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Public Relations Intern

This is a one-year, full-time, paid Internship Program

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Arlington County requires all applicants to thoroughly complete each section of the application, including prior job responsibilities, duties, and supplemental questions. While you may attach a resume, it will not replace a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Arlington County's Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is seeking a Public Relations Intern to support the implementation and management of a comprehensive, integrated public relations program that includes: media relations, digital communications, publication development, civic engagement, graphic design, internal and external communications and event management. The Intern will work across the entire unit, gaining experience in every aspect of public relations. Work will vary depending on the current needs of the organization. Aside from the responsibilities listed below, the intern will be responsible for completing various long-term projects, which could include developing and executing department-wide marketing plans.

Responsibilities

Major Job Duties:

• Developing and editing articles for print and digital publications, eNews, calendar listings, fact sheets and talking points following the AP and Arlington County Style Manual;
• Providing daily media clips on topics related to Arlington Parks & Recreation;
• Creating public information or educational materials to disseminate program information to the public, business, interest groups and other impacted communities;
• Serving with DPR event management to assist with designing special events, coordinating event publicity, and assisting with event logistics;
• Engaging DPR staff to develop interesting, engaging and accurate press releases, flyers, web and print content using Adobe Creative Cloud programs including Adobe Express;
• Developing and updating web pages;
• Creating photos, images, text and video to post on DPR social media to support the department's facilities, events, programs and services;
• Gathering and analyzing social media and web statistics;
• Helping to organize, track and maintain public relations and event materials including storage spaces; and
• Providing direct services to customers and analyzing the effectiveness of services to make recommendations for enhancements.

Location: 2100 Clarendon Blvd. Suite 414, Arlington, VA 22201 (Bozman Government Center) Arlington County

Arlington County is an innovative local government in Northern Virginia seeking motivated candidates for one-year internship opportunities across multiple departments. These roles are ideal for recent graduates and current graduate students with limited professional experience who are looking to kickstart their careers.

Interns gain hands-on experience supporting key County initiatives while participating in a structured cohort-based development program. Throughout the year, interns work under the mentorship of senior staff, contributing fresh ideas, improving processes, and leveraging technology to enhance organizational effectiveness, all while familiarizing themselves with a public-sector environment.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: Recent, 2025 and/or 2026 college graduates earning either a Bachelor's or a Master's degree* in the area of consideration prior to the start date of the Cohort Program (Sept. 2026) must have:

• No professional-level work experience (less than one year) in the internship field; and
• You may be a currently enrolled student in a Master's degree program related to the internship, but you must not have significant professional-level work experience in the internship area and must be available to work during designated hours.

Degree Requirements: Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Public Affairs, or related discipline.

Desirable Qualifications: Preference may be given to applicants with one or more of the following:

• G.P.A. of 3.0 or above is preferred and applicants may be asked to provide certified official transcripts;
• Advanced experience utilizing Microsoft Office Suite products;
• Experience in content creation, photography, and videography;
• Advanced experience in web development, social marketing, video editing, Adobe Express, Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, and/or Premier; and/or
• Experience researching/analyzing information to ensure accurate and engaging communications as well as proofreading, copy editing, writing, editing grammar, formatting, editing layouts, and design.

Special Requirements

Background Check: A pre-employment criminal records check will be conducted. It will include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit history. You will be required to sign a release authorizing the County to obtain your background information.

Work Samples: A complete application must include work samples in the form of links or attachments. Please include a writing example AND graphic assets or digital content you've designed (ie., flyers, social media videos, posters, etc.)

Please complete each section of the application including the supplemental questions. Your responses to the supplemental questions are required because they provide us with specific information necessary to evaluate your qualifications for this position. These responses are considered part of the selection process. A resume may be attached; however, it will not substitute for a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please do not write "see resume" as a response to the questions.

Additional Information

Work hours: This is a full-time position (40 hrs/week) Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm, with some flexibility and telework opportunities available upon prior approval from the supervisor. A reliable means of transportation to and from the office is required. This is not a fully remote opportunity. Employees will be expected to be in the office at the discretion of the Supervisor and needs of the agency as well as to attend in-person classroom training.

The pay range listed above is effective July 1, 2026.

Applicants may be asked to provide certified official transcripts.

Starting salary is commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the candidate selected.

All Cohort Interns are eligible for County government employee benefits that include health, dental and leave.

Arlington County is committed to advancing diversity, equity, access, and inclusion across all our services, activities, and programs. Learn more about our commitment.

Required Skills

• Computer Proficiency
• Interpersonal Skills
• Problem Solving
• Reading and Writing