Public Works Internship

City of Minneapolis
$22.49 Hourly
United States, Minnesota, Minneapolis
Sep 08, 2025
Position Description The Department of Public Works designs, builds and maintains the City of Minneapolis' infrastructure, which includes but is not limited to: streets and bridges, public buildings, City fleet of vehicles, storm and sanitary sewer system, drinking water treatment and distribution, parking ramps and surface lots, traffic signals, signage and striping, solid waste and recycling and more. RESUME AND COVER LETTER ARE REQUIRED. You may not be considered further if a resume and cover letter are not attached to application. Salary: The salary for these internships is : $22.49 / hour, and $22.83 / hour for returning interns Duration: Up to 6 months from time of hire. Work Location - Varies, depending on division. Job Duties and Responsibilities The following divisions of the Public Works Department are recruiting interns for the following winter season: Public Works DRIVE Team Public Works Surface Water & Sewer - Regulatory Environment Public Works Surface Water & Sewer - Planning & Design GIS Engineering Public Works DRIVE Team The Public Works DRIVE Team internship supports a variety of projects and initiatives led by the Workforce Coordinator in the Administrative division of the Minneapolis Public Works department. The intern will assist with research, documentation, interpretation, and analysis of information to help guide decision-making and ensure the success of internal and external programs. Support Public Works DRIVE Team with DEIB programs and strategic initiatives as well as research and policy advice. Support the recommendation and creation of professional development opportunities across the department. Support with MS Teams Channel management, including updating resources and maintaining files. Provides administrative and project support as assigned such as copying, filing, entering and extracting data, scheduling conference calls and meetings. Contribute innovative ideas and share best practices relevant to DEIB as well as the ability to handle complex courageous conversations in a group setting. Preferred Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have education in one or more of the following: Human Resources, Communications, Business Administration or other closely related field. An understanding, awareness, and sensitivity to the experiences of individuals who have been historically marginalized. Good interpersonal skills, active listener and have a strong interest in creating and developing safe, equitable and inclusive spaces. Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (Channels, Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint). MS Teams experience strongly preferred. Location: Hybrid work environment with physical location at Currie Maintenance Facility Approximately 90% indoor work and 10% outdoor work Surface Water & Sewer - Planning & Design GIS and Engineering The Surface Water & Sewer - Planning & Design GIS, and Regulatory Engineering Intern will work closely with the Surface Water and Sewers division, which is responsible for planning, designing, operating, and maintaining the sanitary sewer and drainage systems within the City of Minneapolis. Produce flood impact mapping products using geospatial tools. Assist engineers & GIS professionals to create, review, and maintain hydrologic / hydraulic models and associated GIS data. Refine geoprocessing tools used to map flood impacts and identify project opportunities. Create maps as needed to support SWS programs, with emphasis on community and inter-department engagement. Preferred Qualifications: Computer software skills with at least 3 months of education and/or experience using ESRI ArcGIS, working with geodatabases, and/or shapefiles and editing. Working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Access). A high level of attention to detail, the ability to do repetitive work, the ability to work independently, and a willingness to learn. Location: Public Service Center- 250 S 4^th Street Approximately 90% indoor work and 10% outdoor work Surface Water & Sewer - Regulatory Environmental Help with compliance and enforcement of our Stormwater Management Ordinance by completing inspections on Private and Public sites. Assist with our Pond Survey project to inform our current stormwater pond conditions related to runoff storage capacity and water quality treatment goals Learn about our Bacteria Mapping project, and how we can monitor bacteria hotspots around the city Develop an understanding of Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) practices, and how we implement and regulate GSI in Minneapolis Preferred Qualifications: An understanding or desire to learn basic hydraulic principles (water cycle, runoff, flooding) An understanding or desire to learn how local governments regulate water resources Working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Access). A high level of attention to detail, the ability to do repetitive work, the ability to work independently, and a willingness to learn. Location: Public Service Center- 250 S 4^th Street Approximately 30% indoor work and 70% outdoor work Required Qualifications Minimum Qualifications: All college majors are encouraged to apply. Some of the positions require working towards a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or Surveying, or pre-engineering students or civil technicians. Must be 18 years of age or older Be willing to work outdoors in all types of weather A high level of attention to detail, the ability to do repetitive work, the ability to work independently and/or on a team. Willingness to learn. Minimum Experience: None Licenses / Certifications: By time of hire, must possess and continue to maintain a valid Driver's License. Background Check: The City has determined that a criminal background check and/or qualifications check may be necessary for certain positions with this job title. Applicants may be required to sign an informed consent form allowing the City to obtain their criminal history and/or verify their qualifications in connection with the position sought. Applicants who do not sign the informed consent form will not be considered further for the position. Drug and Alcohol Testing: All job applicants must pass a pre-employment drug and alcohol test once a conditional offer of employment has been made. Applicants will be required to sign a notification and consent form prior to undergoing testing. Applicants who do not consent to undergo drug and alcohol testing will not be required to do so, and the City will withdraw the conditional job offer resulting in the job applicant no longer being considered for the position. Selection Process: The selection process for this position will consist of a review of the application, resume and cover letter and then a panel interview. Since the selection process will consist of a review of the application, resume and cover letter, it is to your advantage to be as complete and thorough on your application forms, supplemental application and other support documentation/materials as is possible. The Human Resources Department reserves the right to limit the number of person invited to interview. Working Conditions: Working conditions may vary depending on the division the intern is placed in. Office setting and field work. Field work may include exposure to all weather conditions; exposure to outdoor elements such as loud noise, dust, dirt, gases, fumes and chemicals; exposure to high traffic areas; exposure to other types of conditions that may be found in a construction, plant or other hazardous location; exposure to rough, uneven and/or slippery surfaces; working in tunnels and/or other types of conditions that may be found in a construction environment; ability to work in confined space areas; ability to climb, maneuver and/or work on ladders, stairs, platforms and enter/exit manholes. Approximately 70% outdoor work, 30% indoor work. Eligible List Statement The names of applicants who meet minimum qualification and who pass the screening process shall be placed on the eligible list for employment consideration. This list will be certified to the hiring manager who may use the list to fill a vacancy of the same job title. This eligible list will expire three months after it has been established. Interview Selection The hiring authority reserves the right to determine the maximum number of candidates to interview from the established eligible list. If the hiring authority decides to interview other than by exam score order, they may select additional people to interview based on a candidate's education or experience related to the field, work history, or skills uniquely related to the operational needs of the position. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities The following are desirables for some but not all assignments: Excellent customer service skills. Good communication skills. Ability to work with the Microsoft Office Suite. Experience using Esri's ArcGIS, working with databases, and creating GIS data. Experience using PCSWMM or other hydrologic/hydraulic modeling software. Experience creating, reading and/or interpreting engineering plans. Experience with materials testing and surveying principals. Microsoft Access experience and knowledge. Working knowledge of AutoCAD and Visio software packages. Experience in GPS and data management technology. Experience with roadway construction, survey and computer skills. Experience interacting with the public in a customer service setting. Experience answering telephones in an office setting or other work setting. As the largest and most vibrant city in the state, Minneapolis depends on purposeful, dedicated and innovative employees. Minneapolis has a large variety of careers for people of all experiences and backgrounds who come together for a singular purpose-serving the residents, businesses and visitors of Minneapolis. The City of Minneapolis is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer.