STEM Ecosystem Policy, Communications & Operations Intern

STEM Ecosystem Policy, Communications & Operations Intern

Harrisonburg City Public Schools District Wide - Harrisonburg, Virginia Open in Google Maps

Starting Date:
Immediately

Position:

STEM Ecosystem Policy, Communications & Operations Intern

Reports to:

K-12 STEM Director and Executive Director of VA STEM Ecosystems

Contract:

10-15 hours/week (pending grant approval)

Salary Scale:

$20.00/hour

FLSA Status:

Non-Exempt

Revised:2/2026

The Policy, Communications & Operations Intern will support the development of a statewide STEM ecosystem by assisting the Executive Director with strategic communications, marketing planning, partner engagement, policy and workforce research, data tracking, and grant support. This intern will play a key role in strengthening statewide messaging, identifying and organizing relevant STEM initiatives across Virginia, and supporting operational coordination with regional partners and hub leaders.

A significant component of this internship includes collecting, organizing, and analyzing data in spreadsheets to support partner engagement, grant development, and statewide reporting efforts.

This position is ideal for a student interested in public policy, communications, workforce development, education, nonprofit management, strategic partnerships, or data-informed decision-making.

• Assist in developing and executing a marketing and communications plan aligned with statewide STEM network goals.
• Create and support development of marketing and outreach materials such as:
• flyers, one-pagers, newsletters, and outreach templates
• social media content calendars and campaign concepts
• presentation slides and stakeholder materials
• Support development of consistent messaging for statewide and regional audiences.
• Assist in organizing and maintaining communication tools (email lists, partner updates, communication schedules, etc.).

• Develop and maintain spreadsheet-based tracking tools to support partner engagement, hub development, and statewide ecosystem progress.
• Track and organize key data such as:
• partner and stakeholder contact information
• hub participation and regional engagement activity
• meeting attendance, outreach logs, and follow-up actions
• statewide STEM initiatives by region and sector
• grant opportunities, deadlines, and submission requirements
• Support basic data analysis by identifying trends, gaps, and patterns across regions (ex: underserved areas, partner engagement frequency, initiative overlap).
• Create clear, organized data summaries that can be used for:
• leadership decision-making
• grant narratives and reports
• stakeholder updates
• dashboards or summary briefs
• Assist in improving consistency and quality of data entry (standardizing formats, categories, and documentation practices).

• Research current and emerging Virginia state policy developments related to STEM education, workforce development, and career readiness.
• Monitor statewide workforce development initiatives and reports (VDOE, VEDP, GO Virginia, SCHEV, Virginia Works, etc.).
• Summarize findings into short briefs and updates for leadership and partners.
• Track relevant legislation, funding priorities, and statewide initiatives that could influence STEM programming or partnerships.

• Support communication and coordination with STEM partners, hub leaders, and regional stakeholders.
• Assist in preparing partner communications, meeting agendas, and follow-up documentation.
• Help compile stakeholder lists and maintain a directory of STEM ecosystem partners.
• Support coordination of convenings, meetings, and outreach efforts.
• Document and track partner engagement actions and follow-up needs.

• Research potential grant opportunities aligned with statewide STEM ecosystem goals.
• Maintain a grant tracking spreadsheet with deadlines, requirements, and partner alignment.
• Assist in drafting grant support materials including:
• background research and supporting evidence
• needs statements and rationale
• program descriptions and outcomes language
• p…