2026 Summer Internships | Operations & Communications

About Us

Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS) is the largest agency in Allegheny County, with a $1 billion+ budget supporting over 200,000 residents annually through community partnerships.

The DHS Internship Program offers students practical experience in public service through meaningful projects that strengthen social services. DHS seeks undergraduate and graduate students to apply their skills, collaborate with professionals, and contribute to programs serving vulnerable populations.

Why Intern at DHS

• Contribute to projects that improve lives across Allegheny County
• Gain experience with one of the nation’s leading human services agencies
• Work alongside experienced professionals and community partners
• Build practical skills and explore careers in public service

Program Details

• Dates: June 1, 2026 – August 14, 2026
• Schedule: 20–29 hours per week
• Work Type: In-person (Pittsburgh-based roles)

Eligibility

• Enrolled in an accredited U.S. college or university (undergraduate or graduate)
• Available to work at least 20 hours per week
• Able to work in person at an assigned DHS office
• Must have an Allegheny County address during the internship
• International candidates must meet federal I-9 employment eligibility requirements

Operations & Communication Internships Overview

DHS offers a range of Operations & Communications internships, each focused on a specific area 

Interns will support real projects within their area, contributing to initiatives, operations, coordination, and development of materials or processes. 

Focus Areas

• Communications/Publications
• Learning & Development
• Operations & Project Management (Office of Administration)
• Safety & Facilities
• Talent Acquisition

What You’ll Do

During your internship, you may:

• Assist with planning, tracking, and execution of operational and cross-functional projects
• Coordinate timelines, tasks, and stakeholder inputs across teams
• Support development of communications, materials, and internal resources
• Contribute to the production and refinement of external-facing publications and written content
• Track data, maintain documentation, and support reporting efforts
• Support process improvements to strengthen operational efficiency and consistency
• Collaborate with staff across DHS offices to support key initiatives

Preferred Core Skills

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a structured environment
• Ability to take initiative and follow through on tasks with minimal oversight
• Comfort working across teams and navigating ambiguous or evolving priorities
• High attention to detail, with the ability to track tasks, data, and processes accurately
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools (Excel, PowerPoint, Word); experience tracking or organizing data preferred
• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Strong problem-solving skills, including identifying inefficiencies and proposing practical improvements
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to create professional, audience-appropriate materials

Preferred Skills by Focus Area

Applicants are not expected to have experience in all areas. Skills will vary based on assigned focus area.

Communications/Publications

• Ability to write, edit, and refine professional content for external audiences
• Strong attention to detail, particularly in reviewing and formatting written materials
• Interest in research, policy writing, or publication processes
• Ability to work within structured review and approval workflows
• Familiarity with content management systems (CMS). Prior programming experience not required.
• Interest in content strategy, SEO, website usability, user experience or digital publishing

Learning & Development

• Ability to organize and develop structured content (e.g., guides, presentations, toolkits)
• Interest in training, education, or instructional design
• Strong written communication and attention to clarity in materials

Project Management (Office of Administration)

• Ability to support planning, tracking, and execution of projects across operational functions
• Experience or interest in project management tools (e.g., Asana, Excel trackers)
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage details across complex initiatives
• Ability to synthesize information and provide clear, concise status updates
• Interest in how large organizations manage operations, systems, and internal processes

Safety & Facilities

• Ability to track processes, maintain documentation, and ensure accuracy
• Interest in operations, logistics, or compliance environments
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow structured procedures

Talent Acquisition

• Ability to manage candidate pipelines, scheduling, and communications with attention to detail
• Experience or interest in recruiting, event planning, HR project management, or HR operations
• Strong interpersonal skills and professionalism when engaging with candidates and stakeholders
• Enjoy a dynamic, multifaceted, fast-paced work environment

What You’ll Gain

• Experience supporting operations and communications within a large public agency
• Exposure to the development of external-facing publications and structured review processes
• Skills in project coordination, stakeholder management, and process improvement
• Understanding of how operational functions (HR, facilities, communications) integrate to support service delivery
• Opportunity to contribute to high-impact, cross-functional initiatives