Mayor's Summer Youth Jobs Program - Communications Intern

Summary:

The Communications Intern is a position within the Mayor's Summer Youth Jobs Program which provides local youth, ages 16-20, valuable work experience within our City Departments and encourages civic engagement. This Intern will work closely with the Communications Director, and the Constituent Services Team within the Mayor's Office to support communications and public relations strategies, community engagement initiatives, and other related duties as assigned.

This job description contains a general summary and overview of the duties and responsibilities of the position, and may not be all-inclusive of the actual duties on any given day. In addition to the duties described herein, successful candidates may also perform other and/or additional duties as may be assigned, necessary, and or required.

The City of Charleston reserves the right to change, add to, and/or modify this job description at any time for any reason, with or without notice. This job description shall not be construed or implied to be a contract for permanent employment or a promise or guarantee of continued employment for a specific term or duration.

Work Hours:

The Communications Intern position is a part-time position and may work up to 35 hours per week.

The general work hours/schedule for this position may be 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. In addition, this position may also work other hours, including nights, weekends and/or holidays as may be necessary, required, or requested.

Work Location:

The person hired for this position will report to City Hall at 501 Virginia Street and will be exposed to both field and desk work.

Duties:

The Communications Intern will be responsible for providing support to the Communications Director and Constituent Services Team within the Mayor's Office. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Drafting media advisories, press releases, and road closure notices

• Creating daily content (specifically reels and stories) to be shared on city social media accounts

• Researching various topics and presenting findings via memo

• Providing support before and during press events

• Providing support during city events where community engagement is a top priority

• Assisting the Constituent Services team with administrative work including answering phones, filing, and greeting/assisting the general public - in addition to updating the existing knowledge base articles (FAQ's) in the city's Customer Relationship Management system

• Other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral) with diverse groups of individuals.

• Ability to multi-task and work on multiple projects and/or tasks simultaneously.

• Ability to use a computer and smartphone.

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office products (with emphasis on Word and Forms), Google Workspace (with emphasis on Docs and Forms), Canva, social media platforms (with emphasis on Facebook/Instagram stories and reels), and basic photo and video editing

• Ability to understand and learn new software systems/programs

Certifications / Licenses:

None

Core Competencies: To provide efficient and effective services, the City seeks team members who possess the following core competencies that are aligned with the City's vision:

• Accountability - takes responsibility for own actions;

• Adaptability - responds positively to change;

• Communications - listens, speaks and/or writes in a clear, concise and respectful manner;

• Initiative - takes proactive action to complete work or resolve issues;

• Judgment & Decision Making - evaluates issues and makes sound factual decisions;

• Customer Service - provides courteous, accessible and quality assistance to internal and external customers;

• Professional Development - seeks opportunities to enhance technical skills and job knowledge;

• Teamwork and Cooperation - collaborates with other team members to fulfill the City's vision and achieve departmental goals and strategic objectives;

Additional Qualifications:

• Must have the ability to provide documentation verifying legal work status.

• Ability to read and speak the English language proficiently in order to communicate and interact with others; to understand and interpret safety instructions; and to respond to internal and external inquiries.

• Ability to understand and comply with City and departmental guidelines, policies, procedures and expectations.

Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance:

The City of Charleston, WV is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The ADA requires the City to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss ADA accommodations with management.

EEO:

The City of Charleston provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all current employees and new applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, color, age, national origin, ancestry, religion, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship, pregnancy or maternity, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable national, federal, state or local law.

NOTE: Employment at the City of Charleston is considered to be at will and may be terminated by you or the City at any time.