Economic Development & Tourism Intern

City-of-SAN-Luis-Obispo-; San Luis Obispo (CA); Hybrid; USD 21,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of San Luis Obispo is seeking an Economics Development and Tourism Internship candidate to gain hands‑on experience in marketing, promotion, and community engagement.

You will assist with social media, newsletters, and marketing collateral, while collaborating with advisory bodies, departments, and partners. Remote work flexibility is offered to align with academic schedules and growth opportunities.

Qualifications

• Pursuing or recently obtained degree in marketing, communications, tourism, public policy or related field.
• Curiosity about how local government, destination marketing and community engagement connect.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Canva.
• Ability to research and turn data into insights.
• Strong written and verbal communication; able to meet deadlines and take initiative.

Responsibilities

• Assist with social media content creation for small business testimonials.
• Prepare business newsletters content and manage audience communications.
• Develop marketing content and collateral for Live the SLO Life brand.
• Coordinate communications with hotel members and strategic partners.

Skills

Microsoft Office Suite

Canva

Education

Undergraduate or graduate degree in Marketing/Communications/Tourism

Tools

Canva

Microsoft Office

Job description

ABOUT THE POSITION:

The City of San Luis Obispo is looking for passionate, creative, and hardworking individuals to assist with marketing and promotional programs as part of the Economic Development and Tourism team. This position will gain valuable tourism industry and municipal government experience through hands‑on marketing and business promotion projects and interactions with City advisory bodies, departments, contractors, businesses, and strategic partners. Interns will report to the City’s Economic Development & Tourism Manager, and while responsibilities will depend on experience and interest, they can expect to gain first‑hand experience in:

• Research special projects related to real property development, business and entrepreneur vitality, placemaking and promotion, or talent development and attraction
• Social media content creation for small business testimonials: photo, copy, and video, and editing
• Business newsletter content preparation and audience management
• Graphic design projects (Canva)
• Data analysis and report writing for economic development research projects
• Conducting market research, including mid‑week visitation and length‑of‑stay initiatives
• Developing marketing content and collateral that brings the "Live the SLO Life" brand to life
• Coordinating communications with hotel members and strategic partners
• Supporting trade and media requests and familiarization tours, and assisting with Business Retention and Expansion outreach to the local business community
• Maintaining a website and managing a photo/video library
• Updating VisitSLO.com with seasonal imagery, events and other content as needed
• Supporting community and constituent engagement, including efforts to foster resident sentiment and a welcoming, inclusive environment
• Building your network of professional contacts
• Working in an office environment, applying teamwork and project management skills
• Initiating and carrying out other tasks/special projects as needed

Qualifications/Abilities:

• Currently pursuing or have recently obtained an undergraduate or graduate degree in journalism, political science, marketing, communications, tourism, business, public policy, city planning, or a related field
• A genuine curiosity about how local government, destination marketing, economic development, and community engagement all connect — and a desire to see it firsthand
• Comfort with Microsoft Office Suite and Canva, with an eye for clean, polished content
• A knack for research and turning data into insight
• Confident, clear communication — you can write for an audience and speak up in a room
• A self‑starter mentality: you take initiative, juggle multiple projects, and hit deadlines without needing to be asked twice
• Sharp organizational skills and an eye for the details that make good work great
• Maturity and professionalism to thrive in a fast‑paced, real‑world office environment
• A positive, can‑do attitude that makes you someone people want on their team
• The confidence to own a project independently — and the collaborative spirit to help the team hit shared goals

The City of San Luis Obispo is committed to fostering an inclusive, collaborative workplace where diverse perspectives are valued and every team member is supported in doing their best work. This internship offers remote work flexibility to accommodate academic schedules, along with genuine opportunities for professional growth, skill‑building, and network development throughout the program.

The Economic Development & Tourism Internship program runs year‑round. Please indicate availability and preferred duration of internship in application. We are looking for availability to work 15- 40 hours per week.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Intern classification series is used Citywide to introduce the City to students as a potential employer and to provide practical work experience to local students. Duties are defined by the internship level and the departments to which the Intern is assigned. Interns may advance in both level and pay based on education and operational needs.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS:

Intern I

Interns at the I level are enrolled in regular high school classes, enrolled in an alternative vocational high school, or working toward high school equivalency. They are closely supervised and typically work as assistants. They are responsible for learning City or department policies, procedures, and methods of operation and may collect and tabulate data; learn how to interpret that data; and assist with a variety of basic tasks in a learning capacity.

Intern II

Interns at the II level are freshman or sophomore year college students, community college students, or vocational school students who have completed high school. They are able to evaluate information gained in accordance with established policies and procedures and assist professional staff in ongoing project work.

Intern III

Interns at the III level are junior or senior year college students, or degree-holders working on their secondary degree. They are only eligible to work in a position related to their field of study. They participate in project work in an increasingly responsible role and may participate in the analysis of problems and in the preparation of reports under the supervision of professionals.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Common computer systems and applications.

Ability to:

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, at all levels, including colleagues, the public, and other agencies.
• Understand, interpret, and apply instructions, rules, and regulations.
• Carry out oral and written instructions.
• Communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing.

Desired Knowledge and Abilities:

• Currently pursuing undergraduate or graduate degree in political science, marketing, communications, tourism, business, public policy, city planning, or related field
• Interest in local government, economic development, business, or community engagement
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and Canva
• Experience conducting research and applying analysis
• Effective oral and written communication
• Ability to show initiative, multi-task, prioritize and meet deadlines
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Demonstrated maturity to work successfully in a fast‑paced setting
• Professional, positive and confident attitude
• Ability to work independently and take ownership of projects
• Ability to work as a team to achieve departmental goals

QUALIFICATIONS:

In order to qualify for the Intern classifications, a student or recent graduate must:

• Have the legal right to work in the United States.
• Be enrolled in an accredited institution or a school licensed by a state agency, or have graduated from such an institution or school within the last six months.
• Have an overall grade point average of at least 2.5 on a four‑point scale.
• Submit a completed application for employment, unofficial transcript, and proof of enrollment or course schedule for the current school session.

POSSESSION AND MAINTENANCE OF:

• High school students under 18 years of age must obtain a work permit prior to employment.
• If driving is required, an Intern must possess a valid California driver’s license prior to appointment.

THIS POSITION WILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING BEFORE A FINAL OFFER IS MADE:

• Depending upon assignment, may be required to pass a background check.
• Depending upon assignment, may be required to pass a physical exam.