The City of Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Department is seeking a motivated intern—either a recent graduate, graduate student, or undergraduate in their senior year—to support the Department’s public outreach efforts for the Parks and Recreation Master Plan (Master Plan). This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a major citywide planning initiative focused on shaping the future of Santa Barbara’s parks, recreation facilities, and community programs. Position is Part-time in Spring and Full-time in Summer. $26.25/hour.
Key Responsibilities:
During Spring 2026
Assist with planning and implementing public outreach strategies for the Master Plan.
Help prepare presentations, flyers, and other outreach materials.
Conduct research and stakeholder outreach, including surveys and interviews.
Coordinate logistics for public meetings and community events.
Support general planning and research activities related to the Master Plan.
During Summer 2026
Support in-person engagement at community events, meetings, and workshops.
Gather and document community input through interviews, comment forms, and online surveys.
Assist with documenting, summarizing, and evaluating outreach data.
Collaborate with staff and community partners to refine outreach strategies.
Ideal Candidate
We are seeking graduate students with academic backgrounds or career interests in:
Urban or Regional Planning
Public Administration or Public Policy
Community Engagement or Communications
Parks and Recreation Management
Environmental Studies
Schedule:
Spring 2026: Part-time (8–16 hours/week, flexible around academic commitments)
Summer 2026: Full-time (up to 40 hours/week)
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
The City of Santa Barbara is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an EEO employer. Allqualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, or other factors. We believein fostering an inclusive work environment where employees feel valued, respected and empowered.
Disaster Services Assignments
As public employees, we play an enhanced role in the event of a disaster or other emergency in our community. You willbe registered as a disaster services worker, and you will be issued a disaster services identification card. In the event ofa disaster or other emergency, make sure that your family is safe and secure first, then report to your assignedemergency location. Hourly employees generally do not receive disaster services assignments.
Employer
City of Santa Barbara
Address
EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS
Requirements:
Bachelor’s degree or senior status in current undergraduate studies
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience with public outreach or stakeholder engagement
Bilingual in English and Spanish to effectively communicate with diverse park users
Strong organizational and communication skills
Interest in parks, open space, recreation, and community well-being
Bonus: Experience with graphic design tools (e.g., Canva, Adobe Creative Suite)
SELECTION PROCESS
To apply, please submit the following:
A resume
A brief cover letter describing your interest in the position and relevant experience
A sample of relevant outreach, graphic design, or written work (Optional)
It is important that your application show all the relevant education, training, and experience you possess which qualifies you for this position. All applications will be reviewed and the most qualified candidates will be invited to continue in the selection process. Be sure to be thorough in your responses. Statements such as “See application”, “Extensive Experience”, or “See Resume” are not an acceptable substitute for a completed application.
The selection process may consist of an application screening, written exam, computer skills exam and/or an oralinterview. The successful candidate’s employment history will be thoroughly evaluated prior to appointment.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Communication regarding your application and/or status will be sent to the email address listed on your application. Please check your email and spam regularly throughout the recruitment process. You may also log into yourgovernmentjobs.com account to view these emails.
CITY APPLICATION MUST BE RECEIVED BY 5:30 PM ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 2026.
735 Anacapa Street
P.O. Box 1990
Santa Barbara, California, 93102-1990
Phone
(805) 564-5316
Website
http://www.santabarbaraca.gov
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