Community Engagement Internship

he Community Engagement Program aims to enhance the well-being of Texans through community partnerships and accessibility.  The programs include the Community Partner Program, Texas Paths Works to Success, SNAP Outreach, SNAP-Ed, Presumptive Eligibility, and the Nutrition Incentive Program.  By actively engaging with communities, HHSC strives to improve the accessibility and effectiveness of health and human services across Texas.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

The HHSC Community Engagement Internship supports the Communications Specialist, Project Manager, and Staff Services Officer (SSO) within the HHSC Community Engagement Program. This intern will strengthen stakeholder outreach, enhance administrative efficiency, and execute community engagement initiatives. By integrating an intern into the team, HHSC can increase operational capacity, improve communication efforts, and foster the development of future professionals in public service.

This internship opportunity will allow a student or recent graduate to gain practical experience in community engagement, event coordination, program management, and public administration, ensuring the sustainability and effectiveness of HHSC’s outreach efforts.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Support the Communications Specialist: Develop skills in research-based communication strategy by identifying effective messaging techniques, audience engagement methods, and visual communication tools to inform internal and external campaigns.

Assist the Project Manager: Gain experience supporting project planning and coordination by researching timelines, content workflows, and best practices for organizing outreach efforts across multiple platforms.

Work with the Staff Services Officer: Build an understanding of administrative and operational support by gathering data on internal procedures, tracking project documentation, and helping align tasks with program goals.

POSSIBLE INTERNSHIP PROJECTS AND DELIVERABLES:

Projects

Messaging and Platform Effectiveness Report Supports: Communications Specialist The intern will research audience engagement trends and compile a report analyzing which types of messages (e.g., promotional, informational, storytelling) and which platforms (email, web, social media) are most effective for reaching specific audiences. The findings will help shape future messaging strategies.

Program Planning Research Brief Supports: Project Manager The intern will support program development by researching how similar organizations structure outreach campaigns or events. They will briefly summarize timelines, staffing roles, and touchpoints that could inform the team’s project planning process.

Administrative Workflow and Template Audit Supports: Staff Services Officer The intern will audit internal administrative documents—such as request forms, reporting templates, or calendar systems—to identify redundancies or gaps. They will research solutions used by other organizations and recommend updated templates or processes to improve efficiency.

Final Deliverable

Strategic Communications Support Portfolio: The intern will compile a portfolio that includes a Messaging and Platform Effectiveness Report (for the Communications Specialist), a Program Planning Research Brief (for the Project Manager), and a Workflow and Template Improvement Summary (for the Staff Services Officer). This single deliverable will demonstrate the intern’s ability to conduct targeted research, support strategic planning, and enhance internal processes—all aligned with the needs of each supervisor.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Must be a current student or recent graduate (within the past year) in a relevant field such as Communications, Public Relations, Social Work, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related discipline.

Strong academic background, with coursework in community outreach, nonprofit management, stakeholder engagement, or policy administration preferred.

INITIAL SELECTION CRITERIA:

• Communication & Writing: Strong verbal and written communication skills for stakeholder engagement. Ability to draft, proofread, and format professional emails, reports, and marketing materials. Comfortable interacting with community partners and assisting in outreach efforts.

• Organizational & Administrative Support: Strong attention to detail and multitasking ability. Experience with scheduling, coordinating meetings, and maintaining organized documentation. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook), Smartsheet, and ability to learn virtual tools like Microsoft Teams.

ANTICIPATED INTERNSHIP DURATION:

June through August

About 20-30 hours per week

On-site Location: 701 W 51 St. Austin, TX 78751

Hybrid and Virtual Options

Unpaid