Communications & Marketing Intern

About the role#

The Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking a Communications & Marketing Intern to join the Director’s Office Communications Team. This one-year, full-time internship provides hands-on experience in public-sector communications, marketing, and community engagement. You will support enterprise-wide initiatives by coordinating projects, developing content, and improving internal processes while working under the mentorship of senior staff.

What you'll do#

• Coordinate project intake and assist with enterprise-wide communications planning.
• Develop content for digital, print, web, email, and social media platforms.
• Design visual materials, templates, and marketing assets using Canva and Adobe Creative Suite.
• Draft, edit, and coordinate executive communications, reports, and presentations.
• Conduct research and analyze communications data to track performance metrics and support continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with staff across DHS divisions to support coordinated messaging and stakeholder engagement.
• Maintain communications assets and project documentation.

What you'll need#

• Recent graduate (2025 or 2026) with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Public Health, or Business/Public Administration.
• Current graduate students are eligible to apply.
• Less than one year of professional-level work experience in the internship field.
• Proficiency in English and Spanish (bilingual, fluent, and literate) is highly preferred.
• Preferred G.P.A. of 3.0 or above.
• Ability to clearly express ideas verbally and in writing to diverse audiences.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite, specifically Excel and PowerPoint.

Location & details#

• Location: Sequoia Plaza, 2100 Washington Blvd, Arlington, VA.
• Schedule: Full-time, 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm.
• Modality: On-site position with some flexibility for telework upon supervisor approval.
• Compensation: This is a paid internship and includes eligibility for County government employee benefits, including health, dental, and leave.
• Pre-employment requirements: A criminal records check, including driving, education, professional licensure, and credit history, is required.