Summer Intern - Strayer Center

POSITION TITLE: Summer Intern - Strayer Center (Hourly)

REQUISITION #: req8468

DEPARTMENT: Housing and Community Vitality

LOCATION: 222 LAPORTE

BENEFIT CATEGORY: Variable Hourly Hourly Employee Benefit Highlights.pdf

EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Part-Time Hourly

FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt

HOURLY RATE: $15.16 per hour

SELECTION PROCESS: Application deadline is 3:00 p.m. MT on 5/25/2026 . This internship is a partnership agreement between CSU Strayer Center for Public Service Leadership and the City of Fort Collins. Interested and eligible applicants must submit an application

DURATION OF INTERNSHIP & Hours: 135 hours from June 1, 2026 to July 31, 2026. Approximately 15 hours per week. The City of Fort Collins is a bias-conscious employer. We ask that you please avoid the use of photos when submitting a resume and/or an application for employment. You will receive an email acknowledgment when you have successfully submitted an application. Your completed application will be forwarded to the hiring manager. You will be notified if you are selected for further testing or interviews. Please keep your contact information up-to-date. The status of your application will be updated in your applicant profile.

Post-Offer Requirements

• Background check (Background checks are considered in relation to the responsibilities and requirements of the position)
  
  

While the City of Fort Collins offers many remote and/or hybrid positions, all remote or hybrid work must be performed in the state of Colorado.

At the City, we are focused on finding the strongest candidate for the role, and we recognize that excellence can come from a wide variety of experiences and paths. When reviewing applications, we consider an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and lived experiences that align with the minimum qualifications. If you are interested in this opportunity, we encourage you to view your background broadly and highlight the skills and experiences that best prepare you for the role.

To learn more about The City of Fort Collins and Our Community, please read Our Community and Our Organization Brochure

About The Internship

The City of Fort Collins is seeking a motivated and curious summer intern to support an existing (major) project and lead one additional research project within the subject area of the assigned City department.

What You’ll Do

Integrate with the work

• Participate in related team and collaborative group meetings
• Network and connect with others doing related work
  
  

Research Project

• Utilize variety of research methods to build increased understanding of assigned research topic
• Research methods may include: interviews or discussions within the city organization, community, nationally or internationally in the assigned field of practice, literature review, case study review, policy review, field work, or other research opportunities deemed suitable.
  
  

Major Project

• Participate in stakeholder engagement to understand what staff, community members and/or businesses want and need to be successful
• Collaborate with other City staff ensure voices from various City departments contribute to deliverables
• Work with assigned department to understand engagement systems, stakeholder engagement and budget considerations.
• Tasks may include drafting plans, keeping records/notes, scheduling, inventorying resources, building agendas or templates
  
  

Deliverables

By the end of the summer, the internship will produce:

• A research findings summary outlining public understanding, misconceptions, and communications needs related to the assigned research question
• A major project presentation developed and delivered that outlines:
• What was experienced
• What work was completed
• Key recommendations for continued progress of the major project
• Work that remains outstanding
• What was learned
• Personal reflections
  
  

City Competencies

• Demonstrated cultural competence to effectively interact, work, and develop meaningful relationships with people of diverse identities, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds.
• Strong learning orientation. Leverages all resources and is creative in ways of learning for self to continue adapting to changing issues and trends.
• A desire and ability to understand the diverse needs of internal and external customers, and to create experiences and deliver services that exceed their expectations.
• A desire and ability to utilize digital tools for organizational information, individual, and teamwork.
  
  

Who Should Apply

This internship is a great fit for students interested in:

• Economic Health
• Communications, marketing, education, or public policy
• Community and neighborhood engagement
  
  

Desired Skills And Qualities Include

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Curiosity and comfort asking questions
• Ability to synthesize information from multiple sources
• Interest in environmental or public-sector work
• Strong research and data visualization skills
• Experience with education and outreach is a plus
  
  

Why This Internship Matters

You won’t just observe—you’ll contribute. Your work will help shape progress for your assigned major project. You’ll leave with tangible work products, professional connections, and a deeper understanding of how cities operate and are managed.

The City of Fort Collins will make reasonable accommodations for access to City services, programs and activities and will make special communication arrangements for persons with disabilities. Please call (970) 221-6535 for assistance.

Notice Regarding Medical And/or Recreational Marijuana Use

Because the possession and use of marijuana, whether for medical use or otherwise, constitutes a federal offense and because the City is a drug free workplace, the City will not accommodate the medical use of marijuana and enforces written policy prohibiting working for the City while marijuana is in the body. The fact that state law recognizes medical marijuana as a prescribed, or otherwise permitted, medication does not alter or otherwise change this policy.

The City is committed to equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. Employment decisions will comply with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination in employment. The City does not tolerate behavior that results in the terms and conditions of employment being adversely impacted based on an employee’s protected status, or any behavior that violates this policy.

Consistent with the City’s respect for the rights and dignity of each employee, the City is committed to providing a work environment that is free from unlawful discrimination and harassment. The City prohibits discrimination or harassment based on protected characteristics, including race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation (including perceived sexual orientation), gender, gender identity, gender expression, disability, age 40 years or older, pregnancy or related condition, military, veteran status or uniformed service member status, genetic information, marital status or any other status protected under federal, state or local law.

The City is committed to providing a healthy and safe work environment. In addition to the City’s commitment to equal opportunity employment, the City strictly prohibits discrimination or retaliation against an employee who raises any reasonable concern about workplace violations of government health or safety rules or a significant threat to the health or safety of City employees or the public, if the City controls the workplace conditions giving rise to the threat or violation.

Note: Some information in your application may be public information under the Colorado Open Records Act.