Mayor's Office Internship Program

Program Overview

The Mayor's Office Internship Program offers college juniors and seniors or graduate students an invaluable opportunity to gain hands-on experience in local government operations, policy development, and civic engagement. Interns will work closely with city officials and staff on a variety of initiatives, learning about the inner workings of municipal governance while contributing to the city's mission to improve the community.

Why Intern with the Mayor's Office?

• Gain practical experience in local government and public service.
• Work closely with city leaders and professionals who are committed to improving the community.
• Build professional connections and networks in government and public policy sectors.
• Participate in workshops, training sessions, and networking events when available to further your career development.

Position Type: Paid
Location: Office of the Mayor of Nashville and Davidson County
Pay: $20/hour
Hours: 10 - 20 hours per week
Duration: Spring 2026: January 26 – April 17 (~12 weeks)
Summer 2026: May 11 –July 31 (~12 weeks)

Available Internships

One intern will be selected for each of the following areas:

• Administration and Scheduling (Spring and Summer)
  Interns on the Administration and Scheduling team work closely with the Deputy Chief of Staff, Scheduler and Constituent Services team, to support the daily operations of the Mayor’s Office. They assist with coordinating the Mayor's schedule, meetings, and events—ensuring all logistical needs are met efficiently and effectively. Interns also gain experience in constituent services, including drafting official correspondence and developing proclamations.
• Choose How You Move (Spring and Summer)
  Interns in this area will support Nashville's Choose How You Move Program, focused on improving transportation access through completing our priority sidewalk network, upgrading 600 signalized intersections, enhancing transit service 24/7/365, and improving safety for all users. They will assist with research and data collection on transportation trends, help coordinate community engagement activities, and support planning and implementation of transit improvement projects. Interns will also contribute to developing outreach materials, preparing reports, and summarizing key findings to inform decision-making and public communication.
• Civic and Community Engagement (Spring)
  Support efforts to engage the community in local government initiatives, programs, and services. You will assist in organizing public forums, town halls, and other community outreach activities, helping to increase civic participation and strengthen connections between the mayor's office and residents.
• Communications (Spring and Summer)
  Work with the communications team to craft press releases, social media content, fact sheets and other public-facing materials. Interns will gain experience in media relations, digital strategy, and executive communications, helping to enhance the Mayor's message and connect with the public.
• Economic and Community Development (Spring and Summer)
  Assist in researching, planning, and implementing programs that foster economic growth and community revitalization. You will be involved in outreach efforts with local businesses, community organizations, and residents to ensure equitable development throughout the city.
• Infrastructure, Environmental Stewardship and Adaptive Growth (Summer)
  Contribute to the city's implementation of sustainable and resilient infrastructure initiatives by researching environmental policies, organizing sustainability events, and helping to design and implement green programs. Interns in this area will work to advance infrastructure goals across the city and raise awareness about environmental issues, with the goal of increasing quality of life and reducing costs of living for residents.
• Performance Management (Summer)
  Interns in this area will support the Mayor's Office of Performance Management, helping to strengthen accountability, transparency, and data-driven decision-making across Metro Government. They will assist with tracking and analyzing key performance metrics, monitoring progress toward departmental and city-wide goals, and helping compile performance reports. Interns will also contribute to developing dashboards and visualizations, partner with departments to identify areas for improvement, and help communicate findings in accessible ways to both internal and public audiences.
• Youth Safety (Summer)
  Assist in researching, planning, and implementing safe, accessible, and affordable Third Space programming for Metro youth. Interns in this area will visit youth programs in progress, staff youth dialogue sessions, and will be valued for subject matter expertise interpretation of youth culture to multi-generational leaders and decision-makers.

Key Responsibilities

• Policy Research and Analysis: Assist in researching key city policy issues, analyze data, and help develop recommendations.
• Public Relations and Outreach: Support the mayor's office in communicating with residents, responding to inquiries, and promoting community programs and initiatives.
• Event Planning and Coordination: Help organize community events, town halls, and public forums.
• Administrative Support: Provide general administrative assistance, including scheduling, preparing materials for meetings, and maintaining files.
• Community Engagement: Attend and help organize meetings with local organizations, residents, and community stakeholders.
• Special Projects: Collaborate with city departments and team members on specific initiatives related to urban development, environmental stewardship, adaptation to extreme weather events, innovative and adaptive infrastructure, education, and more.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled as an undergraduate college junior, senior, or graduate student with a focus in Public Administration, Economics, Communications, Environmental Studies, Urban Planning, Youth Development, Political Science or other related fields.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Passion for public service and community engagement.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other tools.
• Familiarity with data analysis tools is a plus.
• Strong attention to detail, confidentiality, and excellent organizational skills.

Application Process

The application deadline for the Spring 2026 cohort was November 10, 2025.

Applications for the Summer 2026 cohort will be accepted in early 2026.