or other types of conditions that may be found in a construction environment; ability to work in confined space areas; ability to climb, maneuver and/or work on ladders, stairs, platforms and enter/exit maintenance holes.

Interview Selection

The hiring authority reserves the right to determine the maximum number of candidates to interview from the established eligible list. If the hiring authority decides to interview other than by exam score order, they may select additional people to interview based on a candidate’s education or experience related to the field, work history, or skills uniquely related to the operational needs of the position.

As the largest and most vibrant city in the state, Minneapolis depends on purposeful, dedicated and innovative employees. Minneapolis has a large variety of careers for people of all experiences and backgrounds who come together for a singular purpose—serving the residents, businesses and visitors of Minneapolis.

The City of Minneapolis is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

Benefits

This temporary position is not eligible for benefits.

Supplemental Questions

01

How did you find out about this position? (Select all that apply)

• Recruiter
• City of Minneapolis website
• City of Minneapolis employee
• City of Minneapolis Career Opportunities Bulletin
• Friend, family, or community
• League of Minnesota Cities website
• Diversityjobs.com website
• Governmentjobs.com website
• Indeed.com website
• Minnesotajobs.com website
• Minnesota Council of Nonprofits website
• Other Website
• LinkedIn
• Twitter / X
• Facebook
• Other social media site
• Newspaper
• Other media
• College or University
• Community organization
• Job Fair
• Professional association
• Site Visit
• None of the above

02

Did you attend any college or career fairs to learn more about this position? (Select all that apply)

• Science & Engineering Career Fair 2026 (St. Cloud State University)
• CLA & CEHD: Business & Tech Career Fair 2026
• Carlson School Career and Internship Fair - Fall 2026
• 2026 Meet the Engineers - Reverse Career Fair (University of St. Thomas)
• Saint Paul College Automotive Fair
• Built Environment Career Fair – 2026
• 2026 ASCE Career Fair (American Society of Civil Engineers)
• 2026 Fall Career & Internship Expo (Mankato)
• Dunwoody Career Fair
• 2026 Government & Nonprofit Career Fair (University of Minnesota)
• People of Color Career Fair
• MCTC - Volunteer and Internship Fair Spring 2026
• Minnesota Carlson School Career and Internship Fair - Spring 2026
• University of Minnesota Job & Internship Fair 2026
• Winter Career Fair/ formerly Diversity Job and Internship Fair (St. Cloud State University)
• Environmental Career Fair (U of M)
• GIS Career & Networking Fair
• Minnesota Private Colleges' Job and Internship Fair
• College of Science & Engineering Career Fair Fall 2026
• Handshake
• Other

03

Please specify where you heard about this position (e.g., website name, City of Minneapolis employee name, job fair, professional association).

04

Are you at least 18 years of age or older?

• Yes
• No

05

Do you currently possess and maintain a valid driver's license?

• Yes
• No

06

Are you currently enrolled at a Trade school, Career-preparation program or training, College, University, or Graduate program; or completed a degree on or after December 2024?

• Yes
• No

07

What is the name of the school that you are presently enrolled in? For those who graduated within one year of the position announcement, what is the name of the school from where you graduated and the date the degree was conferred?

08

Please indicate which of the following fields you are currently studying or have recently earned a degree in.

• Urban planning
• Landscape architecture
• Transportation studies
• Civil engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Communications/Business Administration
• Computer Science
• Software Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Public Health /Occupational Health and Safety
• A closely related field

09

If you indicated you are currently studying or have recently earned a degree within one year of the position announcement in a related field, please specify.

Required Question

Agency Information

Employer

City of Minneapolis

Address

350 South 5th Street Room 1 Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55415

Phone

Preferred: TalentAcquisition@minneapolismn.gov

Website

http://www.minneapolismn.gov/jobs