Public Safety Strategy Intern (City of Reno - Council & Executive Operations, Pack Intern, Spring '27)

**This internship is hosted by the City of Reno Council & Executive Operations and sponsored by the Nevada Career Studio and ASUN. 

Students are highly encouraged to complete a 15 minute drop-in or schedule an in-person or virtual 30-minute appointment with a Career Mentor BEFORE submitting an application. Resumes and cover letters that do not meet NCS best practices will not be included in applicant packages to employers. 

After the application period closes in Handshake, the NCS Internships Team reviews the applicants and sends eligible students' applicant packages to employers for them to reach out to conduct interviews and make the final intern selection. Employers will contact students directly if they are interested in moving forward with them as a candidate. 

City of Reno – Council & Executive Operations 

About City of Reno – Council & Executive Operations: 

The City of Reno is a municipal government serving Nevada's third-largest city, located in the Truckee Meadows at the eastern base of the Sierra Nevada and serving as the county seat of Washoe County. Known as "The Biggest Little City in the World," Reno is home to an estimated 283,000 residents and anchors a metropolitan region of nearly half a million people. 

The City provides the full range of municipal services contemplated by statute and charter, including police and fire protection, municipal court services, 911 dispatch, water reclamation and stormwater management, streets and traffic, parks and recreation, community development and planning, and general government functions such as finance, human resources, information technology, and records management. The City also exercises oversight of the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Reno. 

Internship Description: 

The Public Safety Strategy Intern will support the City of Reno's work at the intersection of policy, data, and public safety operations. Working under the guidance of an experienced professional, the intern will assist with research, data analysis, and the development of written materials that inform strategic decisions and coordination across departments and regional partners. The intern will support projects related to public safety policy, program evaluation, and interagency collaboration, and will help prepare briefings, reports, and presentations for City leadership and the City Council. This role offers exposure to how a mid-sized city government develops and implements public safety strategy, including coordination with police, fire, and regional partners such as Washoe County and the City of Sparks. Research, analytical thinking, communication, and teamwork are key features of this role. 

Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Research public safety policies, programs, and best practices from peer cities and jurisdictions  
• Gather, organize, and analyze data to support strategic decision-making and reporting  
• Draft policy briefs, memos, summaries, and other written materials  
• Support the preparation of presentations and materials for City leadership and the City Council Assist with coordination and follow-up across departments and regional partners  
• Track progress on public safety initiatives and help maintain project documentation  
• Support meetings through agenda preparation, note-taking, and action item tracking  
• Assist with other public safety strategy projects as assigned 

Goals and Expectations of the Intern: 

• Complete 120 hours of work as an intern (8-15 hours per week, 15 weeks total) 
• Approach the work with professionalism, discretion, and reliability, given the sensitive and high-visibility nature of public safety policy 
• Build practical familiarity with how public safety strategy is developed and coordinated 
• Complete assigned research and analysis accurately and on time 
• Take increasing ownership of at least one substantive project. 
• Communicate proactively, ask questions when guidance is needed, handle confidential information appropriately, and demonstrate growth in analytical skill, written communication, and workplace judgment by the end of the term. 

Required Qualifications: 

• Must be a degree-seeking undergraduate student at the University of Nevada, Reno during the Spring ‘27 semester 
• December ‘26 or earlier graduates are not eligible for the Pack Internship Grant Program
• Reliable, professional, and able to handle sensitive or confidential information with discretion  
• Strong research, writing, and critical-thinking skills 
• Comfortable working with data and translating information into clear findings  
• Good organizational skills and attention to detail  
• Basic proficiency with standard office and data tools, including spreadsheets and word processing  
• Clear written and verbal communication skills  
• Able to work both independently and as part of a team 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Coursework or interest in public administration, political science, criminal justice, public policy, data analytics, or a related field  
• Experience with data analysis, survey work, or research methods  
• Familiarity with local government, public safety, or policy development  
• Strong writing samples or experience preparing briefs, reports, or presentations  
• Interest in public service and a problem-solving mindset Initiative in identifying questions worth exploring and improvements worth recommending 

Desired Schedule for Intern:  

Applicants must be available during standard City business hours, generally Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Scheduling is flexible around class commitments and will be arranged with the supervisor. Occasional availability outside standard hours may be requested to support specific projects or system testing, with advance notice. 

PIGP internships require interns to complete 120 hours during their internship. It is the intern’s responsibility to ensure this requirement is met.