BOCC Intern

Job Title: BOCCIntern

Department: Board of County Commissioners

Reports To: Commissioner Elsa Tharp

Classification: Part-Time, Non-Exempt

Compensation Range: $16/hour

Join a workplace where public service meets opportunity. At Lake County Government, employees are empowered to grow, collaborate, and make a meaningful impact every day. We offer a supportive environment that values innovation and connection, with reliable compensation, comprehensive benefits, and a commitment to helping you succeed both professionally and personally.

• Assume Good Intent: Approach each interaction with positive mindset and openness to understand others.
• Model Professionalism: Maintain high standards in behavior and communication that reflects our values.
• Apply County Wide Lens: Consider the broader impact of decisions on our community and organization as a whole.
• Be Solutions-Oriented: Focus on finding constructive solutions rather than dwelling on problems or challenges.
• Practice Servant Leadership: Prioritize the needs of others, fostering a supportive and collaborative work environment.
• Support Meaningful Work-Life Balance: Encourage boundaries that support personal well-being while achieving professional responsibilities.

This internship offers a high degree of flexibility and can be shaped collaboratively by the intern and supervisor based on the intern’s interests, skills, and the County’s current priorities and initiatives. Much like the work of a County Commissioner, the projects and experiences available through this internship can vary widely. Potential projects and areas of focus may include:

• Develop policy for a local issue or internal process
• Research and develop policy recommendations related to local issues or internal County processes.
• Research the history, purpose, and local impacts of TABOR (the Colorado Constitutional Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights).
• Analyze and compare community conversations across platforms, including Facebook, email, and public comment submitted to local elected officials.
• Develop easy-to-understand resources, such as a public hearing cheat sheet, to help community members better understand and participate in County processes.
• Create data visualizations that help the public understand how Lake County Government allocates and spends public funds.
• Research and develop a roadmap for the potential consolidation or coordination of select City of Leadville and Lake County services.
• Collaborate with other Colorado County Commissioners on political advocacy efforts and engagement with state legislators regarding proposed legislation affecting local government.
• Explore other projects and initiatives based on the intern’s interests, emerging community needs, and the County’s current priorities.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Collaborate with Commissioner Elsa to establish a consistent and predictable schedule that accommodates the intern’s school, work, family, and extracurricular commitments.
• Develop an understanding of the basic functions of local government and community infrastructure through visits and introductions to local and regional entities, which may include City Hall, Leadville Sanitation, Parkville Water, the United States Forest Service, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, and other community organizations.
• Attend at least five public meetings with Commissioner Elsa to gain firsthand exposure to local government, community organizations, and civic decision-making. Meetings may include Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), Regional Housing Authority, Parkville Water, Mineral Belt Trail Committee,…