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Public Communications Intern

Tampa Bay Water
Internship
On-site
Clearwater, Florida, United States

Position Overview

Tampa Bay Water is the largest wholesale water supplier in Florida, providing high-quality drinking water to its members, who in turn, supply water to more than 2.5 million residents of the Tampa Bay area. Tampa Bay Water member governments include Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties and the cities of New Port Richey, St. Petersburg and Tampa.


Our mission is to reliably provide clean, safe water to the region now and for future generations. 


Tampa Bay Water’s public communications department is responsible for all facets of the agency’s communications, public outreach, public information and public education programs. Responsibilities in the department include media relations, digital communications, construction public information, strategic communications, web and graphic communications, video production, employee communications and more.


The public communications intern reports to the public communications manager and works with the communications coordinator, digital media specialist and audio-visual specialist to communicate and promote the agency's projects and initiatives. Our interns do not make coffee, file and answer phones all day. Interns perform a wide variety of public relations responsibilities.

Tampa Bay Water offers interns a great opportunity to learn about:

  • The role of public relations in building relationships with stakeholders
  • Applying public relations skills in a not-for-profit, government agency
  • Techniques in dealing with crisis and issues management
  • Strategizing and implementing those strategies


Our objective is to assist college students who are interested in pursuing careers in public relations in taking what they have learned in the classroom and applying it in real-world, business settings. Students have opportunities to sharpen communications skills, understand the value and techniques of using online media for public relations, and improve their business literacy. It is a temporary, part-time, office position located in Clearwater, Florida. Students are able to work a maximum of 20 hours per week.  

Essential Functions

  • Drafting news releases, media alerts, fact sheets, website copy and other agency publications.
  • Writing for social media and other online communications tools.
  • Maintaining and updating mailing and contact lists, media clips and multi-media files.
  • Assisting in print production and mailing.
  • Assisting with events.
  • Assisting with coordinating monthly employee newsletter.
  • Light administrative duties, including tracking consultant invoices, filing, organizing, etc.
  • Observes Safety Policies and Procedures in accordance with the Agency’s Safety Program.
  • Perform related work as directed.

Minimum Qualifications

  • An actively enrolled Junior or higher-level students majoring in communications, public relations, journalism, advertising, English, language arts, marketing or similar.

Supplemental Information

MINIMUM STANDARDS REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Physical Abilities:  Tasks involve the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (5-10 pounds). Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation.

Sensory Abilities:  Some tasks require visual perception and discrimination. Some tasks require oral communications ability.

Environmental Requirements:  Tasks may risk exposure to extremes in temperature and dusts or pollen.

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.