City of Columbia Management Internship

• Overview
• Purpose
• Rotational Assignments
• Optional Rotaions
• How to Apply
• Additional Information
• Printable Brochure (1.5 mb)

Overview

Each spring, the City of Columbia selects one Management Intern to complete rotations in various City departments in order to gain experience in the field of local government management. This three month, paid summer internship position is open to current full-time graduate students pursuing a Master’s Degree in public affairs, public administration, or a closely related field.

Program Purpose

The purpose of the Management Internship is to give graduate students with an expressed interest in local government management the chance to explore the field in a work setting.
The program allows interns to take what they have learned about public service, management, and research in the classroom and apply it to significant City projects in order to further prepare for a career in the public sector.

Management Interns work on specific projects in a variety of City departments to get a feel for how the City operates. The City of Columbia benefits from the projects completed
by the Management Intern, while the Management Intern benefits from the knowledge and guidance of experienced local government department directors and managers.

Rotational Assignments

Management Interns complete rotations in four core departments and up to two optional departments. The core departments allow the intern to experience essential City functions such as management, budgeting, capital improvement planning, personnel practices and infrastructure maintenance and planning. The optional rotations allow the intern to explore areas of specific interest to them.

Core departments each Management Intern is assigned to include the City Manager’s Office, Finance Department, Human Resources, and Public Works or Water & Light. Understanding the workings of these departments is essential to understanding the day-to-day and long range operations of the City of Columbia.

Optional Rotations

In addition to core assignments, Management Interns may choose two optional rotations of their interest from the following list of topic areas and their applicable departments:

• Economic Development - Regional Economic Development Inc.
• Environment, Land Use, Growth - Department of Planning and Development
• Parks, Recreational Events and Facilities - Parks and Recreation
• Public Health - Columbia/Boone County Public Health Department
• Public Safety - Police, Fire, Joint Communications, Office of Emergency
  Management
• Technology - Information Services
• Tourism - Convention and Visitors Bureau

How To Apply

The Management Internship is a 10 to 12-week, paid internship program to be completed over the course of the summer. One Management Internship is offered per year. It is open to current
full-time graduate students pursuing a Master’s Degree in public affairs, public administration or a closely related field. Applicants are required to submit the
following:

• City of Columbia Management Internship Program Application
• Cover letter explaining planned career path and how experience as a Management Intern fits into it
• Resume & two references

All materials must be received by the City Manager’s Office by February 28.

Submissions are accepted by mail, personal delivery, or fax.

City Manager’s Office
Attn: Management Internship Program
701 E. Broadway, PO Box 6015
Columbia, MO 65205

Phone: 573-874-7214
Fax: 573-442-8828

City staff will review applications and supplemental materials following this deadline
and invite qualified applicants to interview for the position. Management Interns are chosen
on a competitive basis.

Additional Information

For additional information, please call 573-874-7214.