Per Diem Research Student Intern (20771075)

City of San Mateo; San Mateo (CA); Hybrid; USD 34,000 - 41,000; Part time

Job summary

City of San Mateo is seeking a Part-Time, year-round Per Diem Research Student Intern to assist Parks and Recreation with research, data collection, and document preparation. The internship emphasizes independent work, customer service, and professional communication.

The role includes photographing parks, maintaining project records, and analyzing data while supporting special projects. It is intended for students pursuing Landscape Architecture, Parks & Recreation, or Urban Planning degrees

Qualifications

• Recent college graduate or current undergraduate/ master's student in Landscape Architecture, Parks & Recreation, Urban Planning, or related field.
• California Driver’s License (Class C) desirable; travel to various city locations may be required.

Responsibilities

• Visit, photograph, and assess City parks and community center facilities.
• Maintain accurate records and files of assigned projects.
• Review and analyze data regarding City parks and community center facilities.
• Draft, edit, and proofread professional documents.
• Input data, organize files, and update databases.

Skills

Customer service

Organization

Multi-tasking

Communication

Research methods

Data analysis

Word processing

Database

Spreadsheets

Education

Landscape Architecture / Parks & Recreation / Urban Planning degree

Undergraduate or graduate student status

Tools

Word processing

Database

Spreadsheet software

Job description

San Mateo is a city of more than 100,000 residents located in San Mateo County, California, on theSan Francisco Peninsula. One of the City’s strengths is its diversity, both in the ethnic makeup and the physical development of the community. San Mateo has a vibrant business and retail environment with national and international businesses, two major shopping centers and an active downtown. You would be joining over 500 people whose mission it is to serve the San Mateo community with a collaborative, innovative and professional spirit. We are looking for someone who embodies our shared values of respect, creativity, inclusivity, transparency, and integrity in their words and actions.

We invite applications for the position of:

PER DIEM RESEARCH STUDENT INTERN

HOURLY SALARY

STUDENT INTERN - $25.08 - $30.02

The City of San Mateo Parks and Recreation Department is seeking a Per Diem Research Student Intern

Why Join our Department?

The Parks and Recreation Department’s mission is to enhance the quality of life and strengthen the bonds of community by providing an appropriate mix of safe, well-maintained and well-designed parks, open spaces, and community center facilities that are accessible for all residents; provide enriching leisure opportunities for all age groups; and to preserve and protect the City’s natural resources, including its urban forest, public open spaces, and landscaped medians and islands.

The Position

TheCityis looking for a part-time, year-round internwho willassistthe Parks and Recreation Department withresearch and data for the City’s parks and community center facilities as well as assist with other specialprojects.The ideal candidate should be friendly, professional, detail-oriented, and self-motivated, with the ability to work independently. They should be skilled in customer service, organization, multi-tasking, and communication.

• The primary duties include, but are not limited to the following:
• Visit,photograph, and assessCity parks and community center facilities
• Maintainaccuraterecords and files of assigned projects
• Review and analyze data regardingCity parks and community center facilities
• Draft, edit, and proofread professional documents
• Input data, organize files, and update databases

Duration

• Monday – Friday with occasional weekends

Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge of:

Modern officemethods, procedures, practices, and computer equipment

Techniques and principles of effective interpersonal communication

• Research methods and techniques
• Computer software, including word processing, database, and spreadsheet applications
• English usage, spelling, punctuation, and grammar
• Principles and methods of business letter and report writing

Ability to:

• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing
• Independently perform a variety of duties, including research, compilation, and report writing
• Learn departmentpolicies, procedures, organization, and operating details
• Establish andmaintaineffective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work
• Collect, compile, analyze, and present data in a meaningful way
• Photographparks and community center facilities for use in research

Minimum Qualifications

• You are either a recent college graduate or in the process of earning an undergraduate or master’s degree in Landscape Architecture, Parks & Recreation, Urban Planning, or a related field.
• A valid California Driver’s License (Class C) is highly desirable. This position requires travel to different locations throughout the City.

Date Posted

August 24, 2026

Recruitment will close by September, 25 2026 at 5:00 p.m. or upon receipt of the first 50 applications, résumés, and supplemental questionnaires, whichever occurs first.

Note: The City of San Mateo reserves the right, at its discretion, to limit the number of qualified candidates invited to the selection process.

Fine Print

Prior to hire, candidates will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment process, including a driving record review, reference check, and Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) background checks. A conviction history will not necessarily disqualify an applicant from appointment.

The City of San Mateo is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. It is the intent and desire of the City of San Mateo that equal employment opportunity will be provided in recruiting, hiring, training, promoting, wages, benefits, and all other privileges, terms and conditions of employment.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, applicants requiring accommodations for any part of the testing or recruitment process must notify [e-mail] or [phone] seven (7) days in advance of the deadline for the part of the process requiring accommodations. Do not upload any documents related to your request for accommodation in CalOpps. The City of San Mateo complies with employment provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act.