BOCC Intern

Job Title: BOCC Intern
Department: Board of County Commissioners
Reports To: Commissioner Elsa Tharp
Classification: Part-Time, Non-Exempt
Compensation Range: $16/hour

Why join our team?
Join a workplace where public service meets opportunity. At Lake County Government, employees are empowered to grow, collaborate, and make a meaningful impact every day. We offer a supportive environment that values innovation and connection, with reliable compensation, comprehensive benefits, and a commitment to helping you succeed both professionally and personally.

Cultural Expectations

• Assume Good Intent: Approach each interaction with positive mindset and openness to understand others.
• Model Professionalism: Maintain high standards in behavior and communication that reflects our values.
• Apply County Wide Lens: Consider the broader impact of decisions on our community and organization as a whole.
• Be Solutions-Oriented: Focus on finding constructive solutions rather than dwelling on problems or challenges.
• Practice Servant Leadership: Prioritize the needs of others, fostering a supportive and collaborative work environment.
• Support Meaningful Work-Life Balance: Encourage boundaries that support personal well-being while achieving professional responsibilities.

Position Summary
This internship offers a high degree of flexibility and can be shaped collaboratively by the intern and supervisor based on the intern’s interests, skills, and the County’s current priorities and initiatives. Much like the work of a County Commissioner, the projects and experiences available through this internship can vary widely. Potential projects and areas of focus may include:

• Develop policy for a local issue or internal process
• Research and develop policy recommendations related to local issues or internal County processes.
• Research the history, purpose, and local impacts of TABOR (the Colorado Constitutional Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights).
• Analyze and compare community conversations across platforms, including Facebook, email, and public comment submitted to local elected officials.
• Develop easy-to-understand resources, such as a public hearing “cheat sheet,” to help community members better understand and participate in County processes.
• Create data visualizations that help the public understand how Lake County Government allocates and spends public funds.
• Research and develop a roadmap for the potential consolidation or coordination of select City of Leadville and Lake County services.
• Collaborate with other Colorado County Commissioners on political advocacy efforts and engagement with state legislators regarding proposed legislation affecting local government.
• Explore other projects and initiatives based on the intern’s interests, emerging community needs, and the County’s current priorities.

General Duties and Responsibilities
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Essential Functions

• Collaborate with Commissioner Elsa to establish a consistent and predictable schedule that accommodates the intern’s school, work, family, and extracurricular commitments.

• Develop an understanding of the basic functions of local government and community infrastructure through visits and introductions to local and regional entities, which may include City Hall, Leadville Sanitation, Parkville Water, the United States Forest Service, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, and other community organizations.

• Attend at least five public meetings with Commissioner Elsa to gain firsthand exposure to local government, community organizations, and civic decision-making. Meetings may include Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), Regional Housing Authority, Parkville Water, Mineral Belt Trail Committee, housing coalition, Economic Development Corporation, and other community meetings.

• Collaboratively identify and complete a defined project during the internship period, with clear objectives and measurable deliverables.

• Participate in weekly check-ins and one-on-one brainstorming sessions with Commissioner Elsa to discuss project progress, identify opportunities for collaboration, and determine appropriate resources and community partners.

Other Duties
Please note that this job description does not intend to cover or contain a full comprehensive list of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Not applicable. This position does not have supervisory responsibilities.

Requirements
Compensation will be determined by the applicant’s full skillset with consideration of the following:

• Current enrollment in high school
• Preferred areas of study may include political science, public administration, public policy, communications, business, sociology, economics, environmental studies, education, or a related field; however, students from all areas of study are encouraged to apply.

• Experience with school, community, volunteer, employment, or extracurricular activities demonstrating responsibility, teamwork, communication, or organization.
• Interest in local government, public service, or community affairs.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to conduct basic research and summarize information clearly.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise appropriate judgment when handling information.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently while also seeking guidance when needed.
• Ability to interact professionally with county employees, elected officials, community members, or others.
• Basic proficiency with Microsoft Office or Google Workspace applications.
• Willingness to learn new systems, processes, and technology.
• Ability to approach unfamiliar issues with curiosity, professionalism, and an open mind.

Hazard Notice
Potential hazards are generally limited to ordinary workplace conditions and occasional travel to offsite meetings or community events. Depending on assigned projects, the intern may occasionally work in outdoor environments or visit county facilities where conditions may vary.

Physical Activity & Work Environment

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Prolonged periods of standing or walking.
• Frequent bending, kneeling, reaching, or climbing.
• Occasionally pushing, pulling, or moving objects.
• Use of hands for repetitive motions such as typing, writing, or operating equipment.
• Operation of standard office equipment (computers, phones, copiers, etc.).
• Visual acuity to read and produce accurate documents and materials.
• Hearing ability sufficient to respond to spoken communication.
• Standard office environment with controlled temperature and lighting.
• Exposure to varying outdoor weather conditions.
• Interaction with the public, sometimes in high-pressure or emotionally charged situations.

Notice of Emergency/Disaster Responsibilities
All Lake County Employees may be required to work as a Disaster Service Worker when a local declaration of emergency or disaster is declared by the Board of County Commissioners. To be prepared for this role, all employees and emergency service function (ESF) leads will attend emergency management trainings and exercises as requested by the Director of Emergency Management. With advanced notification from OEM, employees will make reasonable efforts to attend training events in coordination with other employees and supervisors.

EOE Statement
Lake County is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status. Assistance or accommodation during the application process due to a disability is available upon request.

Applicant Notice
Lake County Government posts all official employment opportunities on its careers page linked here. Positions may also appear on external job boards such as LinkedIn, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter through our applicant tracking system.

Please be aware that unauthorized third parties may repost or imitate job listings. The most accurate and up-to-date information will always be available on our official website. Applicants are recommended to apply directly through our career page and should not provide personal information outside of the official application process.

EOE Statement

Lake County is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status. Assistance or accommodation during the application process due to a disability is available upon request.

Notice of Work Authorization Requirement

Applicants must be authorized to lawfully work for any employer in the United States. Lake County is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa.

Notice of Emergency/Disaster Responsibilities

All Lake County Employees may be required to work as a Disaster Service Worker when a local declaration of emergency or disaster is declared by the Board of County Commissioners. To be prepared for this role, all employees and emergency service function (ESF) leads will attend emergency management trainings and exercises as requested by the Director of Emergency Management. With advanced notification from OEM, employees will make reasonable efforts to attend training events in coordination with other employees and supervisors.

Other Duties

Please note that this job description does not intend to cover or contain a full comprehensive list of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Expected Duration of the Application Process

Due to the nature of the application and selection process for Lake County full-time positions, applicants can reasonably expect the application process to take a significant amount of time to complete before a decision is made to hire or not to hire. Typically, it takes approximately two (2) to four (4) weeks from the date of application to complete the entire selection process. The length of time it takes to complete the process can vary depending on a variety of factors. Please note that this is an estimated duration of the selection process.