Search Jobs

About the Department

The City of San José, the Capital of Silicon Valley, is one of the nation's best managed cities and one of the top cities in which to live, work, and do business. Moreover, San José is the center of cultural, government and economic activity for the region. The employees of the City of San José have embraced the following values: Integrity, Innovation, Excellence, Collaboration, Respect, and Celebration. The City's Public Works Department is seeking an individual whose values align with the values of the City's employees. 

The Department of Public Works is responsible for delivering capital improvement projects for a wide variety of City facilities and infrastructure, maintaining City facilities and fleet assets, facilitating, and regulating development activities, and providing animal care and services. The Department is committed to high-quality service, and partnering with the community, and providing an excellent environment in which to work. 

Position Duties and Responsibilities

Duration of Assignment: Approximately six (6) months internship duration. Internship may be extended based on project needs.

Salary Information: The Public Works Department is currently seeking to fill one (1) part-time unbenefited Undergraduate/Graduate Student Intern in the Development Services Division. Salary ranges for this classification are:

Student Intern Salary Range - $15.86- $22.65/hourly (unbenefited)

Graduate Student Intern Salary Range - $20.52- $30.30/hourly (unbenefited)

This amount includes an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable pay. Actual salary shall be determined by the final candidates’ qualifications and experience.

About the City Facilities Architectural Services Division Internship:

The Development Services Division Intern will be assigned to assist for the following projects and perform duties such as: provide counter support for Development Services, including greeting customers and directing inquiries, respond to general email and phone inquiries, ensuring timely and accurate information is provided, assist with initial intake of requests, helping route items to the correct staff or workflow. The Development Services Division Intern  will also support administrative and clerical tasks, including filing, data entry, document preparation, and processing refund requests and maintain organization of shared workspaces and assist with routine operational tasks that keep the counter functioning efficiently.

CITY OF SARATOGA, CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT • INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY

1 Position  •  $25.00/hour  •  Up to 12 Weeks  •  Flexible Start Date  •  Summer 2026

This internship is offered as part of a Regional Internship Partnership designed to introduce current students and recent college graduates to local municipal government. The City of Saratoga participates in this program with the goal of connecting a diverse student population to public sector work, providing meaningful hands-on experience that supports both personal and professional growth.

Position Description

The City Manager Department has one part-time, paid summer internship opportunity (up to 20 hours per week). This is a single position that provides exposure across multiple functions within the department, giving the selected intern broad exposure to municipal operations rather than a narrow focus on one specialty. The internship runs for up to 12 weeks, and the start and end dates can be arranged around the selected candidate’s college summer break schedule.

The workload will balance supporting daily municipal operations with contributing to special projects. The intern will receive assignments and work direction from staff within the department.  

Administrative Analyst. The intern will support the planning and delivery of community programs such as the Youth in Government program and City-led events. Duties include scheduling, vendor coordination, on-site event assistance, research on municipal best practices, and data tracking.

City Clerk. The intern will assist with the preparation and coordination of City Council and commission meetings, including agenda compilation, minutes, and document management. Responsibilities also include supporting public records requests and ensuring compliance with open meeting laws and transparency requirements.

Public Affairs and Community Engagement Officer. The intern will help draft newsletters, website content, and social media posts, and will support event promotion, marketing materials, and community outreach campaigns. Additional work may include contributing to the annual State of the City report and video content produced with City Council.

Read more about the City Manager's Department here..

CITY OF SARATOGA, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT • INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY

1 Position  •  $25.00/hour  •  Up to 12 Weeks  •  Flexible Start Date  •  Summer 2026

This internship is offered as part of a Regional Internship Partnership designed to introduce current students and recent college graduates to local municipal government. The City of Saratoga participates in this program with the goal of connecting a diverse student population to public sector work, providing meaningful hands-on experience that supports both personal and professional growth.

Position Description

The Community Development Department has one part-time, paid summer internship opportunity in its Development Services Division (up to 20 hours per week). The selected intern will gain hands-on experience in municipal arboriculture, working alongside City staff on a range of tasks that support the protection and management of Saratoga’s urban tree canopy. The internship runs for up to 12 weeks, and the start and end dates can be arranged around the selected candidate’s college summer break schedule.

The workload will balance supporting day-to-day operations with exposure to longer-term planning and research projects. The intern will receive assignments and work direction from staff within the department.

Tree Permit Applications and Development Review. The intern will assist staff in the processing of tree permit applications and the review of development projects. This includes evaluating applications for consistency with the City’s tree regulations and tracking project status through the review process.

Field Inspections and Plan Review. The intern will participate in field inspections to assess potential construction impacts on trees. Work will include reviewing grading and site plans, identifying tree protection measures, and documenting field conditions.

Research and Ordinance Work. The intern will support research related to the City’s tree ordinance and fire preparedness initiatives. This may include reviewing comparable ordinances from neighboring jurisdictions, summarizing research findings, and supporting the City’s ordinance update process.

Tree Identification and Health Assessment. The intern will learn to identify tree species commonly found in Saratoga and develop familiarity with common pests, diseases, and abiotic factors that affect tree health. This knowledge will be applied during field work and permit review.

Tree Appraisal. The intern will be introduced to the basics of tree appraisal methodology, including an overview of how trees are valued in the context of permit applications and development projects.

Database Maintenance. The intern will assist with the maintenance of department databases and records related to tree permits, inspections, and urban forestry data.

Community Interaction. The intern will have the opportunity to interact directly with Saratoga residents and contractors, developing professional communication skills in a public service context.

Read more about the City of Saratoga's tree program here.