Local Food Initiative Graduate Intern

King County; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 25,000 - 33,000; Part time

Job summary

King County's Local Food Initiative Graduate Intern role offers a part-time, hybrid opportunity in Seattle to help implement the 2025 Local Food Initiative Strategy. You will develop the monthly newsletter, engage diverse partners, and support council planning and cross‑sector collaboration.

Ideal candidates are pursuing graduate studies in a field related to public policy, communications, or food systems and are eager to gain hands-on experience in policy, partnership development, and project

Qualifications

• Enrolled in a graduate-level program; applicants with completed graduate degrees are ineligible.
• Strong written communication skills and ability to craft clear, concise messages for diverse audiences.
• Experience or interest in local food systems, food access, and equity.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and publish the Local Food Initiative monthly newsletter.
• Assist with planning and coordination of the KC Food System Advisory Council meetings.
• Develop communications for Local Food Initiative programs and projects.
• Conduct research and policy analysis on food systems, agriculture, and related topics.
• Support collaboration with farmers, nonprofits, public agencies, and partners on project management and outreach.

Skills

Communication

Writing

Policy analysis

Project management

Collaboration

Public speaking

Public policy

Tools

Word

Excel

PowerPoint

SharePoint

Outlook

Google Sites

WordPress

Job description

We are seeking candidates who are currently enrolled in a graduate-level academic program. Applicants who have already completed their graduate degree are not eligible. Proof of enrollment in a graduate program/college transcript will be requested at final offer stage.

Are you passionate about building a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable food system? King County's Local Food Initiative Graduate Intern position offers a unique opportunity to help implement the County's newly updated 2025 Local Food Initiative Strategy while working alongside leaders from across Washington's food system. In this role, you'll engage with farmers, food businesses, nonprofit organizations, public agencies, funders, and community partners to advance innovative projects that strengthen the local food economy and improve food access. A major responsibility of the position is developing the Initiative's monthly newsletter, giving you the opportunity to develop strong communication skills while helping tell the story of this important work. Ideal candidates are deeply interested in food systems, agriculture, and/or food access and are excited to gain hands‑on experience in public policy, partnership development, communications, and collaborative project management that will have a lasting impact on communities throughout King County.

About the Role:

The Local Food Initiative Graduate Intern plays an integral role in supporting the implementation of King County's 2025 Local Food Initiative Strategy by advancing communications, stakeholder engagement, and collaborative projects that strengthen the local food system. The intern will support the development and publication of the Initiative's monthly newsletter, helping communicate the impact of King County's work to partners and the public. The position also supports planning and coordination of the King County Food System Advisory Council and contributes to a variety of high‑impact initiatives, including the Farmland Leasing Program, development of the Farm King County web resource, and Farm to Community programming. Working closely with staff and partners from across the food system, the intern will gain valuable experience in public policy, communications, project management, and cross‑sector collaboration while helping advance a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable food system for King County.

About the Team:

The Local Food Initiative is housed within the Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) Director's Office and is led by the Local Food Economy Manager. Our team works collaboratively across DNRP—including the Water and Land Resources Division and Solid Waste Division—and with partners such as Public Health - Seattle & King County, the King Conservation District, community‑based organizations, farmers, food businesses, and other public agencies. Together, we are implementing King County's 2025 Local Food Initiative Strategy, a long‑term roadmap for building a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable local food system. Our work advances DNRP's mission by protecting and restoring farmland and natural resources, supporting climate‑smart agriculture, reducing food waste, strengthening local food businesses, and expanding equitable access to healthy, locally grown food. As part of our small, collaborative team, you'll have the opportunity to work on projects that create meaningful environmental, economic, and community impact while gaining exposure to partners and initiatives across the region's food system.

Commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice:

King County, named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a diverse and vibrant community that represents cultures from around the world. We prioritize equity, racial and social justice, making it a foundational and daily expectation for all employees. As a Local Food Initiative Graduate Intern, you will actively apply these principles in all aspects of your work. Learn more about our commitment at http://www.kingcounty.gov/equity.

What You Will Be Doing:

• Coordinate the publication of the Local Food Initiative monthly newsletter. Identify story ideas, interview partners and staff, draft articles and blog posts, coordinate with the Public Affairs team, and manage the publication and distribution of the newsletter.
• Support the King County Food System Advisory Council (KC FSAC). Assist with planning and coordinating quarterly meetings, preparing agendas and meeting materials, communicating with council members, documenting meeting outcomes, and maintaining council records.
• Develop communications for key Local Food Initiative programs and projects. Research, write, and create content that highlights King County initiatives such as the Farmland Leasing Program, Farm King County, Farm to Community programming, and other Local Food Initiative projects for partners, stakeholders, and the public.
• Conduct research and policy analysis. Research emerging issues, best practices, funding opportunities, and policy trends related to food systems, agriculture, farmland preservation, food access, and economic development to inform Local Food Initiative implementation.
• Support collaborative projects and stakeholder engagement. Assist with planning and implementing Local Food Initiative projects by coordinating with farmers, nonprofit organizations, public agencies, food businesses, and other partners, while providing project management and administrative support for meetings, events, and outreach activities.

Qualifications You Bring:

• Demonstrated interest and relevant experience in farming, local food systems, food access, sustainability, and advancing racial equity and social justice.
• Ability to communicate clearly in both written and verbal formats, build and maintain constructive working relationships, and adapt communication style to meet the needs of varied audiences.
• Demonstrated strong written communication skills, with the ability to craft clear, concise, creative, and persuasive messages for diverse audiences.
• Ability to think critically and strategically when developing communications, including analyzing audience needs, setting goals, selecting effective tactics, and evaluating results.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze issues objectively, identify root causes, and propose practical, well‑reasoned solutions.
• Basic understanding of local government and public policy.
• Working knowledge of software products including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Outlook, Google Sites, and WordPress.

Competencies You Bring:

• Manages Complexity: Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
• Strategic Mindset: Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.
• Action Oriented: Taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
• Plans and Aligns: Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals.
• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Communicates Effectively: Developing and delivering multi‑mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Self‑Development: Actively seeking new ways to grow and be challenged using both formal and informal development channels.

Working Conditions:

• Work Location: The DNRP Director's Office team works in a hybrid model, with days in the office as well as telecommuting. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. The primary onsite location is King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson, Seattle, Washington 98104. Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County‑issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.
• Work Schedule: This part‑time position works up to 20 hours per week (up to 40 hours during summer). This position is covered under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is overtime eligible.
• Union Representation: This position is not represented.

King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us.

King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action‑oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.

Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.