Office of Emergency Management Access and Functional Needs Spring 2027 Internship

We welcome applications from students currently enrolled at any accredited college, university, or community college. A n eligible list established with this recruitment may be used to fill other similar internships within the Colorado Department of Public Safety in the next 12 months. Our Mission - Engaged employees working together to safeguard lives and to provide diverse public safety services to local communities. Our Vision - Creating safer and more resilient communities across Colorado. Our Core Values - Unity, Honor, Service The State of Colorado strives to create a Colorado for All by building and maintaining workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness. The State is dedicated to non-discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities. At CDPS, our culture is driven by our commitment to creating a safer Colorado and guided by a public service focus. We strive to provide effective solutions and services to our fellow Coloradans. We model a culture of collaboration, innovation, and growth for our employees. We maintain a professional and inclusive workplace. Careers with a purpose: If you are passionate about public safety and public service, and are eager to dedicate your career to serving Coloradans, consider joining CDPS. Our team at CDPS consists of exceptional individuals and is an environment where you can challenge yourself and acquire new capabilities to build a rewarding and fulfilling career. We are committed to providing public safety services to our communities including safety on our roads, preparing for and mitigating environmental disasters such as floods and wildland fires, disaster recovery, combating crime, promoting school safety, and victim services. About the Work Unit The Office of Emergency Management, Planning Section, leads the Division’s integrated response and short-term recovery planning efforts. Our section is comprised of two specialized units: Operational Planning and Public Safety Communications. Together, these units provide critical planning support to the Division, State agencies, local emergency managers, and key stakeholders across Colorado. Colorado’s Access and Functional Needs (AFN) program connects government and community groups to integrate access and functional needs into emergency management plans that include everyone, especially people who need extra help during a disaster. The goal is to equip emergency management stakeholders to effectively address CMIST (Communication, Maintain Health, Independence; Safety, Support Services, and Self-Determination, and Transportation) resource disruptions for their whole community throughout the disaster cycle. The program offers: Planning and Support Help Local Communities : Gives tools to state and local offices to build emergency plans that include people with access and functional needs. Community Member Disaster Planning : Helps local planners run workshops so families can prepare for disruptions to health, safety and travel. Advise Leaders : Integrate access and functional needs into emergency planning and operations. Interpretation and Instruction on Emergency Management Laws : Explains how to follow state laws about accessibility during emergencies. Trainings and Events Facilitate and Create Training : Trains communities on how to prevent, protect against, lessen, respond to and recover from disasters. Host a Yearly Conference : Leads and plans the annual Colorado Access and Functional Needs Conference at a no cost registration for Colorado Emergency Management and partners. Strengthen Disaster Readiness : Helps the State Emergency Operations Center practice safety drills before disasters happen and serves as Access and Functional Needs Officer in response. About the 2027 Spring Internship This unpaid internship offers a supportive learning environment where students can apply their academic knowledge to real-world public-sector challenges. Interns will gain practical experience, expand their professional networks, participate in professional development, and develop a portfolio of work that supports future career opportunities Work Environment F ormat: Hybrid Position ( in-office attendance (Centennial Office) is flexible, with a preference for Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday) Commitment: 9 to 16 hours per week Core Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM- 5:00 PM Internship Opportunities: Event Production: Assist in producing accessible events and the Access and Functional Needs Conference . Responsibilities include managing picture-in-picture (PIP) production, using OSEE for hybrid events, and coordinating video recordings with language interpretation, ASL, and captioning. Marketing: Support marketing initiatives for the Access and Functional Needs Program , including the development of newsletters, monthly meetings, and training materials. Data Analytics: Analyze data to measure project success and facilitate the transfer of knowledge from Access and Functional Needs meetings, trainings, and conferences. Event Planning: Coordinate events, including presenter selection, agenda development, and sponsorship outreach for the annual Access and Functional Needs Conference and related meetings. What You'll Gain Hands-on experience working on meaningful projects Exposure to professional and public service career pathways Mentorship and collaboration with experienced emergency management professionals Professional development and skill-building opportunities We encourage current students eager to build real-world experience, develop professional skills, and explore careers in Emergency Management to apply! Note, to be considered for this position, you must meet one of the following options for consideration. Proven Experience, Knowledge, Skills No prior professional experience is required. Candidates should be eager to learn in a fast-paced environment and possess a strong desire to understand our work. We value reliability, flexibility, and trainability. The ability to travel as needed is also required. Current enrollment in a Associate's, Bachelor's or Master's programs in one the following degrees: Project Development, Project Management, Emergency Management, Public Information Officers, Data Management, Theatrical Design, Media Production, Disability Studies, Universal Design, Hospitality, Event Planning, Human Services, Management, Business Administration, Communications or a closely related field with an accredited college, university, or community college. Conditions of Employment Requires successful completion of a background investigation that includes a polygraph exam, a fingerprint based criminal history search, reference checking. Minimum commitment of 9 to 16 hours per week Active enrollment in a Associate's, Bachelor's or Master's program Disability Accommodation If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure equitable opportunity applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to Human Resources at: cdps_hr@state.co.us . The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. Colorado Department of Public Safety is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. Recruitment Timeline Information and Important Notices Applications are considered complete and accurate at the time of submission. Therefore, additional information may not be solicited or accepted after your application has been received. Closing Date: All applications that are received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications may proceed to the next step. Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process. Supplemental Question: