2026 - Parks Intern

Metropolitan Council; Minnesota; Hybrid; USD 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid telework

Job summary

Metropolitan Council invites motivated students to intern in the Office of Civil Rights and Small Business Programs. You will assist with DBE program compliance monitoring, prepare materials for meetings, and support outreach events while gaining exposure to government policy and equity initiatives.

The internship runs for 6 months with potential extension, and may be full-time or part-time in Minnesota, with a hybrid work arrangement. A transcript is required with the application.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of the Federal DBE program.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to document and present findings clearly.
• Attention to detail in compliance tasks.

Responsibilities

• Conduct DBE program compliance field visits at construction sites and offices of small businesses.
• Support contract monitoring activities.
• Prepare presentations, handouts, and take notes for public advisory meetings.
• Review and process small business applications into the DBE program.

Skills

Federal DBE program knowledge

Interpersonal communications

Technical writing

Detail oriented

Education

Enrolled in accredited institution (degree seeking) or recent graduate

Tools

MS Office

Job description

As an intern for the Office of Civil Rights and Small Business Programs department, you will have the opportunity to work with staff to support Federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program compliance monitoring; prepare materials for committee meetings; support outreach events and take meeting notes. You will gain knowledge and experience with compliance monitoring with the Federal DBE/ACDBE program, OSHA 10 safety training, safety training for railroads, barriers to small business and entrepreneurship, construction workforce compliance, equal opportunity compliance, and government policies impacting equity.

We will not review resumes, cover letters, or any additional documents that are not specifically requested as part of this application.

Internship Information

• Length: 6 months, with chance to extend up to one year.

• Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week) or Part-time (at least 10-20 hours per week) during the school year.
• Start Date: 11/01/2026
• Location: St. Louis Park

NOTE This position is eligible for a hybrid (both remote and onsite) telework arrangement.

What does an internship with the Metropolitan Council entail?

Our internships are designed to provide students meaningful work, be an introduction to public service and a chance to discover the Metropolitan Council.

Who is the Metropolitan Council?

The Metropolitan Council is made up of several operating divisions that service the Twin Cities Metropolitan area in a number of ways.

• Metro Transit provides bus and light rail public transportation for the greater metropolitan area
• Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) manages wastewater treatment plants and the regional wastewater collection system for the seven-county metropolitan region
• Community Development is responsible for helping the Council shape its regional growth plan and Metro HRA provides affordable housing programs in the region
• Metropolitan Transportation Services (MTS) is responsible for the transportation planning functions as the Twin Cities metropolitan planning organization (MPO) for transportation
• Regional Administration provides support services (Finance, Payroll, HR, etc.) for the Council

• Conduct DBE Program compliance field visits on the construction sites and at the offices of small businesses
• Support contract monitoring
• Prepare presentations, compile handouts, and take notes for a public facing advisory committee with stakeholders
• Review and process small business applications into the DBE Program.

• Must be enrolled in an accredited institution, a degree seeking program (Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD.) OR be a recent graduate (within 12 months from posting date) from a degree program.
• Candidate's residence must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin during the internship.
• An UNOFFICIAL transcript is required to be attached to application.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge of Federal DBE Program,
• Experience with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Detail oriented
• Technical writing
• Interpersonal communications

DEGREE PROGRAM/AREA OF STUDY PREFERRED

• Business
• Entrepreneurship
• Economics
• Communications
• Public Policy

What you can expect from us:

• We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
• We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits and a good work/life balance.

More about why you should join us!

Union: American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Safety Sensitive: No

What steps the recruitment process involves:

1. We review your minimum qualifications.
2. We rate your education and experience.
3. We conduct a structured panel interview.

Once you have successfully completed the steps above, then:

If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (safety sensitive positions only), and a background check which verifies education, employment, and criminal history. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the job. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor convictions on a case‑by‑case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

If you are already an employee of the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (if moving from a non-safety sensitive position to a safety sensitive position) and criminal background check if the job you're applying for is safety sensitive, is a supervisory or management job, is in the Finance, Information Services, Audit, or Human Resources departments, or has access to financial records, files/databases, cash, vouchers or transit fare cards. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the position.

IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.

The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Aff and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply. If you have a disability that requires accommodation during the selection process, please email [e-mail].