Intern - Marketing & Communications

Clay County, MO • Smithville, MO • max $15 / year • 1w ago

Clay County Parks, Recreation & Historic Sites is seeking a creative and motivated Communications & Marketing Intern to support public outreach, marketing initiatives, and community engagement for our parks, recreational programs, and historic sites. The intern will assist with digital content creation, social media management, event promotion, and storytelling that highlights the natural, cultural, and historic assets of Clay County.

This role is ideal for students interested in communications, marketing, public relations, journalism, digital media, parks, recreation, tourism, or public administration.

Key Responsibilities

Digital & Social Media

Create and schedule engaging content for social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, X, etc.).
Capture and edit photos and short videos of parks, programs, facilities, and events.
Monitor social media activity, respond to comments/messages, and track engagement metrics.

Marketing & Promotion

Assist in the development of flyers, brochures, newsletters, and other promotional materials.
Support email marketing campaigns and website content updates.
Help promote seasonal events, recreational programs, and historic site tours.

Public Relations & Outreach

Draft press releases, blog posts, and feature stories that highlight park initiatives and community impact.
Attend and support community events, special programs, and volunteer activities.
Assist with outreach to partners, volunteers, schools, and local organizations.

Research & Administrative Support

Conduct research on marketing trends, audience engagement, and regional recreation opportunities.
Help maintain media archives, photo libraries, and content calendars.
Provide general administrative support to the Communications and Parks teams.

Qualifications

Currently pursuing or recently completed a degree in communications, marketing, public relations, journalism, digital media, recreation management, or a related field.
Strong writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.
Working knowledge of social media platforms and digital content strategies.
Experience with Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar design tools (preferred).
Photography/videography skills a plus.
Ability to work independently, manage multiple tasks, and meet deadlines.
Passion for parks, outdoor recreation, history, or community engagement.

Work Environment & Schedule

Set schedule; may include occasional evenings or weekends for events.
Work may occur in both office settings and outdoor park environments.
Internships may be eligible for academic credit depending on school requirements.

Benefits

Hands-on experience in public-sector marketing and communications in parks and recreation.
Portfolio-building opportunities with real-world content and campaigns.
Networking with parks professionals, local government staff, and community partners.
Opportunities to learn about the management and preservation of parks and historic sites.

Salary for this internship is $15.00 per hour. Intern is able to work independently once initial expectations are set up and maintained, but will need to provide weekly progress updates to their supervisor throughout the internship.