Orange County Power Authority (OCPA) is currently accepting applications for the position of Intern for the Winter 2027 term. Under the direction of OCPA staff, internships provide a look into the energy industry and the daily operations of a Community Choice Aggregation agency (CCA). Depending upon the assigned department, Interns will assist with administrative tasks, event planning and coordination, engagement opportunities, and research projects.
A part-time intern is being sought. One internship will serve within the Communications and External Affairs (C&EA) Department. This position is currently open for 2 months / Winter 2027, anticipated to run from January 18th, 2027 through February 26, 2027.
Internship with the Communications and External Affairs team is open to currently enrolled college students.
Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis until position is filled.
Examples of Duties
Internships require 10-20 hours of work per week, during normal office hours Monday through Friday. However, it may require participation outside of regular business hours, at events and meetings. The position will be located alongside staff at the office in Irvine, California.
A successful candidate will possess excellent written and verbal communication skills and will be a highly collaborative team player with the ability to thrive in an office environment as well as at community events. Candidates should also have basic to intermediate proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite of products. This role will require the prioritization of multiple tasks at once and the efficient completion of projects.
Examples of Duties / Functions
Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees with disabilities can perform the essential functions of the job.
Communications and External Affairs Team:
- Administrative Tasks
- Preparing informational materials
- Maintaining the inventory of marketing items and communications collateral
- Updating customer communications
- Assisting with the creation of PowerPoint presentations
- Facilitating meeting scheduling and logistics
- Assisting with Community Advisory Committee meeting preparation
- Taking meeting notes and consolidating staff feedback
- Event Planning
- Attending local events with staff
- Identifying event participation opportunities
- Confirming and scheduling approved events
- Processing registration for events
- Assisting in set-up, operation, and tear-down of events
- Tracking attendance and participation at events
- Distributing event photos to Communications & External Affairs team
- Engagement Opportunities
- Serving as a point of contact for customer inquiries
- Coordinating college and university level outreach
- Research Projects
- Aggregating relevant local news and public input in regular reports
- Searching for innovative ideas that can benefit OCPA customers
- Identifying content improvement opportunities for the OCPA website
Typical Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience: Must be a current student from an accredited college or university, preferably in Communications, Environmental Studies, Media Relations, or a related field to communications. Students attending a college or university in Orange County are preferred.
Possession of a valid State of California driver’s license is preferred.
Other Qualifications
Analytical Thinking: Approaches a problem or situation by using a logical, systematic, sequential approach.
Collaboration: Develops networks and builds alliances; engages in cross-functional activities.
Communication Skills: Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills and displays openness to other people’s ideas and thoughts.
Supplemental Information
Compensation and BenefitsSalary: $18-$24 per hour; commensurate with experience.
Hours: 10-20 hours per week.
OCPA part-time employees are eligible for benefits required by applicable State and Federal law, including paid sick leave.
Orange County Power Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities without regard to any status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.