Internship Opportunities with Department of Emergency Management

Internship

If you're looking for a meaningful and impactful internship experience, consider Sonoma County’s Department of Emergency Management. As an intern, you'll have the opportunity to learn about and contribute to critical efforts related to disaster preparedness, communications, response, and recovery. You'll gain hands-on experience working with an exceptionally dedicated and knowledgeable team, and you'll be able to apply your skills and education to real-world challenges. Plus, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that your work is contributing to the safety and resiliency of your community in the face of emergencies. Apply now for an exciting and rewarding internship opportunity at the Sonoma County’s Department of Emergency Management!  The Department of Emergency Management offers unpaid graduate and post graduate internship opportunities.

Intern Duties and Responsibilities

The primary duty of an Emergency Management Intern is to learn about specific aspects of emergency management while providing technical and/or administrative assistance in different aspects of emergency management projects.

The follow categories of internships are open:

• Community Preparedness: Do you have an interest in both community-facing public engagement and emergency management services? Apply for a Community Preparedness internship today to assist in maintaining and strengthening the relationship between the Department of Emergency Management and Sonoma County community members. Learn more about this opportunity:
  • Community Preparedness Interns (PDF 78 KB)
  • Community Preparedness Interns-Special Project (PDF 64 KB)
• Internal Workshop, Planning, and Development: Are you interested in internal training development, organization, and enhancement of local Sonoma County departmental workshops? Do you find self-driven research projects in the field of Emergency Management fascinating? Apply for the Internal Workshop & Planning Development internship to assist the Department of Emergency Management in training workshops, material development, and impactful research in emergent issues in the field of Emergency Management. Learn more about this opportunity:
  • Internal Planning Development Intern (PDF 64 kB)
• Operations & Training: Do you enjoy fast-paced, high-energy environments that require high degrees of focus and capacity for strategizing. Apply for the Operations & Training internship at the Department of Emergency Management to assist in training and table-top emergency exercises as well as partake in research and development opportunities. Learn more about this opportunity:
  • Exercise Training Intern (PDF 64 KB)
• Public Communications: Are you interested in reviewing, researching, and crafting emergency communications regarding both regular seasonal activities and emergency events? Apply for the Public Communications internship to assist the Department of Emergency Management in crafting and perfecting the ways in which they communicate with the public. Learn more about this opportunity:
  • Community Disaster Preparedness Comm Intern (PDF 64 KB)
• Sociological Fieldwork: Do you enjoy experiments and fieldwork in a fast-moving, autonomous environment? Are you interested in improving relations and communications with the local agricultural community of Sonoma County? Apply for the Sociological/Experiment Fieldwork internship to assist the Department of Emergency Management in investigating and implementing new forms of communication with research-driven data. Learn more about this opportunity:
  • Sociological Experimental Fieldwork Intern (PDF: 64 KB)

Other Duties may also include:

• Assisting staff in the day-to-day operations within the Emergency Management Division office;
• Answering inquiries by phone and through written communications;
• Preparing documents and reports;
• Assisting with research assignments and special projects;
• Attending meetings or community events;
• Filing, faxing, photocopying, etc.

Educational Requirements

This position is best suited for undergraduates, graduate students studying degrees in: Emergency Management, Public Safety, Political Science, Public Administration, Law, Public Affairs, Communications, Public Relations, Public Policy, History, or related fields. Ideal candidates will have a strong interest in working within the field of Emergency Management.

Skills, Training or Qualifications

Excellent written and oral communication skills; ability to research information and prepare reports and other correspondence; experience with Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word and Excel; reliable, outgoing and able to work independently. Previous office experience preferred. Professional appearance and business attire required.

Time Commitment

Minimum 10 - 20 hours per week for 3 or more months. For in department internships hours must be scheduled in 3 to 8 hour blocks of time during regular business hours (Monday through Friday between 8 A.M. and 5 P.M.).In many cases you will be able to complete your work in a hybrid fashion with much of your work being done from home.

Benefits Available to Intern

Although this is an unpaid internship that does not lead to permanent employment, the position offers students experience in working within a governmental entity, ability to take ownership of important work for the community, and the opportunity to gain insight into a working Emergency Management Organization. The Emergency Management Division is one of the few assignments within the County that the intern may be exposed to multifaceted government coordination. This assignment also provides an opportunity for students to explore career options, apply academic knowledge and skills to the workplace, gain career skills, build resumes and network with professionals in their fields of interest.

How to Apply

Unpaid Intern Application

Please complete both pages of the Unpaid Intern Application. In the Goals section of the application include your interest in volunteering for Emergency Management.

The contract portion of the form is a simple statement of commitment from both the volunteer and the Department. Either party may terminate the contract at any time for any reason. Please email completed application and preference for type of assignment (see above descriptions) to:

Department of Emergency Management attn Nancy Brown PhD at Nancy.a.brown@sonoma-county.org. 

After your application is reviewed, you will be contacted. If you are accepted as an intern, you will need to schedule time to interview and have your finger prints taken for a background check.