Emergency Planning Intern - Public Service Impact

The Emergency Planning Intern position at Frederick County Government, Maryland, offers a part-time internship for Fall 2026, requiring a commitment of 12-30 hours per week. Interns will gain hands-on experience in emergency management, contributing to the development of emergency plans and preparedness strategies. The role supports community resilience and provides opportunities for professional connections in local government. Academic credit coordination is the intern's responsibility.
JOB INFORMATION

The Division of Emergency Management is looking for an Emergency Preparedness Student Intern to join our team for the Fall 2026 semester!

Time Commitment: Work a minimum of 12 hours per week and 4 hours per scheduled workday through the stated specific end date; maximum of 30 hours per week; varied days and hours of Monday-Friday; 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. with some weekends and evenings; maximum total of 240 hours over the course of the semester; non-exempt; part-time; no-benefits

Frederick County Government supports more than 300,000 people across the largest county by land area in Maryland. As the fastest-growing county in the entire state, we rely on a diverse workforce spanning skilled trades, technical roles, professional positions, public safety, and more. Every division and office plays an essential role in keeping Frederick County running smoothly and helping the community thrive. If you're ready to make a meaningful impact, explore the many career paths available in local government. Your work can help shape the future of Frederick County.

By offering hands-on career exploration designed to bridge academic learning with real-world experience, our internships allow students the opportunity to apply their knowledge in a professional setting, gain valuable insight into the operations of local government, and explore public service career paths. Participants build meaningful professional connections, contribute to impactful projects, and discover how local government plays a vital role in serving the community.

Individuals seeking to earn academic credit through this internship are responsible for coordinating with their academic institution to ensure the experience meets all required criteria.

Internship Details

The Division of Emergency Management is offering an internship that provides hands-on experience in developing, refining, and maintaining specialized plans that support Frederick County's all-hazards emergency management program. As an intern, you will contribute directly to the County's preparedness and resilience efforts by assisting in the creation of plans that guide coordinated responses to disasters, emergencies, and critical incidents.

Frederick County Government values the principles of diversity and inclusion, and strives to ensure equal opportunities for its workforce, applicants and community members. If you are a person who wants to make a difference, give back to your community, and be a voice for change, apply to Frederick County Government today.

Essential Duties And Job Responsibilities

Develop, update, and maintain variety of emergency management plans like Continuity of Operations (COOP), Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA), hazard mitigation and climate adaptation plans, cybersecurity plans, and other all-hazard planning documentsConduct hazard identification and risk analyses for both man-made and natural threats, helping inform preparedness strategies and response planningAssist with coordinating emergency preparedness training and exercises, including developing materials, supporting logistics, and contributing to After-Action documentationCoordinate with the division communications team to share preparedness information with the public using clear, engaging, and accessible communication methodsSupport daily readiness of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC through inventory checks, documentation updates, job aid organization, situational awareness tool support, and general EOC maintenance tasksAssist with updating materials, internal guides, and planning templates used across the Division of Emergency ManagementAssist in maintaining COAD/VOAD resource inventories, partner contact lists, and capability surveysSupport EOC modernization efforts such as ISM workflow documentation, position crosswalks, and job aid refinementContribute to climate adaptation and mitigation project tracking, dataset organization and planning researchAttend workshops, meetings and learning opportunitiesPerform other duties as assignedTo perform this job successfully, an employee must be able to perform all essential functions satisfactorily. Any employee's position may not be assigned all functions or equipment listed above, and the examples may not cover all functions or equipment that may be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform their essential functions.

Qualifications And Requirements

Enrolled in a college or university pursuing a degree in Business Administration, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Emergency Management, Homeland Security, Fire Science, Public Administration, or a closely related fieldCumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.7 or higher. A college transcript is required as evidence of GPA. A copy of an unofficial transcript will be acceptedKnowledge/Skills/Abilities

Knowledge of Frederick County geography and surrounding areasStrong and effective spoken and written (English) communication skills including the ability to compile, prepare and present clear, concise and accurate reports, forms, letters, and recordStrong collaborative and teamwork skillsAbility to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentialityAbility to effectively organize work, establish priorities, manage time effectively and complete assigned duties with minimal supervision in a fast-paced environmentAbility to be flexible, act as a team player and provide quality internal and external customer serviceAbility to solve problems and to develop solutions and strategiesAbility to research and provide dataAbility to exercise sound technical judgment in the performance of assigned dutiesAbility to develop and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, business representatives, and members of the publicAbility to effectively access and utilize computerized systems and equipment, including word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, databases, and email software (e.g. MS Office Suite)Preference May Be Given For

Emergency Management experience or courseworkExperience in fire, ambulance, or police servicesExperience in word processing, computerized spreadsheets, page layout, presentation, and other programsPhysical Requirements/Working Conditions

While working in this position, the employee is required to constantly sit and perform repetitive motions; occasionally walk; rarely climb, stoop, crawl, lift up to 20 pounds, lift between 20-50 pounds, push up to 40 pounds, pull up to 40 pounds, reach or driveWhile working in this position, the employee is required to constantly work indoors; rarely work outdoors, walk on uneven ground, hot temperatures above 100 degrees, cold temperatures below 32 degrees, dirty environments, dusty environments, noisy environments or near machineryAdditional Information / Examination Process

Available for varied work hours (which may include evenings/ weekends) for scheduled events, meetings, outreach, workshops and other departmental priorities as neededAbility to provide own transportation to assigned internship location, training, meetings, events and other commitmentsKIND OF EXAMINATION (may Include)

An evaluation of training and experienceOne or more interviewsFrederick County Government is committed to providing an inclusive work environment and complies with all applicable laws and regulations regarding workplace accommodation, including for individuals with disabilities. Applicants who require reasonable accommodation during the application and hiring process may contact the Talent Acquisition section of Human Resources. Inquiries about accommodations can be sent to Recruitment@FrederickCountyMD.gov

Position is not eligible to receive benefits with exception to the 457 Plan as listed below.

Savings Plan - Deferred Compensation

The County offers a Section 457 Plan. Deferred compensation plans allow participants to save for retirement now and pay taxes later by contributing a portion of their salaries pre-tax to the plan. Contributions are invested at the employee's direction into one or more of the variety of investment options offered by the plan. Changes may be made to the contribution levels, investment options, etc. at any time.

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