Technology Learn & Earn Work Experience (Internship)

Ramsey County; Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 25,000 - 32,000; Part time

Job summary

Ramsey County in Minnesota seeks participants for a 12-week Technology Earn & Learn program. Earn an hourly rate while you train in foundational tech skills and complete a paid internship with Ramsey County IS or City OTC.

Participants gain credentials, attend professional development Fridays, and develop a capstone project for their portfolio, culminating in a graduation event.

Qualifications

• Saint Paul resident, aged 18–24, with a high school diploma or GED.
• Must have at least one barrier to employment.
• Interest in building technology and workplace skills.

Skills

Interest in technology

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Position Summary

2026 Technology Earn & Learn Work Experience

HOURLY RATE: $19.832282

The Opportunity

Build your tech skills, gain real‑world work experience, and get paid while you learn! Saint Paul Tech Earn & Learn is a 12‑week paid program for young adults ages 18–24 interested in exploring careers in technology. The program combines technology training, industry‑recognised credentials, hands‑on internship experience, and professional development.

During the first 6 weeks, participants will complete foundational technology training in partnership with Saint Paul College, in areas such as Microsoft Office, Microsoft Copilot, AI literacy, digital collaboration tools, and other in‑demand technology skills. The following 6 weeks will be a paid internship where participants will put their new skills into practice through meaningful workplace projects.

Participants will also take part in Professional Development Fridays, with opportunities to build resumes, practice networking, learn about financial literacy, connect with industry professionals, and prepare for their next career step.

Participants can earn up to almost $4,800 over the 12‑week experience and will complete a capstone project that can be added to their professional portfolio and showcased at a graduation event.

Important Information

• Participants must be Saint Paul residents, ages 18–24, with a high school diploma or GED
• Must have at least one barrier to employment (see eligibility criteria below)

Program Schedule

Participants are expected to commit to the full duration of the 12‑week program.

Kick‑Off / Launch Days (First 2 Days)

• Cohort team building and foundational skill‑building
• Goal setting and time management overview
• Introduction to training offerings and internship projects

Weeks 1–6 Training at Saint Paul College

Monday–Thursday, 8:30 am – 12:30 pm

Weeks 7–12 Internships

20 hours / week, Monday–Thursday at Ramsey County Information Services or City of Saint Paul OTC

• Professional Development Fridays throughout the program with workshops on resumes, networking, financial literacy, and industry connections
• Participants will be paid $19.83 / hour for all program hours (training, internship, and professional development)
• Support services may be available, including transportation assistance (bus/gas cards) and professional attire support
• Participants will earn industry‑recognised credentials and develop a capstone project for their professional portfolio

Schedule Note

Participants will need to maintain flexibility throughout the program dates. Specific scheduling details will be finalized and shared as the program develops.

Examples of Work Performed

Participants will complete foundational technology training in partnership with Saint Paul College. Training tracks may include:

• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Microsoft Copilot and AI literacy fundamentals
• Digital collaboration tools and cloud‑based productivity
• Other in‑demand technology skills (subject to program offerings)

Ramsey County Information Services (IS)

Ramsey County IS supports technology infrastructure and digital services across the county. Interns will gain hands‑on experience with IT operations, system support, data management, and technology project support. Interns will work on meaningful projects that support county operations and learn how technology serves a large public sector organization.

City of Saint Paul Office of Technology & Communications (OTC)

The City of Saint Paul OTC manages technology initiatives for city government. Interns will gain exposure to government technology services, digital transformation projects, cybersecurity awareness, and customer‑facing technology support. Interns will contribute to projects that enhance city services and public engagement through technology.

Additional Experiences Included

• Professional Development Fridays with workshops on resume building, networking, financial literacy, and career readiness
• Capstone project development for professional portfolio
• Connections with industry professionals and mentors
• Graduation event to showcase achievements and projects
• Information on technology career pathways and job application processes
• LinkedIn profile building and personal branding guidance

Minimum Qualifications

• Participants must be a Saint Paul resident
• Be between the ages 18–24
• Have a high school diploma or GED
• Have an interest in building technology and workplace skills
• Have at least one (1) barrier to employment, such as:
• Pregnant or parenting, limited English proficiency, first‑generation immigrant or refugee status, history of foster care, justice involvement, receiving public assistance benefits, or other documented barriers to employment.
• Have a household Income in alignment with the guidelines below:

Family Size

• 1 person
• 2 people
• 3 people
• 4 people
• 5 people
• 6 people
• 7 people
• 8 people

Total Household Income

• $72,950 or less
• $83,400 or less
• $93,800 or less
• $104,200 or less
• $112,500 or less
• $120,900 or less
• $129,250 or less
• $137,550 or less

Exam/Screening Process Information

This is an unclassified, at‑will position, holding a confidential relation to the department head or elected official. This position requires an open screening and selection process. There is no exam for this unclassified, at‑will, position. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be forwarded to the department for consideration. The department may choose to interview any candidate on the eligible list.

Definition Of Unclassified From The Ramsey County Personnel Act

Subdivision 1. General. “The appointing authority may discharge employees in the unclassified service with or without cause. Employees in the unclassified service have no right to a grievance appeal from discharge or other disciplinary action under sections 383A.281 to 383A.301. An employee in an unclassified position shall not have tenure but shall be entitled to all benefits associated with tenure such as vacation leave, sick leave, health insurance, and other benefits as determined by the county board.”

Criminal Background Checks

All employment offers are conditioned upon the applicant passing a criminal background check. Convictions are not an automatic bar to employment. Each case is considered on its individual merits and the type of work sought. However, making false statements or withholding information will cause you to be barred from employment, or removed from employment.

E‑Verify Participation

Ramsey County participates in the federal E‑Verify program. This means that Ramsey County will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee's Form I‑9 to confirm work authorization. If the Government cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Ramsey County is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact DHS and/or the SSA before taking adverse action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers may not use E‑Verify to pre‑screen job applicants and may not limit or influence the choice of documents you present for use on the Form I‑9.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Ramsey County provides equal access to employment, programs, and services without regard to race, color, creed, religion, age, sex (except when sex is a Bona Fide Occupational Qualification), disability, familial or marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity, public assistance status, place of residence, political affiliation, or national origin. Ramsey County is deeply committed to advancing racial equity and promoting diversity and inclusion within all areas of our workforce.

The county strives being equitable, inclusive, transparent, respectful, and impactful in how we serve and engage with residents, as well as Ramsey County employees. Advancing racial equity ensures all people who need access to opportunities and services we provide, will receive them. Racial equity is achieved when race can no longer be used to predict life outcomes, and outcomes for all are improved.

For further information regarding this posting, please contact: [e-mail]

Employee Benefits

Ramsey County provides a wide range of employee benefits to support health, well‑being, and work/life balance. Benefits eligibility can vary depending on union status/contract language. A summary of benefits is provided below. Detailed information is available for review at https://assets.ramseycountymn.gov/files/2026-02/Total%20Rewards%20Guide%202026.pdf

• Medical, dental and vision insurance
  • The County contributes a bargained percentage to the medical and dental monthly premium
  • Employees choose from four enrollment tiers: Single, Employee + legally married spouse, Employee + Child(ren), Family
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield Medical insurance – three plan options including a High Deductible Plan with a Health Saving Account offered. Earn up to $20/month in electronic gift cards for each enrolled employee or spouse for wellness activity
  • MetLife Dental Insurance – two plan options offered
  • VSP Vision Insurance – Advantage Plan offered
• Pre‑tax Benefit Program
  • Pre‑tax medical, dental, vision monthly premium deduction option
  • Dependent and Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts
  • County monthly contribution to a Health Savings Account for employees who elect the High Deductible medical plan
• Paid time off
  • Vacation hours, accrued based on years of service, ranging from 12 to 25 days per year (pro‑rated for part‑time employees)
  • 11 scheduled holidays and two floating holidays
  • Up to eight weeks of 100% paid parental leave, plus additional use of sick time as noted below
  • Sick hours accrued at a rate of three weeks per year, which can be used for medical and dental care; injury or illness for you, your spouse or children; the birth or adoption of a child (up to 80 hours) or the death of a family member (up to 40 hours)
  • Wellness incentive allows conversion of unused sick time to vacation or pay
• Retirement benefits
  • Pension - The county contributes at least 7.5% of your salary to your pension, depending on bargaining unit. Unlike other retirement investments, pension payments are a lifetime benefit once you start collecting payments
  • New employees become vested after three years. For the Police and Fire union, employees are vested after 10 years
  • Deferred compensation - 457(b) account with employer match
  • Health Care Savings Plan - all benefits‑eligible employees contribute 1% of gross regular salary to a Health Care Savings Plan account for eligible health care expenses after retirement. Interest accrues tax free. County provides a scheduled contribution after five years of participation
• Transit and parking
  • Fully funded Metropass.
  • Transportation/parking expenses reimbursement account
• Employee well‑being
  • Employee assistance program, including telephone counseling, financial counseling, rideshare benefits, etc.
  • Wellness programming
  • Flexible work policy with hybrid work options for eligible positions
• Life Insurance and Disability leave
  • County provided Basic Life coverage - 1x annual salary, minimum $10,000 up to a maximum of $50,000. Optional supplemental coverage available
  • Long‑term Disability – County provided coverage replaces 40% of the employee’s lost income after six months of disability, subject to a $5,000 monthly maximum. Option to purchase an additional 20% income replacement up to $7,500 monthly maximum
  • Short‑term Disability – option to purchase 60% income replacement coverage with 30, 60 or 90-day waiting period
• Career development
  • Tuition reimbursement, up to $4,000 per year
  • Online professional development opportunities through the Learning & Development Center
  • County employment qualifies as a public service organization for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
  • Employee resource groups – help employees build connections through common bonds with colleagues

For information about Ramsey County's 2026 benefits, visit: https://assets.ramseycountymn.gov/files/2026-02/Total%20Rewards%20Guide%202026.pdf