Internship: Communication

The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office Public Affairs Bureau is seeking a communications intern to join the communications unit. To qualify, candidates must be currently enrolled in an applicable bachelor's degree program. Interns should be interested in graphic design, videography, photography, law enforcement communications, and social media. The intern will be assigned to the Sheriff’s Administrative Office and work with the Sheriff’s communications team to create digital products for marketing and social media.

This role will have the opportunity to work with all divisions within the Sheriff’s Office including; Water Patrol, Adult Detention, Forensic Science Laboratory, Major Crimes, Criminal Intelligence, Violent Offender Task Force, Employee Wellness, Community Engagement and more. They will gain experience shooting and editing videos, photos, graphic design, and social media while learning more about public safety communications in Hennepin County.

Current Hennepin County employees who refer a candidate hired into an open competitive position may be eligible for a $500 referral bonus. For more information visit employee referral program.

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Location and hours:

This internship is onsite and will be located at the Administrative Offices of the Hennepin County Sheriff located at 350 South 5th Street., Minneapolis, MN 55415.Typical work hours will be Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with some nights and weekends. The intern will work full-time (40 hours per week). This internship is intended to begin in June 2026 and last 3 months with the potential to extend on a case-by-case basis.

About this position type:
This position isfull time limited duration, non-benefit earning internship.
This position is internally classified as an Intern II.
Clickhere to view the job classification specification.

Note:You must attach a resume, cover and a sample of your work in addition to your application materials to be considered for this position.Candidates may submit samples produced for another internship, student news outlet or class.

In this position, you will:

• Create graphics for internal and external communication.
• Film video and take photos for newsletters, intranet, and social media.
• Draft content for both internal and external audiences.
• Learn about crisis communications and media relations.
  

Need to have:

• Current enrollment for the Fall academic school year of 2026-2027 as a junior or senior in a bachelor’s degree program in communications, criminal justice, journalism, marketing, strategic communication, law enforcement, or another related field.
• Completion of introductory journalism, strategic communication, or multimedia communication classes.
• Experience with various creative software including Canva, Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Acrobat, and Microsoft Office.
• Ability and willingness to complete and pass the Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Security Training.
• Access to reliable transportation, which may include access to public transit, biking, rideshare, or other means.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds.

Nice to have:

Experience with:

• Professional writing for social media and/or press releases.
• Working with graphic design, video production or photography.
• Illustration, photography, video, or motion graphics.
• Working at a student news organization or working in a previous strategic communications internship with emphasis on content creation.
• With photo or video editing.

Knowledge of:

• Basic video and photography fundamentals.

Ability to:

• Maintain confidentiality and demonstrate professionalism.
• Work in fast-paced environments.
• Communicate effectively in both verbal and written formats.
• Demonstrate adaptability in managing multiple simultaneous tasks and collaborate with the supervisor to establish priorities to meet deadlines.
• Take initiative in identifying and solving problems using sound judgment in the process.

About the department:
The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office serves the county's 1.2 million residents. State law mandates most of the sheriff's office duties, including managing the county jail, providing security to the district court, and patrolling the waterways in the county.

The Sheriff's Office also runs specialized initiatives like Criminal Information Sharing and Analysis (CISA), Violent Offender Task Force (VOTF), Crime Scene Investigation, Criminal Investigation, Community Outreach and Employee Wellness. The mission of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office is: Providing quality professional services while building meaningful relationships that are sustainable within our communities, and with our partners, to ensure justice and safety for all.

About Hennepin County:

Hennepin is the largest county government organization in Minnesota. Our employees work every day to improve the health, safety and quality of life for our residents and communities. All of our jobs align with our mission to serve residents through transformative services that eliminate disparities, eliminate inequities, and create opportunity for all and our vision of a community where all people are healthy, all people are valued, and all people thrive.

Hennepin County envisions an organization where our commitment to diversity and the elimination of disparities is fundamental in providing excellent service to our community.

Your future. Made here.

This posting may be used to fill current and future vacancies.

Invitations to interview will be based on an assessment of education and experience. Job offer will be contingent on passing a drug test that may including testing for cannabis, employment history/reference check, criminal background check including fingerprinting prior to employment. Under State of Minnesota law, certain criminal convictions disqualify persons from employment in this job classification.

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If you have any questions, please contact:
Talent Acquisition division
Hennepin County Human Resources department
Submit a request at hennepin.us/ask-hr or 612-348-7855

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