PUBLIC SERVICE INTERN

Washoe County; Reno (NV); On-site; USD 14,000 - 55,000; Part time

Job summary

Washoe County invites applications for a Public Service Intern in the Community Services Department. The role provides training to develop GIS skills while supporting county infrastructure projects. You will work on road asset digitization, data classification, field observations, and data standardization as part of a collaborative team.

Enrollment in GIS-related programs is required. A driver’s license may be needed, and background checks are standard.

Qualifications

• Enrollment in an accredited college or university pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
• Coursework in GIS, Geography, Civil Engineering, Environmental Science, Urban Planning, Public Administration, Data Science, or related field.
• A valid driver’s license may be required at the time of appointment.
• Background checks will be conducted on selected applicants.

Responsibilities

• Digitize and update road-related asset features in GIS (ArcGIS Pro/Online).
• Create, edit, and maintain geospatial feature classes with attribution, domains, and symbology.
• Perform topology validation and correction for stormwater networks (connectivity, overlaps, gaps, flow direction).
• Reconcile GIS data with existing records, plans, and field observations.
• Apply County data standards and naming conventions to ensure dataset consistency.
• Perform outdoor fieldwork related to asset condition assessments.

Skills

GIS concepts

Data management

Field assessment

Education

Pursuing Bachelor's degree

GIS-related Master's pursuit

Tools

ArcGIS Pro

ArcGIS Online

Job description

Under supervision, receives training and develops knowledge of an assigned area in order to conduct research and complete assignments within a County Department; and performs related work as required.

Intermittent Hourly positions are not Benefited positions.

The estimated weekly commitment could vary between 10 and 40 hours per week

For more information on this position, please see the Job Specification at: https://www.washoecounty.gov/humanresources/Careers/jobspecs.php

The Public Service Intern in the Community Services Department will perform the following tasks in support of the County’s strategic goal to invest in sustainable infrastructure:

• Digitize and update road-related asset features in GIS (e.g., signs, striping, pavement markings, stencils) using desktop tools (ArcGIS Pro/Online).
• Create, edit, and maintain geospatial feature classes with proper attribution, domains, and symbology.
• Perform topology validation and correction for stormwater networks (e.g., connectivity, overlaps, gaps, flow direction).
• Reconcile GIS data with existing records, plans, and field observations.
• Apply County data standards and naming conventions to ensure consistency across datasets.
• Perform outdoor fieldwork related to asset condition assessments.

Enrollment in an accredited college or university in pursuit of a bachelor's degree is required; OR enrollment in a recognized master's degree program. Course work, prior or current, must include a minimum of 3 units pertinent to the operations of the hiring department.

Applicants currently enrolled in coursework from an accredited college or university in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Geography, Civil Engineering, Environmental Science, Urban Planning, Public Administration, Data Science, or a closely related field are encouraged to apply.

LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE

Depending on area of assignment, a valid driver’s license may be required at the time of appointment.

Background checks will be conducted on selected applicants through the State of Nevada and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Per the Washoe County Background and Reference Checks Policy, new and rehired employees are required to submit to a fingerprint based background investigation. Effective October 1, 2026, the $40.00 fee associated with this background investigation will be paid by the employee (if applicable) and deducted automatically from the first paycheck. Employment is contingent upon the results of the background check, although a record of conviction will not necessarily bar an applicant from employment.

This is not a classified position and is not covered by a collective bargaining unit.

“Intermittent hourly employee” means a person who is not employed on a fixed schedule and works on an “on‑call” basis. Please be advised that upon appointment an Intermittent Hourly employee cannot work a regularly scheduled work schedule and must work less than 1040 hours in any fiscal year. Intermittent Hourly employees are “at will” employees and serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority.

Retired PERS (Public Employees’ Retirement System of Nevada) employees are responsible for contacting PERS to make sure that they do not go over the assigned PERS earnings limit for a fiscal year in order to retain retirement benefits. PERS phone number is 775-687-4200 to check for yearly updates.

Washoe County requires its employees to reside in the state of Nevada or neighboring California communities such as Truckee, South Lake Tahoe or Susanville as of their first day of work.

Questions: Rachel Anderline

[e-mail]

Washoe County is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce that creates a sense of belonging for all employees and citizens, thereby encouraging persons from all backgrounds and experiences to apply for employment.

Washoe County will recruit, hire, train and promote into all job levels without regard to race, religion or belief, gender, marital status or domestic partnership, familial status, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, genetic information (GINA), veteran status, political affiliation, membership in an employee association or union or any other protected class under applicable federal or state law.