2026 Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination Spring Intern - ELT-OEEC-25000

Agency: Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC)
Job#: ELT-OEEC-25000
Hours: Approximately 20 hours per week
Hourly Salary: $24.11 - $30.14/ hour. Rate and position class will be based on experience and qualifications

This is a short-term spring internship from February through May. The position supports activities of the Fairfax County Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC), particularly implementation of the Community-wide Energy and Climate Action Plan (CECAP) and Resilient Fairfax, the county’s climate adaptation and resilience plan.  The Work Student III position provides technical communications support, develops informational and educational outreach content, and may participate in community engagement activities. 

To hear about the internship from past interns with OEEC, read their blogs: 2023 Intern blog and 2024 Intern blog. 

Work description: 

• Primary duties will be rewriting and optimizing web content to align with best practices for readability and accessibility standards. This may include simplifying complex language, ensuring compliance with federal web accessibility guidelines, and working with staff to improve content to enhance the overall user experience.

Additional duties may include:

• Assist with implementation and promotion of climate action initiatives.  This may include assistance with communications, community outreach, program tracking and reporting, internal and external coordination meetings, and conducting research on climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience.
• Assist with developing creative multimedia elements like website content, videos, and presentations and work with staff on designing flyers, graphics, and other marketing materials for various programs and events that support county energy and environmental goals and policies with consideration for environmental justice, equity, and inclusion.
• Help contribute to and implement social media plans and content to engage residents with existing climate and energy outreach programs.
• Work with staff on ideas and tools for marketing and communications, ensuring a dynamic and effective approach and assisting with preparing information to increase the likelihood of its use.
• Perform other duties as assigned relating to environmental and energy coordination.      

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to high school graduation or a GED issued by a state department of education. 
• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program in field related to the assigned functional area including communications, public relations, marketing, environmental studies, environmental science, urban planning, global sustainability, natural resources, or a similar field. 

Preferred education and experience:

• Background or coursework in environmental and climate topics including climate mitigation and climate resilience 
• Understanding of the basic principles of communications and marketing concepts, trends, tools, and platforms
• Understanding of plain language, web accessibility, and readability standards
• Experience using social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook and X (Twitter)) and graphic design/multimedia development tools (Canva, Adobe Photoshop, etc.) 
• Experience with community engagement, internal and external digital communications
• Ability to learn or have basic knowledge of data management and mapping tools (Power Bi, ArcGIS, etc.)
• Possess excellent communications skills, including written, digital, and verbal communications 
• Familiarity with primary and secondary source research

Physical Requirements: 

• This position is primarily sedentary. However, the appointee to this position must be sufficiently mobile to attend meetings. The appointee to this position may be required to lift and carry up to 15 pounds. Accommodations can be made in alignment with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• Must be able to work with electronic equipment such as a computer monitor and keyboard. 

Special Requirements: 

• Appointment to position is contingent upon satisfactory results of a criminal background check.
• Ability to come into office or work on a hybrid schedule.

To Apply:
Please email your cover letter, resume, and a writing sample (such as an academic paper, news article, professional social media posts, etc.) to: OEECinfo@fairfaxcounty.gov with the subject line “(Your name) – Intern Application 2026.” For example, if your name is Jane Doe, the subject line of your email should be: Jane Doe – Intern Application 2026.