Port Internship Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

DESCRIPTION The Port of Long Beach is an international gateway for the reliable, efficient and sustainable movement of goods and is a leader in environmental stewardship. Guided by its bold new 2050 vision and a plan to double current container volumes to 20 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) by 2050, the Port of Long Beach is strategically modernizing the Port's infrastructure with $3.2 billion in capital investments over the next decade. Credited with moving $300 billion in trade, the Port serves as a critical hub for international commerce and is a major transportation center

East-Asian trade accounts for the bulk of Long Beach shipments. Port-related international trade has wide-ranging economic impact, supporting millions of jobs that benefit the region and entire country. Industry leaders named Long Beach "The Best West Coast Seaport in North America" for a seventh consecutive year and "The Best Green Seaport" in 2025.

CAREER EXPLORATION PROGRAM The Port of Long Beach Career Exploration Program's 12-week paid internship provides college Freshman and Sophomore students an exciting opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a fast-paced, professional environment while exploring areas of career interest within the Port. Interns may have the opportunity to rotate to a different division every 4-6 weeks to foster a well-rounded experience. This role is perfect for a motivated self-starter eager to contribute meaningfully while developing valuable skills in Port operations.

Interns in the Career Exploration Program can expect: A full and realistic view of the world-at-work that integrates academic preparation with practical application and skill development. An opportunity to network with professionals in one's field of interest. A chance to explore career options and develop transferable skills; and The opportunity to earn a reasonable wage while obtaining valuable work experience.

The Port intends to host three cohorts in 2026 (Spring, Summer and Fall): Cohort 3 (Fall 2026): September 2026 - December 2026 Application deadline for this cohort is outlined in the Selection Procedure section below. POTENTIAL AREAS OF EXPLORATION: Business Development (Supply Chain/Logistics) Communications Information Management Real Estate Environmental Planning Government Relations Human Resources Maintenance (Engineering) Tenant Services Design (Engineering) Program Management (Engineering) Construction Management (Inspection) Construction Management (Engineering) Survey (Engineering) Project Controls (Engineering) Finance Executive Security Port Planning (Strategic Planning, Land Use, Economics) Central Procurement Services    EXAMPLES OF DUTIES Under supervision of a mentor, interns will: Assist with collecting, compiling and analyzing statistical and technical data related to division activities. Create reports, presentations, and spreadsheets.

Assist with special projects, daily assignments, meetings and events. Learn about Port operations and customer related activities. Assist with the preparation of documents, customer orders, and other related items as needed.

Use email to communicate with teammates, customers and stakeholders of the Port. Perform other related duties as required. REQUIREMENTS TO FILE Minimum Qualifications: Must be at least 18 years of age.

Must be currently enrolled in an Associate of Arts program or bachelor's degree program at a college or university with status as a freshman or sophomore. This includes recent high school graduates who are enrolled in college for the fall semester. Ability to arrange reliable transportation to and from worksite and/or any offsite appointments and training.

Freshman - Refers to a first-year undergraduate student. At the California State University, freshman refer to students who have completed fewer than 30 semester or 45 quarter hours. At the University of California, freshmen refer to students who have completed between 0 and 44.9 quarter units (0 to 29.9 semester units)

Sophomore - At the California State University, student level sophomore refers to students who have completed 30 to fewer than 60 semester or 45 to fewer than 90 quarter credit hours. At the University of California, sophomore refers to students who have completed at least 45 but not more than 89.9 quarter units (30-59.9 semester units). How to Stand Out Familiar with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint

Customer service experience. Strong public speaking skills. Ability to interact with the public and work independently.

Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds and areas of technical expertise is required. Excellent proofreading and editing skills. Ability and willingness to work up to 29 hours per week (flexible schedule).

Have a passion to learn and grow. Intern Code of Ethics Interns are expected to follow the standard of conduct below and may be released from the Program for the following reasons: Unexcused or frequent absences or tardiness. Violation of City policy, procedures or work rules.

Unprofessional or inappropriate conduct in the workplace. Failure to maintain status as a student. Failure to perform after reasonable training.

End of assignment. Failure to maintain 2.0 minimum GPA. Budget reasons

All internships are at-will assignments and may be terminated at any time with no appeal rights. Benefits Interns are considered part-time employees, and are not eligible for medical or dental benefits, or paid leave such as vacation, personal leave, or holidays. In accordance with the Affordable Care Act (ACA), part-time employees that are not initially eligible to enroll in medical or dental benefits may become eligible at a later date dependent upon the duration and number of hours worked during their internship.

Effective July 1, 2015, in accordance with the Health Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014, part-time and nonpermanent full-time employees will be eligible to accrue up to 48 hours or 6 day of sick leave in each year of employment of which 24 hours or 3 days of sick leave can be used in each year of employment (effective 90 days after employment). Interns that are not eligible for enrollment into the CalPERS retirement plan will be enrolled in the City of Long Beach Alternate Retirement System (ARS), which is a defined benefit plan administered by Public Agency Retirement Services (PARS). Eligible employees enrolled into PARS contribute 3.0% of their compensation to the plan

SELECTION PROCEDURE How do we start the conversation. Please submit 1) cover letter, 2) resume, and 3) unofficial transcripts in PDF form (Freshmen: documentation supporting your enrollment in a college or university with status as a freshman in PDF form will be accepted) (ex: copy of acceptance letter, school ID and class schedule, and/or class schedule). Submissions will only be accepted online at www.governmentjobs.com

This recruitment will remain open until filled and may close without prior notice; therefore, prompt application is encouraged. Incomplete applications or applications that do not meet the minimum requirements will not be considered. Application deadlines: Cohort 3 - Friday, August 14, 2026 @ 11:59 p.m

PDT Applicants selected to move forward will be invited to participate in a selection process. Reference checks will be completed for finalist candidates. An offer of employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation and pre-employment physical examination.

Interns selected to participate in the program will be required to submit a copy of their current class schedule. The Port of Long Beach (Harbor Department) is committed to creating a workplace where every employee is valued for who they are. Having our workforce reflect the diversity of our community at various levels of the organization is a continuous goal embraced by our departments, management staff, and policymakers.

To support efforts of fairness and diversity, Port Leadership is committed to incorporating equity and inclusion into our work by supporting staff and community partners. We are committed to promoting transparency by publishing updated demographic information for employees, including workforce diversity data and pay by race and gender. The Port of Long Beach will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act.

You are not required to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until you receive a conditional job offer. If the Port of Long Beach has concerns about a conviction that is directly related to the job after making a conditional job offer and conducting a background check, you will have the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide evidence to mitigate concerns, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-act The City of Long Beach intends to provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

If a special accommodation is desired or if you would like to request this information in an alternative format, please email careers@polb.com. In support of the City's Language Access Policy, bilingual skills (Spanish, Khmer and/or Tagalog) are desirable for positions interacting with the public. The Port of Long Beach is an equal opportunity employer

We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as an individual with a disability or other applicable legally protected characteristics. Please contact Careers@polb.com with any questions regarding this job posting.