Communications Specialist Intern

City of Duvall; Duvall (WA); Hybrid; USD 39,000 - 44,000; Part time

Job summary

City of Duvall seeks a Communications Specialist Intern to support outreach efforts by creating clear, timely content for digital platforms. This part‑time, temporary role focuses on social media management, basic graphic design, website updates, and public‑facing materials.

The intern will work with staff to ensure accurate, accessible information aligned with City goals. The role offers hands‑on experience in public service and digital communications within a local government setting, with

Qualifications

• Eighteen (18) years of age and have completed at least two years of college‑level coursework by the start of the internship.
• Preferred majors include Advertising, Business, Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Public Relations, or Graphic Design.
• Proficient in Canva or other graphic creation platforms for creating graphics, training materials, and photo/video content.

Responsibilities

• Create and post content for City social media platforms.
• Assist with scheduling and monitoring of social media posts using approved tools.
• Draft captions, announcements, and community updates.
• Help manage updates to the City website to keep content current and accessible.
• Monitor public comments and messages and route questions appropriately.
• Collaborate with City staff on communication and outreach projects.
• Develop and refine a public communication strategy aligned with the City’s goals and objectives.
• Produce written and visual content for news releases, articles, newsletters, and social media posts.
• Support City departments including the Police Department with social media content as needed.

Skills

Social media management

Graphic design

Video editing

Customer service

Education

Two years of college coursework

Advertising

Business

Communications

Marketing

Journalism

Public Relations

Graphic Design

Tools

Canva

Job description

Description

The Communications Specialist Intern will support the City’s outreach efforts by helping create clear, engaging, and timely content for digital platforms. This temporary, part‑time role focuses on assisting with social media management, basic graphic design, website updates, and public-facing communication materials. The intern will work closely with staff to ensure information shared with the community is accurate, accessible, and aligned with the City’s communication goals. This position is ideal for someone interested in public service, digital communication, and hands‑on experience in a local government environment.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Helps create and post content for City social media platforms.
• Supports scheduling and monitoring of social media posts using approved tools.
• Helps track basic social media analytics and engagement metrics.
• Assists with drafting captions, announcements, and community updates.
• Supports community outreach initiatives and City events as needed.
• Monitors public comments and messages and routes questions appropriately.
• Collaborates with City staff on communication and outreach projects.
• Assists in developing, executing, and refining a public communication strategy that is aligned with the City of Duvall’s goals, mission, and strategic objectives.
• Creates compelling written and visual content for various communication channels including news releases, articles, blog posts, newsletters, and social media posts.
• Helps manage and grow the City of Duvall’s social media presence across platforms for various City departments, including the Police Department. May assist in creating engaging content, shooting and editing videos, scheduling posts, and responding appropriately to comments and messages.
• Works with staff to draft updates and maintain the City’s website, ensuring content is current, accurate, accessible, and user‑friendly.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Best practices in social media communication.
• General graphic design principles and tools.
• General video editing principles and tools.
• Excellent customer service skills.

Ability to

• Organize and support community events and outreach programs.
• Write public‑facing updates, bulletins, and announcements using proper grammar and in the incumbent’s own words. AI shall be limited in its use as a resource only and shall not be used to write public‑facing documents in its entirety.
• Complete tasks promptly, using available software tools to follow up on any outstanding items as needed.
• Learn governmental website content management systems (e.g., CivicPlus, Granicus.
• Communicate with a professional, engaging, positive, uplifting voice.
• Work collaboratively in a team setting.
• Communicate with the public professionally.

Desired Minimum Qualifications

• Eighteen (18) years of age and have completed at least two years of college‑level coursework by the start of the internship.
• Preferred majors/coursework include, but are not limited to, Advertising, Business, Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Public Relations, or Graphic Design.
• Proficient in Canva or other graphic creation platforms for creating graphics, training materials, and photo/video content.

Supplemental Information

JOB TYPE: Term‑Limited Temporary Internship – 15 hours/week through December 31, 2026

PAY: $28.62/hour

WORK LOCATION: Remote/On‑sight on occasion to meet with City of Duvall staff

HOURS OF WORK: Flexible based on intern’s scheduling needs

This position is not eligible for benefits.

01

Are you legally authorized to work in the United States without needing current or future employment sponsorship? Disclaimer: The City of Duvall cannot currently sponsor employment visas. Candidates must be authorized to work in the U.S. without current or future visa sponsorship.

• Yes
• No

02

Can you provide an example of a social media post, video, or other online content that you are most proud of or had the biggest impact?

03

How would you handle posting about a topic that might cause concern or controversy in the community?

04

What would you do make sure that information is factually correct before posting it on the city’s social media pages?

• Required Question