Marketing and Communications Graduate Student Intern - Energy Department

Our diverse and inclusive workforce of more than 7,000 employees play a key role in the success of San José, the heart of the Silicon Valley. All City of San José employees work together as one team to make San José a vibrant, innovative, and desirable place to live and work. Visit here to learn more about our One Team Leadership Values and Expectations, including quality and excellent customer service and here to learn more about San José.

The City of San José is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of San José is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at 408-535-1285, 711 (TTY), or via email at CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov.

About the Department
San José Clean Energy, or SJCE, is San José’s local, not-for-profit electricity supplier operated by the City of San José’s Energy Department. Since 2019, our dedicated and motivated team has provided clean energy for residents and businesses at competitive rates, while also offering community programs, local benefits, and increased transparency and accessibility.

San José Clean Energy serves more than 350,000 customers and has a peak load of almost 1 GW. SJCE is responsible for purchasing over 4,500 GWh of electricity annually and has an annual operating budget of over $300 million. Serving our community with respect and integrity is at the core of what we do. Joining our team means that you will be making a big impact and in the forefront in the fight against climate change. SJCE plays an important role in meeting San José’s ambitious goal to be carbon neutral by 2030 and in implementing Climate Smart San José, the City’s climate action plan.

SJCE centers equity in its drive to provide clean, renewable energy at competitive rates and provide local benefits. Since inception, SJCE has sprinted ahead to now provide 60% renewable and 95% carbon-free energy in our base product and has contracted to add over 550 MW of new solar, wind, and battery storage to the grid. SJCE’s low carbon energy supply is foundational as we work to meet the electrification goals outlined in Climate Smart San José. For more information about San José Clean Energy, please visit: www.sanjosecleanenergy.org.
Position Duties
The Marketing and Communications Intern’s primary responsibility will be to assist SJCE with day-to-day communications and improving customer experiences. Projects could include:

Help maintain and expand SJCE’s program webpages (electric vehicles, solar and storage, electric homes, etc.) or interviews with key stakeholders.
Assist with developing online tools to help customers navigate the electric vehicles, home electrification, and rooftop solar and increase adoption.
Create social media and blog content that highlights SJCE programs.
Research, coordinate, and attend community events to increase awareness of SJCE programs and services, particularly in diverse communities. Pitch community events for the marketing team to attend, prepare collateral and materials for events, and conduct outreach at events. The intern may be asked to develop an interactive game or activity for SJCE’s event booth.
Organize SJCE’s marketing collateral and develop a library of materials that is visible and accessible for department staff and the public.
Assist with noticing for SJCE programs and improve and streamline processes. This includes drafting letters and emails, developing and refining key messaging, and reviewing data to measure the effectiveness of communications.
Become a cheerleader for SJCE and CCAs! Connect with colleagues in the field and develop an understanding of industry trends and initiatives.
Duration of Assignment - January 2025 - June 2025– with the possibility of extension

Pay: Graduate Student Intern: $19.62 – 28.98 per hour (unbenefited). These salary ranges include an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation. Actual salary shall be determined by the final candidates’ qualifications and experience.
The Graduate Intern is required to work 24 hours per week at the Energy Department location. Address: 4 North 2nd St., San Jose, CA 945113

Minimum Qualifications
Graduate Student Intern: Completion of a bachelor’s degree and current enrollment in a master’s degree program from an accredited college or university.

Licenses & Certificates: Possession of a valid driver's license authorizing the operation of a motor vehicle in the State of California may be required for these internship positions.

EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will not prepare or file a labor condition application with the Department of Labor.

Desired skills:

Provide creative suggestions to achieve communication goals.
Research, fact check, proofread, and edit as necessary.
Excellent organizational, time management, and communication skills.
Ability to handle multiple tasks/projects simultaneously in a deadline-driven environment.
Experience in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
May include other duties and tasks of a similar nature as assigned.
Other desired knowledge and characteristics:

Environmental or energy coursework and other training
Experience/knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite software and Canva Pro
Experience/knowledge of social media

Additional Information:

Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

You must answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses. Please be advised that use of AI content in your responses may result in your removal from the hiring process.

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application. If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov and we will research the status of your application.