Policy Internship Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

OUR MISSION

Wellness Equity Alliance is a national multidisciplinary health organization that designs and delivers integrated, community-based care for populations most impacted by health inequities. We do this through mobile and field-based models, providing medical care, behavioral health services, substance use treatment, harm reduction, and care coordination in nontraditional settings such as encampments, schools, reentry sites, and rural communities as well as with sovereign tribal nations. Grounded in trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and data-driven practices, WEA combines clinical expertise, lived experience, and advanced population health analytics to reduce barriers to care, improve continuity, and strengthen local systems. We have partnered with more than 60 public agencies, managed care plans, and community-based organizations across the U.S. to implement scalable, sustainable programs that are advancing health equity and improving outcomes for historically marginalized populations.

We are known as Renegades, Rebels, Disruptors and Dreamers. If that sounds like you, we want you on our team.

Position Overview

The Graduate Internship Coordinator serves as the organizational hub for all graduate-level internship and field placement activities, managing relationships with students, academic institutions, and internal supervisors across a diverse portfolio of graduate degree programs. This role requires a dynamic, detail-oriented professional who is passionate about mentorship, workforce development, and the mission of advancing public health and health equity. The Coordinator ensures that every intern — regardless of discipline — receives a meaningful, structured, and academically aligned experience that advances both their professional development and the organization's strategic goals.

Key Highlights

• Compensation: The compensation range for this role is $27.88 - $36.06 per hour, with final compensation determined based on experience, qualifications, and role scope.
• Work Location & Schedule Expectations: Preference will be given to candidates who are available for regular in-person engagement at one of our Southern California locations. This is a part-time position with a flexible schedule of up to 24 hours per week, based on organizational needs.
• Professional Development: Opportunity to collaborate with cross-functional leaders across Behavioral Health, Medical, Street Medicine, Public Health, Rural Health, and Tribal Health initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and continuously improve a comprehensive graduate internship program that accommodates students across multiple disciplines and degree tracks
• Manage the full internship lifecycle — from recruitment and onboarding through placement, supervision coordination, evaluation, and offboarding — for the following degree candidates:
  • MPH – Master of Public Health
  • MSW – Master of Social Work
  • MHA – Master of Health Administration
  • MPP – Master of Public Policy
  • MSN – Master of Science in Nursing
  • MD – Doctor of Medicine (non-clinical rotations/electives)
  • NP – Nurse Practitioner
  • PA – Physician Assistant
• Maintain accurate records of intern placements, agreements, learning objectives, evaluations, and outcomes using an ATS, HRIS, or dedicated placement management system
• Develop and manage internship program calendars, including application cycles, orientation schedules, mid-point check-ins, and end-of-term presentations

• Serve as the primary point of contact for affiliated colleges, universities, and graduate programs
• Negotiate, execute, and renew affiliation agreements, field placement contracts, and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with academic institutions
• Ensure program requirements, accreditation standards, and competency frameworks are honored for each degree type (e.g., CEPH competencies for MPH, CSWE standards for MSW, ACEN/CCNE for MSN, ARC-PA for PA, LCME for MD electives)
• Proactively cultivate new academic partnerships to expand the diversity and pipeline of graduate talent

• Recruit, orient, and support internal field supervisors and preceptors across departments including clinical operations, community health, health policy, behavioral health, health administration, and research
• Provide training and resources to supervisors on effective mentorship, performance feedback, and discipline-specific supervision expectations
• Facilitate supervisor-intern matching that aligns student learning objectives with organizational project needs and departmental priorities
• Serve as a liaison and problem-solver when concerns arise between interns and supervisors

• Conduct individualized onboarding meetings with each incoming intern to review learning plans, organizational culture, expectations, and available resources
• Facilitate regular cohort-wide programming including professional development workshops, lunch-and-learns, panel discussions, and networking events
• Provide ongoing coaching and support to interns navigating professional challenges, academic requirements, and career development questions
• Promote cross-disciplinary collaboration and peer learning among interns from different degree programs
• Identify pathways and communicate opportunities for post-internship employment, fellowships, or continued engagement with the organization

• Develop and administer standardized evaluation tools for both intern and supervisor performance
• Analyze program data to assess intern satisfaction, learning outcomes, supervisor effectiveness, and program impact
• Prepare and present regular program reports to organizational leadership and academic partners
• Use data to drive continuous improvement and ensure the program meets evolving organizational and academic needs
• Track and report on diversity, equity, and inclusion metrics within the intern cohort

• Ensure all interns complete required pre-placement requirements including background checks, immunization records, HIPAA training, confidentiality agreements, and any licensure or credentialing prerequisites
• Maintain compliance with relevant federal, state, and local regulations governing educational partnerships and healthcare workforce training
• Coordinate with legal and risk management teams on affiliation agreements and liability coverage as applicable

Core Competencies

• Mission Alignment
  • Genuine commitment to public health, health equity, and community well-being
• Organizational Excellence
  • Ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder processes with accuracy and efficiency
• Relationship Building
  • Skilled at cultivating trust with students, faculty, staff, and community partners
• Cultural Humility
  • Sensitivity to diverse backgrounds, learning styles, and professional identities
• Adaptive Communication
  • Able to tailor messaging to students, clinicians, administrators, and academic faculty
• Problem Solving
  • Proactive and creative in navigating placement challenges and interpersonal dynamics
• Data-Driven Thinking
  • Uses evaluation and outcome data to improve program quality

Working Conditions

• Primarily office-based with hybrid flexibility
• Some travel (up to 20%) may be required for site visits, academic partner meetings, and conferences
• May require occasional evening or weekend availability during peak recruitment and onboarding periods

Education:

• Bachelor's degree

Experience:

• Minimum 3–5 years of relevant experience in internship program coordination, academic field placement, workforce development, healthcare HR, or a related function
• Demonstrated knowledge of graduate-level accreditation standards and academic requirements across multiple health and human services disciplines
• Strong relationship management skills with experience engaging diverse stakeholders including students, faculty, clinical supervisors, and organizational leadership
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent placements, timelines, and compliance requirements
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; experience with HRIS, ATS, or placement management platforms (e.g., Tevita, Sonia, Handshake, or equivalent)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to communicate effectively across professional disciplines and organizational levels
• Demonstrated commitment to health equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred

Education:

• Master's degree strongly preferred in Public Health (MPH), Health Administration (MHA), Social Work (MSW), Higher Education Administration, Human Resources, or a closely related field

Skills

• Personal experience as a graduate intern or field placement student in a public health or healthcare setting
• Familiarity with clinical rotation or preceptorship coordination in nursing, medicine, or allied health
• Experience working in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), community health organization, public health department, or academic medical center
• Bilingual or multilingual abilities
• Experience with program evaluation, data analysis, or learning management systems