City Council Work Study Intern - CM Rinck

City of Seattle; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Seattle’s Office of Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck is recruiting a City Council Work Study Intern, based at Seattle City Hall. As a work-study intern, you will support the work of Councilmember Rinck and her staff, including researching issues, drafting communications, and assisting constituents.

The internship is in-person at Seattle City Hall, with a flexible schedule up to 19 hours/week. Start date is anticipated October 2026; pay ranges are provided for undergraduate and

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student in Washington State with a major concentration in Political Science, History, Law, Public Affairs, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a comparable field.
• Eligible for Washington State Work Study. Students must provide verification of eligibility to work in an off-campus work study job to be considered for employment.
• Undergraduate students must maintain a GPA of 2.0; Graduate students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 throughout the internship.

Responsibilities

• Assist Legislative Assistants (LAs) by researching and tracking important issues and public policy.
• Draft issue statements, speaking points, and other communications.
• Track committee meetings, stakeholder interests, and issues pertaining to constituents.
• Compile information and data using Microsoft Office or other related programs.
• Organize and track email and other correspondence for review/response from LAs.
• Compose routine or recurring correspondence as instructed and reviewed by LAs.
• Answer and direct phone calls to relevant parties. Assist constituents visiting the office.
• Prepare Council Committee notebooks. Process incoming mail.
• Create social media content as instructed and reviewed by LAs.
• Other related duties or special projects as assigned by Councilmember or LAs.

Skills

Communication skills

Customer service

Research skills

Tools

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Excel

Photocopier

Scanner

Job description

Position Description

Are you an undergraduate or graduate student interested in public service? Do you want to make a positive impact in your community while building new skills and applying what you’ve learned? If so, this opportunity is for you!

The City of Seattle’s Office of Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck (Position 8) is recruiting for a City Council Work Study Intern. As a work-study intern, you will support the work of Councilmember Rinck and her staff, which may include assisting with projects, engaging with community members, and collaborating with City of Seattle employees across departments.

The Legislative Department values diversity and inclusion and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and life experiences who are eager to contribute in a fast-paced, service-oriented environment.

EDUCATIONAL BENEFIT TO STUDENT

• Gain valuable exposure to the inner workings of local city governance and the legislative process by interacting with and aiding Councilmembers and their Legislative Assistants (LAs).
• Develop greater awareness of local issues by meeting and engaging with community stakeholders and constituents.
• Participate in the policy-making process through conversations with LAs and Councilmembers.
• Gain valuable writing experience by responding to community inquiries about proposed legislation and other pertinent issues.
• Attend legislative meetings and participate in organizational tours; and,
• Develop critical problem-solving and communication skills.

Job Responsibilities

• Assist Legislative Assistants (LAs) by researching and tracking important issues and public policy.
• Draft issue statements, speaking points, and other communications.
• Track committee meetings, stakeholder interests, and issues pertaining to constituents.
• Compile information and data using Microsoft Office or other related programs.
• Organize and track email and other correspondence for review/response from LAs.
• Compose routine or recurring correspondence as instructed and reviewed by LAs.
• Answer and direct phone calls to relevant parties. Assist constituents visiting the office.
• Prepare Council Committee notebooks. Process incoming mail.
• Create social media content as instructed and reviewed by LAs.
• Other related duties or special projects as assigned by Councilmember or LAs.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student in Washington State with a major concentration in one of the following areas: Political Science, History, Law, Public Affairs, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a comparable field of study.
• Currently eligible for Washington State Work Study. Students must provide verification of eligibility to work in an off-campus work study job to be considered for employment.
• Undergraduate students must maintain a GPA of 2.0 throughout the duration of the internship. Graduate students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 throughout the duration of the internship.

YOU WILL BE MOST SUCCESSFUL IN THIS POSITION IF YOU

• Are passionate about City government and are eager to dive into new challenges and opportunities with an abundance of positivity and urgency.
• Have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Enjoy helping others and providing excellent customer service.
• Can proficiently use Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, Excel), photocopiers, scanners, and other office equipment.
• Have a commitment to identifying issues important to the local community through an equity, social justice, diversity, and inclusion lens.
• Are skilled in conducting internet research.
• Must have a commitment to being a punctual/ reliable team member.

Additional Information

Work Environment

The internship is based in-person at Seattle City Hall, 600 Fourth Ave., 2nd Floor, Seattle, WA.

Why Work at the City

The City of Seattle recognizes every City employee must play a role in ending institutional and structural racism. Our culture is the result of our behavior, our personal commitments, and the ways that we courageously share our perspectives and encourage others to do the same. To cultivate an antiracist culture, we seek employees who will engage in the Race and Social Justice Initiative by working to dismantle racist policies and procedures, unlearn the way things have always been done, and provide equitable processes and services.

Start/End Dates

The internship is anticipated to start in October 2026. The end date of the internship is conditional on department budget and student’s work-study award eligibility and amount.

Schedule

Interns will work a flexible schedule that can be up to 19 hours/week. Schedule will be dependent on the intern's school schedule, work study award, and department budget.

Pay Range

Undergraduate students will be paid $22.56 - $22.56 per hour. Graduate students will be paid $27.67 - $27.67 per hour.

If you have any questions about this internship, please contact the Legislative Department HR Team at [e-mail].