Communications Intern

Are you a creative, curious student seeking to gain hands-on communications experience and build a meaningful portfolio?

The Department of Local Services is seeking two energetic, community minded undergraduate interns to support our communications, outreach and engagement efforts. This role is perfect for someone who enjoys talking with people, is curious about how government services work, and wants to help make those services more accessible and welcoming to the people who live in unincorporated King County.

In this role, you will: 

• Help plan and attend community events, fairs, and gatherings (including on weekends) to share information about government programs and resources.
• Help create engaging and accessible content for social media and internal communications, including video, graphics or writing.
• Engage with residents in a friendly, approachable way, helping them understand services available to them.
• Help plan and prepare outreach materials, both digital and in-person.
• Listen to community feedback and help our team understand what people need or are asking for.
• Assist with tasks related to event coordination and communication.

What we’re looking for: 

• Currently enrolled undergraduate student in a communications, public affairs, or public policy discipline.
• Interest in writing and developing stories and content for a variety of platforms.
• Comfortable talking with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Positive attitude, reliability, and willingness to work weekend events.
• Interest in community engagement, government services, and/or public service.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a small, supportive team.

What you’ll gain: 

• Hands-on experience in public sector outreach and community engagement.
• Skills in communication, event support, public-facing engagement, and cross-cultural interaction.
• A chance to help make government services feel more accessible, friendly, and useful to community members.

You’ll be part of a communications team that serves a diverse population that’s comparable in size to the second largest city in Washington state. The area we serve include rural farmland, mountains, urban communities, and even an island in Puget Sound.

By the end of the internship, you’ll have contributed to a diverse communications portfolio that includes storytelling, community engagement, social media, web content, and graphic design projects to support your career development.

About the Team: The Communications Intern is part of the Communications team, and will work closely with the External Relations team.

Commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice: The Department of Local Services is deeply dedicated to fostering Equity, Racial and Social Justice in every aspect of our work. Our pledge is to cultivate, embrace, and celebrate the distinct experiences, viewpoints, and perspectives of our people and partners and the communities we serve. Through this work, we dismantle systemic barriers, address inequities, and actively confront prejudices and biases. We acknowledge that this journey is ongoing, and we remain steadfast in our efforts to create a positive impact for our employees and communities alike. 

Applying equity, racial, 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 your work.

• Event Planning and Support: Help plan and staff community events and gatherings
• Graphic Design: Create flyers, construction signs, and social media graphics using brand guidance from the lead graphic designer
• Web Content Support: Assist with editing and updating King County Department of Local Services pages
• Storytelling: Develop content for social media, blogs, and our e-newsletter
• Multimedia: Learn and apply best practices in videography and photography

Values

• Serve with integrity
• Show initiative and work hard. 
• Prioritize outcomes over optics. 
• Center those most impacted and put “boots on the ground.” 
• Sove problems with a “yes, and” mindset 
• Work as one adaptable, mission-driven team

• Current student status: Must be currently enrolled in an accredited certificate, 2-year or 4-year undergraduate educational program during their internship. Areas of study should be communications, public relations, external affairs, marketing, or journalism. 
• Initiative & Follow-Through: Demonstrated ability to work independently, take initiative, ask questions, and follow up to complete tasks.
• Equity & Inclusion Awareness: Ability to apply equity and social justice principles in daily work practices, interactions, and decision-making.
• Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills, including research and information-gathering abilities.
• Digital Communications Foundations: Basic understanding of digital communications tools and content creation for web and social media platforms.
• Graphic Design Exposure: Experience using graphic design tools such as Canva, with a foundational understanding of design principles.
• Availability: Ability to work year-round, including part-time hours during the academic year and up to 40 hours per week during summer.
• Must have Valid Driver’s License. Ability to attend events throughout King County; there is ability to use a King County car if requirements can be met.

Competencies You Bring:  

• Communicates Effectively: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Action Oriented: Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Customer Focus: Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.
• Manages Complexity: Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
• Manages Conflict: Handling conflict situations effectively, with a minimum of noise.

Physical Requirements

• Works both in an office environment and in the community, including outdoors.
• Ability to lift up to 30 pounds.
• Ability to work in public spaces and around crowds during larger events.
• Ability to travel throughout King County. There is a potential of using a King County car.

It Would Be Great if You Also Bring:

• Experience with photography and/or videography, including shooting or editing content.
• Experience creating digital content for websites, social media, blogs, or newsletters.

Interview Process: Applicants who pass the initial screening will be invited for first interviews the week of June 8, 2026

Who May Apply: This opportunity is open to people who are currently enrolled in an accredited certificate, 2-year or 4-year undergraduate educational program during their internship. Preferred areas of study include communications, public relations, external affairs, marketing, journalism, graphic design, digital media, or video production. Applicants must be enrolled and continuing into Fall 2026. Proof of enrollment required at time of hire.

Forms and Materials:  A completed King County Application is required. A resume detailing your interest in the position and your background, and describing how you meet or exceed the required qualifications, knowledge, skills, and experience listed in this job announcement, is also required.

• Please submit one writing sample (such as an article, paper, blog post, etc.). 

OR
1 digital sample (such as a photo, video, social media post, graphic, or a PDF version of a presentation) of your work.  

• Notes: Limit to 1 sample. No professional portfolios will be accepted.

Note: Please be aware that other documents won't be considered or reviewed during minimum qualification screening.

Selection Process: Application materials will be screened for clarity, completeness and alignment with the experience, qualifications, knowledge, and skills essential for this role to determine which candidates may be invited to participate in one or more panel interviews.   

For interviewing tips, please see the STAR-LA method: star-la_interview_method.pdf

Union Representation: This position is not represented by a union.

Teleworking Requirement: We will work in the office at least three days a week to foster connection and responsiveness, arrive prepared and on time, and structure meetings with clear goals and next steps.

Work Location: The Communications team works in a hybrid model, with days in the office as well as telecommuting. The primary onsite location is King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson, Seattle, Washington 98104. Other work locations will be throughout King County, especially during the summer

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment.

Intern duration and hours: The communications intern will be up to one year in duration. Working hours are up to 40 hours per week during the summer and 12 to 20 hours during the academic year. Summer hours will include weekend and evening work.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay, or other forms of compensation.

To Apply: If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, or have questions, please contact your recruiter listed on this job announcement.

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Janice Antonio, HR Analyst, by email at jantonio@kingcounty.gov, or by phone at (206) 263-2003. 

Salary : $22 - $28