Management Intern (Management Services Department)

Management Intern (Management Services Department)

Salary

$19.85 - $26.60 Hourly

Location

Civic Center, Lake Forest, CA

Job Type

Part-time

Department

Management Services

Opening Date

09/03/2026

Closing Date

9/24/2026 6:00 PM Pacific

FLSA

Non-Exempt

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Description

The City of Lake Forests Management Services Department is seeking a motivated and ambitious Management Intern to join our team!

The Management Intern position offers a flexible scheduled of 10 to 20 hours per week, making it an excellent opportunity for bachelors or masters students interested in pursuing a career in city management or other local government roles. This position works under a schedule approved by the Deputy City Manager, who serves as the supervisor. Flexible scheduling will be provided to accommodate academic commitments and other scheduling needs.

The City of Lake Forests internship program is designed to provide meaningful, hands-on experience for individuals seeking to develop their professional skills and gain valuable workplace experience. Through a variety of assignments and projects, interns will have the opportunity to enhance their knowledge, strengthen their skill set, and increase their competitiveness for future career opportunities.

This is an excellent opportunity to gain practical experience and professional development in the field of city management. If you are passionate about serving the community, making a positive impact, and learning from experienced local government professionals, we encourage you to apply.

Apply Here!

Key Responsibilities

• Works directly with the Deputy City Manager and other Management Services Department staff on a variety of high-impact projects, including:

• Public safety and emergency management

• Animal care and community engagement

• Community services and recreation programming

• Contribute to the Citys response plans and community messaging for emergencies, such as wildfires and earthquakes

• Engage in various initiatives related to City park improvements and recreational activities and programming

• Analyze and enhance the Citys animal care programs

• Assist with various public safety initiatives

• Preparation of reports for the Citys Community Services Commission

Professional Benefit

• Flexible scheduling to accommodate school and existing work commitments
• Full access to Lake Forests employee mentorship program, providing one-on-one training with department directors and other management staff
• Paid membership to the Municipal Management Association of Southern California (MMASC) or a comparable professional development organization
• Access to the Citys on-site employee fitness center and wellness programming

Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled in a relevant academic program or a working professional with an interest in city management, public administration, or public policy
• Strong organizational and communication skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Commitment to public service and community engagement

SELECTION COMPONENTS:

• Application Evaluation - Applications will be accepted until Thursday, September 24. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply early, as the recruitment may close without notice at any time.
• Interviews - Interviews are tentatively scheduled for Thursday, October 8. Successful candidates will be placed on an eligibility list that may be used to fill current and future vacancies as they occur.
• Selection Interviews - If necessary, second-round interviews are tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, October 14.

Examples of Duties

Under the supervision of the Deputy City Manager, the Management Intern will assist, participate in, and perform various administrative and basic analytical duties across multiple City departments. Responsibilities include preparing and maintaining various documents and performing a range of administrative and clerical tasks relevant to the assigned area.

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the class.

• Performs administrative and basic analytical duties for various City departments including assisting the professional staff as needed.
• Participates in routine projects and research in a variety of areas.
• Researches and evaluates data and presents facts, conclusions, and recommendations clearly and concisely to department staff, other City departments and agencies, and to the general public.
• Participates in the development and/or revisions of manuals, policies and procedures.
• Conducts and participates in a variety of department studies and special projects including operational and procedural studies, service demand studies, and capacity studies.
• Compiles statistical data; provides recommendations regarding operational and service improvements; conducts quality control for imaged documents.
• Utilizes various computer applications and software packages; enters data; creates and updates databases and spreadsheets; maintains and generates reports from a database or network system.
• Respond to requests for information from outside agencies and organizations including surveys.
• Assist with updating the Citys website.
• Operates a variety of office equipment including copiers, scanners, facsimile machine, and computer.
• Performs related duties as required.

Typical Qualifications

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices and methods of administrative and organizational analysis; public administration policies and procedures.
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases
• Effective business communications and correct English usage, including spelling, grammar and punctuation
• Research techniques, methods, and procedures and report presentation; internet web site practices, methods and techniques; basic principles and practices of report preparation.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local codes, laws, and regulations.

Ability to:

• Provide responsible administrative and basic analytical support to assigned area.
• Learn operations, services, and activities within the area of assignment; participate in various administrative support functions.
• Formulate hypotheses and develop conclusions and prepare reports.
• Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications; learn and effectively utilize various software applications.
• Utilize good judgment in analyzing situations carefully and adopting effective courses of action; gather, organize, compile, and summarize data.
• Understand and follow oral and written directions; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Licenses/Certificates/Special Requirements:

A valid Class C California Drivers License and the ability to maintain insurability under the Citys Vehicle Insurance Policy.

Education/Training/Experience:

Applicants must be a junior, senior or a graduate student in college, or must have a Bachelors Degree or Masters Degree from an accredited university with major course work in public or business administration or a related field.

Supplemental Information

The physical and mental demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this class, the employee is regularly required to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; and to verbally communicate to exchange information. Specific hearing abilities required by this job include hearing in the normal audio range with or without correction. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Mental Demands

While performing the duties of this class, the employee must be able to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret data, information and documents; interpret policies and procedures; use math and mathematical reasoning; learn and apply new information or new skills; work under deadlines with constant interruptions; and interact with the general public, outside organizations, business representatives, employees, and others encountered in the course of work, including occasionally dealing with conflict situations.

Work Environment

The employee primarily works in a standard office setting.

Part-time employees are non-benefited, at-will positions. Part-time employees are enrolled in the PARS retirement system with the City making an employer contribution and the employee contribution (6.2%) being deducted from your payroll check. The PARS retirement system is in lieu of participating in social security. You will, however, participate in the Medicare portion of social security as that is a required program.

01

Please indicate your highest level of education.

• High School Diploma
• Bachelors degree
• Masters degree
• None of the above

02

Please list your major/minor field of study.

03

Do you have experience working in the public sector?

• Yes
• No

04

If yes, list the employer, dates of employment or internship and the job duties that you performed. Please do not put "See Resume."

05

Please describe your short or long-term career goals.

06

I have attached a Resume and Cover Letter/Letter of Interest to my online application.

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer City of Lake Forest

Address 100 Civic Center Drive

Lake Forest, California, 92630

Phone 949-461-3566

Website https://www.lakeforestca.gov