The City of Knoxville's Summer in the City Intern Program is a paid 8 week summer internship for applicants who are between 16 and 22 years of age. We hope to accept 20 applicants for 30 hours per week in the summer of 2025 with a pay rate of $15/hour.

Interns will be placed in City departments and assigned various administrative and support tasks, while also participating in weekly personal and professional development sessions on topics such as civic education, economic mobility, mental health, communication, and social justice.

The weekly commitment for interns will be 30 hours per week, which also includes participating in a group community service project.

Each intern will be assigned to a department with a mentor in that department. The mentor will orient the intern to the department, train them on responsibilities, oversee their work, and meet with the intern on a weekly basis to provide instructional feedback.

* Each intern must provide their own transportation to and from their worksite*


The weekly schedule for interns will generally be:

• Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (flexible depending on placement) - Department Placement

• Friday -  Professional & Personal Development - Various Locations Including City County Building and Public Works Building

• Lunch Break at 12 p.m. Daily

HOW TO APPLY

1. Read through available department placement descriptions below. 2. Fill out the Online Application. Application available beginning February 17. Deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. on March 31, 2026. 3. Submit 2 letters of recommendation with your application. These recommendation letters should come from someone (other than your parents) who can attest to your work ethic, your academic accomplishments, your involvement in the community, and your career ambitions. You must submit the letters of recommendation with your application. After submitting the Online Application, make sure and return your recommendation letters to Emily Norris at [email protected] or mail to the following address: The City of Knoxville Summer in the City Internship Program 400 Main St., Suite 546E Knoxville, TN 37902

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

Date	Description
Feb. 17 - Mar. 31, 2026	Application Period (application and recommendation letters must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on March 31, 2026)
April 17, 2026	Announcement of selected interns
April 24, 2026	Deadline for selected interns to accept internship
June 1–July 23, 2026	Intern Program work period
June 1, 2026	Intern’s City and Department Orientation
July 23, 2026	End of the Internship Final Presentation

AVAILABLE DEPARTMENT PLACEMENTS

City Department	Intern Role Description
311 Center for Service Innovation	An intern placed in 311 will be working with the City's ChatBot and Survey Monkey. They should have a strong interest in communications, and will be working to expand the social media presence of both 311, municipal services, and 211, social services.
City Court	The City of Knoxville Municipal Court handles cases involving city ordinance violations including traffic infractions, property maintenance, animal control, and other community matters within the City’s jurisdiction. Our Court is committed to providing fair, accessible, and efficient judicial processes while serving the public and upholding the law. As a Summer in the City intern, you will gain experience in court administration, case processing, and the role of the judiciary in municipal government.  An intern will work closely with court staff to support daily operations, assist with special projects, and develop a deeper understanding of the Municipal Court system. Key responsibilities will include assisting with administrative tasks, supporting customer service efforts, observing and assisting with courtroom proceedings, and participating in projects aimed at community engagement.
Communications	An intern interested in working with the Communications department should have strong writing and communications skills, experience with videography or photography and social media tools. The Comms’ intern will be writing blog and social media posts about City projects, including the Summer in the City internship program and the weekly Kid A' Riffic Fun in the Park event for Knoxville youth, which the Comm's intern will assist with on Wednesdays.
Empower Knox	Empower Knox is the City of Knoxville's youth-focused initiative. An intern with EK will work on developing meeting agendas, social media content, flyer design, and help inform youth programs like Mayor's Youth Council, Mayor's Emerging Leaders, and Empower Knox Grant Funding.
Fire Department	An intern placed with the Knoxville Fire Department would rotate through their Admin Office, EMS Division, Fire Marshal’s Office, and possibly their training division. They would most likely be doing clerical duties and other office and administrative tasks.
Fleet Services	An intern applying to Fleet Services should have an interest in auto mechanics or heavy equipment. The Fleet Service Department maintains the city's fleet of more than 1,400 vehicles and equipment (from squad cars to fire trucks and snow plows) which city employees use to deliver many essential public services.
Human Resources	The Human Resources Department aims to build capacity by offering supportive resources for managers and employees to understand policies, develop professionally and provide a safe and secure workplace that retains and treats our employees with dignity and respect. Based on an intern’s strengths and interests, an intern placed with the HR department may assist with the following: creating social media and newsletter content, analyzing complex datasets, developing surveys, compiling data and file maintenance. Ideally, the HR intern should enjoy working with a diverse group of people, have close attention to detail and an interest in working in an office environment. The ideal intern should be familiar with, or want to learn more about employee relations and culture, complex excel functions, job analysis and legal compliance.
Information Systems	IS is looking for an intern with an interest in: - Applying city technology to improve municipal services and operations - Curiosity about how data, analytics, and artificial intelligence can support better decision-making and service delivery - Interest in change management and communication of new technology tools Ideally, they would have skills in: - Basic familiarity with software development, data analysis, and information systems concepts - Problem-solving mindset and willingness to learn new technologies - Ability to communicate instructions simply and effectively
KAT	Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) provides public transportation within the city of Knoxville, providing over 2 million rides a year across the major corridors of our city. An intern with KAT will assist in social media campaigns, flyer creation, community outreach events, and more! An ideal candidate will be interested in social media content planning, videography, graphic design, communications, and community outreach.
Knoxville's Community Development Corporation (KCDC)	KCDC is the public housing authority for Knoxville and Knox County and is recognized by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development as a high-performing public housing authority. KCDC also serves as the redevelopment agency for the City of Knoxville and fosters economic development through approving tax credits and incentives for new businesses looking to locate in the area.
LGBT Liaison	The LGBT Liaison Intern will support the City of Knoxville’s efforts to foster engagement and continue to build a great place to live for LGBTQ+ residents. Working alongside City staff and community partners, the intern will assist with policy-related projects, community engagement efforts, and initiatives that amplify LGBTQ+ voices across City programs. This role offers hands-on experience in local government, public service, and equity-focused work while contributing to a welcoming and supportive environment for all residents. The intern will also assist in communications, LGBTQ+ resources and initiatives, and provide support during Pride Month and related activities. The ideal candidate is passionate about inclusion and advocacy, comfortable working with diverse communities, and eager to learn about the intersection of public policy, community engagement, and local government service.
Neighborhood Empowerment	An intern placed with the Office of Neighborhood Empowerment would be helping by answering the phones, and creating their weekly newsletter. This entails writing articles, assembling their Mail Chimp version, printing paper copies, keeping their calendar up to date, and posting to social media. They could also help with other projects as needed, like updating their webpages. If the intern wants to learn how local government works with the community, there will be many opportunities to be a part of public and neighborhood meetings.
Parks and Recreation	The Parks and Recreation Department offers a wide variety of activities for each member of the family to enjoy. One of the main goals for the department is to improve recreation opportunities for all Knoxvillians through recreation centers, greenway trails, and parks. An intern placed with Parks and Rec will assist with administrative duties and programming support.
Police Advisory and Review Committee	The City of Knoxville Police Advisory Review Committee (PARC) is an independent body that reviews citizen complaints against the Knoxville Police Department, promotes accountability, and fosters trust between the community and law enforcement. As a summer intern with PARC, you would assist in reviewing cases, researching policing policies, engaging with community stakeholders, helping organize public meetings, and much more. This role offers hands-on experience in civilian oversight, public policy, and community advocacy, providing a unique opportunity to support transparency and justice in local policing.
Police Department	The mission of the Knoxville Police Department is to safeguard the public and prevent crime. An intern placed with KPD will assist with administrative tasks as well as provide support at Safety City and have the opportunity to complete trainings including a tour of the Forensic Center.
Policy	The Summer Intern will assist the Policy Department in creating a comprehensive reference book of City-owned public artwork for use by the Public Arts Committee and the City's Risk Department. This role involves researching, documenting, and organizing information on public art assets, including locations, materials, and general condition. The intern will gain exposure to how public art is managed as a City-owned asset and how it falls under municipal policies related to risk management, insurance, and public space use. This internship offers hands-on experience at the intersection of arts administration, local government, and public policy. Ideal candidates are organized, detail-oriented, and interested in public art and city planning.  *Intern must be able to drive in order to visit locations across the city that may not be accessible by public transportation*
Public Service	A Public Service intern must be willing to work outside each day. They will spend time in each of their areas: Construction, Facilities, the Service Areas, Urban Forestry, Horticulture, and their Warehouse. They will supply work boots, gloves, and any other safety equipment required. The intern does not need any special skills coming in to the program as they will teach them and give them hands on experience. Some of the jobs they may be asked to do are: assist Facilities department with repairs, trimming and pruning shrubs with Horticulture crew, inventory items at the Warehouse, and help Service Area Central crew set up and assist Special Events with different events this summer, such as the weekly Kid A’Riffic program. They will also get to see heavy equipment in action and receive some basic instruction on how the equipment operates.
Sustainability	The Office of Sustainability manages Knoxville's progress towards our climate and environmental goals. Our staff monitors building energy use, manages data and global reporting requirements, researches policies and programs, and more. Our Summer in the City intern will support the Sustainability Coordinator by processing data, researching sustainability topics, generating communications content, and more. Candidates should be able to: work on a computer in an office environment all day; work extensively in Microsoft Excel/Word; use critical thinking to conduct meaningful research and resolve data problems; communicate effectively; and produce detailed, accurate work.

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