City of Menlo Park

  • Teen Programs and Community Outreach Internship (Library and Community Services Department) (20767677)

  • CITY OF MENLO PARK, CA
  • 701 Laurel St, Menlo Park, California 94025 United States View Map

Job Description

Are you passionate about youth engagement and community development? The City of Menlo Park is seeking a dynamic Recreation Intern to lead a high-impact community assessment project. In this role, you will research and identify barriers to participation, analyze emerging youth trends, and uncover key opportunities to expand local teen recreation services. Your insights and findings will directly shape the future of our programming, facility planning, and community outreach strategies, leaving a lasting mark on the youth of Menlo Park.

About the Department

The Library and Community Services department is responsible for providing excellent customer service through recreational, educational, and cultural programs for children, adults and seniors. Our facilities include 221 acres of parkland distributed among 13 parks, two libraries, two community centers, two public pools, three childcare centers, two gymnasiums, and one gymnastics center. Included in the parks and recreation areas are tennis and pickleball courts, dog parks, softball diamonds, picnic areas, playgrounds, soccer fields, a skate park, shared use of a performing arts center and open space. The City of Menlo Park opened a state-of-the-art new facility that incorporates a community center, gymnasium, aquatics center, senior center, youth center, and branch library in May 2024.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal intern is genuinely curious about teen perspectives, excels at building rapport, and can translate community insights into practical solutions. Strong candidates will bring a blend of research skills, creative thinking, and community engagement experience.

The ideal intern is someone who is a:
  • Passionate youth advocate: Deeply curious about and driven by what motivates today's teenagers.
  • Active listener: Prioritizes listening over talking to create a welcoming, open dialogue.
  • Relatable & trustworthy: Skilled at building authentic trust and rapport with young people.
  • Proactive facilitator: Confident approaching new people and easing into meaningful conversations.
  • Critical thinker: Asks insightful, well-considered questions that encourage deeper reflection.
  • Agile & innovative: Highly adaptable and enthusiastic about testing fresh engagement strategies.
  • Self-driven leader: Takes initiative easily and excels in autonomous environments.

Primary Responsibilities
  • Develop a project timeline.
  • Conduct literature reviews and research on successful teen recreation models from other communities.
  • Design surveys, interview questions, and focus group materials.
  • Collect data through surveys, observations, interviews, and community engagement.
  • Visit parks, schools, community centers, and other gathering places to connect directly with teens. Engage youth in conversations to better understand their interests, recreation habits, unmet needs, and barriers to participation.
  • Analyze data and identify key trends and recommendations.
  • Prepare a final report summarizing findings, supported by data and actionable recommendations. Present findings and recommendations to Library and Community Services leadership.

By the conclusion of the internship, the intern will produce:
  • A Teen Recreation Needs Assessment.
  • A summary of community outreach findings.
  • Data analysis identifying recreation trends and service gaps.
  • Recommendations for new programs, events, services, and outreach strategies designed to increase teen participation.
  • A presentation to City leadership outlining findings and proposed next steps.

Minimum Qualifications

Public Administration: Applicants must be in the process of earning an undergraduate (junior or senior) or master’s degree in public administration, or a related field or within one (1) year after graduation.

Benefits

This is a non-benefited temporary position. Hours of work are flexible and can be designed around course work requirements. There is a possibility for a hybrid work schedule, with some remote work. A temporary employee may not work more than 1000 hours per year (July 1 through June 30) and will receive sick leave in accordance with State Law.

Special Instructions

Please note: Hiring occurs on an as-needed basis. Applications will be reviewed continuously and interviews conducted on a rolling basis until the position is filled, at which point recruitment will close.

Please add the following information to your application:
  • Cover letter
  • Resume
  • Copy of college (unofficial) transcript

The City will review all applications and interview selected applicants.

Applications will be screened according to the qualifications outlined in this announcement.

The City of Menlo Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the City of Menlo Park not to discriminate against all qualified applicants or employees. We will make reasonable efforts in the selection process to accommodate persons with disabilities. Please contact Human Resources at (650) 330-6670 or
[email protected]
prior to the closing date for accommodation requests.

Before receiving an offer of employment, candidates will be required to successfully complete a reference check, criminal conviction history questionnaire, and Department of Justice fingerprinting. Applicants must be successful in all phases of the selection process to be considered for this position.

In accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act, all potential employees are required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship or authorization to work in the United States.

Closing Date/Time: Until filled
City of Menlo Park

City of Menlo Park

Menlo Park is a city of beautiful, tree-lined neighborhoods and active commercial districts. Located conveniently between the major metropolitan areas of San Francisco and San Jose, Menlo Park is home to a little over 32,000 residents in its 19 square miles. The stunning natural surroundings of the city afford views of the San Francisco Bay to the east and the Pacific Coastal Range to the west. Menlo Park’s climate is moderate to warm, with an average of 265 sunny days a year. 

Menlo Park’s residents reflect a range of backgrounds and interests who tend to be well educated and actively engaged in community life. Excellent public and private schools serve its many young families, while residents of all ages enjoy the City’s numerous parks and recreational facilities. The city’s close proximity to Stanford University and Menlo College provide a multitude of academic, cultural and athletic event opportunities. The arts and leisure activities of the major urban areas of San Francisco and San Jose are close by. These and many other amenities contribute to Menlo Park’s outstanding quality of life.

Located in the heart of Menlo Park is a downtown featuring unique and upscale shops and restaurants. Set in a pleasant, pedestrian-oriented atmosphere, Menlo Park’s downtown area attracts locals and visitors alike. Known worldwide as the “Capital of Venture Capital,” Menlo Park is well situated to benefit from and help shape new technologies and markets originating from the Silicon Valley. The city hosts such major employers as SRI International, the U.S. Geological Survey, Facebook, Pacific Biosciences, E*TRADE Financial Corporation and CS Bio Co.

City government


Menlo Park was founded November 23, 1927, as a general law city under the State of California and operates under the council-manager form of government. The City Council appoints the City Manager and City Attorney as well as members of a variety of commissions and committees. City departments that report to the City Manager include Administrative Services, the City Manager’s Office, Community Development, Community Services, Library, Police and Public Works.

In addition to its many attributes, Menlo Park has one of the most beautiful civic center campuses in the Bay Area. Lush landscaping including heritage trees, a running fountain and a duck pond surrounds the City Hall / Administration Building. The campus also includes a nine-acre park, recreation facilities and the main Menlo Park library. These civic amenities make the campus a noted destination for City residents, local employees and visitors alike. Conveniently located, the campus is a short walk to the Caltrain station and Menlo Park’s downtown retail district.

The Menlo Park City website is the primary source for information about City services, programs, projects, events, meetings, policies and volunteer opportunities.

City Council


The City Council is the City's five-member governing body whose members serve at-large for four-year overlapping terms in general municipal elections. The City Council selects from among its members, the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem to one-year terms at its first meeting in December of each year. The Mayor, who represents the City of Menlo Park, serves as the presiding officer of the City Council and signs enacting ordinances and contracts. The Menlo Park City Council meetings are generally Tuesdays at 7 p.m. at the City Council Chambers located at 701 Laurel Street. Menlo Park’s City Councilmembers serve part-time, retaining their positions in private industry, personal enterprise, business or the professions. 

 

 

 

 

 

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