What are the responsibilities and job description for the TOWN MANAGER’S OFFICE GRADUATE SUMMER INTERNSHIP position at Town of Chapel Hill?
This internship provides a strong foundation of knowledge about local government and municipal management, as well as the opportunity to develop skills relevant to the field of public service. The intern is part of the Strategic Operations Team in the Town Manager’s Office.
Candidates should include their resume and a cover letter that describes why they are interested in this position and their interests in local government.
The preferred candidate:
- Has completed some graduate level classes in a field related to local government
(ie Public Administration, Public Policy, Law with a focus in municipal law, or Planning) and be enrolled in that graduate program in the fall of 2026.
- Demonstrates a strong interest in a local government career
- Seeks professional work experience as part of their master’s degree
- The internship could last approximately 10 weeks.
Interns shall perform the following during their summer 40 hours per week:
- Shadowing the Town Manager and Deputy Town Managers during various meetings
- Preparing weekly memos that include a summary of the tasks completed, questions about the organization, and other insights worth sharing
- Interviewing department heads and other key staff to learn about current Town trends and/or issues and presenting a report to Manager’s Office staff and/or department directors.
- Meeting with the Town Manager and Deputy Town Managers on a regular, rotating basis to discuss memos, internship progress, and questions about the Town
- Assisting Manager’s Office or other Town departments’ staff with occasional tasks and projects
- Attending Town Council meetings and reading through agenda packets before each meeting (the Council doesn’t usually meet in July or August)
- Attending management staff meetings, including but not limited to Senior Leadership Team meetings and Council meeting preview and review meetings
- Completing various ride-along and observations to learn about Town operations, to include some or all of the following:
- Riding along with a uniformed police officer and observing operations during a shift of duty (preferably between 6pm and 12am)
- Attending part of a 24-hour shift of work with the Fire Department and riding along when they respond to calls for service
- Joining a route (5am start) run by the Solid Waste collection team
- Touring the Transit facility, observing dispatch, and riding a route
- Observing a hiring process with Human Resource Development staff
Successful interns may continue working into the fall and spring semesters. This could look like up to 10 hours/week and include the following:
- Assisting Manager’s Office or other Town departments’ staff with tasks and projects including policy evaluation, trend analysis, assisting with the execution of the Town’s Peoples Academy, and other outreach.
- Complete research assignments of interest to the Intern and of use to Town staff
A valid NC driver’s license and the availability of private transportation or the ability to provide transportation between job sites is required.
Salary : $24