Allegheny County Department of Human Services Internship Openings
About the Job
The Department of Human Services is seeking creative, hard-working, skilled and highly collaborative graduate and undergraduate students to help DHS do its best job of serving vulnerable people in Allegheny County.
We have a lot to do to deliver quality social services in equitable ways, and it takes staff to do planning, budgeting, analytics, program design, community engagement, training, research, and direct service delivery. Interns have accomplished amazing things by working in those (and many other) types of work, and they often decide to work here after graduation.
Where you'll work
Most interns are based at our downtown Pittsburgh office (One Smithfield Street), South Side (Wharton Avenue), or North Side (River Avenue), but we also have locations throughout the county.
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What to do if you're interested
We have a wide array of possible internships available--when you click on the Apply button, upload your resume and a cover letter; and then answer a few simple questions at the end of the application. These questions ask you to indicate the program areas you're interested in (e.g., housing/homelessness, aging, immigrants and internationals...) and the types of work you'd like to do/build your skills in (e.g., analysis, research, client service, training, improving equity...) Our internship coordinator will then send your application to leaders in DHS who may be interested in talking with you; and will email you to let you know the status of your application.
Requirements
- Enrolled as a student at a college or university
- Can work at least 20 hours week/semester. (Up to 29 hours/week during the summer)
- Allegheny County paid interns are required to fulfill the federal I-9 documentation. For a list of acceptable documents, please refer to page 2 in the link : I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification (uscis.gov)
Compensation
$15/hour
(This does not vary by education level)
About DHS
DHS is the largest agency in Allegheny County government. With a budget over $1 billion and its close community partnerships, DHS is able to reach and serve over 200,000 people a year.
Why intern at DHS?
- You can make a big impact here. We stand out as one of the best human services organizations in the country. But we need problem-solvers, innovators, and caring staff to use our resources to serve the most vulnerable people in the county, well.
- It is innovative. Most recently, the national attention and awards we've gotten are for how DHS integrates data; and uses data to improve the safety and well-being of children and to prioritize housing. If you're excited about the chance to apply innovation and technology to making people's lives better, this could be a terrific setting for you.
- DHS has strong, principled community leaders who care about people and the public good and want to help improve human services with our partners from neighborhoods and organizations across the county. You'll be part of a team of talented, caring people to work alongside and learn from.
- Interning will give you an idea of whether this is a place where you'd like to take your next career step. Many of our current managers were DHS interns--and the network of former DHS interns leading other organizations across the US is vast. Having DHS on your resume is a good thing.
Internship positions are currently available in the following offices: (constantly updated)
Office of Analytics, Technology, and Planning (ATP) - ongoing
The Office of Analytics, Technology and Planning (ATP) provides innovative research, evaluation, and planning to program offices to support program implementation and improvement. The Analytics Intern will serve in ATP to conduct research and analysis to inform improvements in how human services are designed or delivered. This includes services to support people with substance use disorders and/or mental health challenges, services to strengthen families, especially those with young children, child welfare services, services for older adults and services for people who need developmental supports. The intern may also conduct research and analysis on local systems including public education, health, or criminal justice or work to support ways to improve operational analytics within DHS. Interns must be proficient in one or more of the following: querying relational databases, data visualizations, R or Python, mapping in ArcGIS or R.
- Within ATP, there is also an opening for a Product Management Intern. As a Product Management Intern, you'll collaborate closely with seasoned product managers, analysts, engineers, data scientists, and stakeholders. You'll gain hands-on experience in the end-to-end product development lifecycle, from ideation to launch. Key Responsibilities: Requirements Gathering: Work with cross-functional teams to define product requirements. Data Analysis: Use data to inform decisions, track KPIs, and measure success. Agile Development: Participate in sprint planning, backlog grooming, and daily stand-ups. Qualifications: Pursuing a degree in Business, Computer Science, or related fields. Strong analytical skills and a passion for problem-solving. Excellent communication and teamwork abilities. Familiarity with engineering, data analysis, and product management concepts. Eagerness to learn and contribute to real-world projects.
- Another opening within ATP is the Product/UX Design Intern. As a Product Design Intern, you'll collaborate with experienced product managers and engineers to solve real-world problems. You'll gain hands-on experience through conducting user research, crafting user story maps, building prototypes, and designing delightful user interfaces. Qualifications: * Pursuing a degree in Interaction Design, Visual Communication, or related fields. Proficiency in design tools such as Figma. Strong understanding of user-centered design principles.* Eagerness to learn and contribute to real-world design challenges.
Location: Human Services Building: 1 Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh PA 15222
Area Agency on Aging (AAA) - May 2024 - June 2025
The Area Agency on Aging (AAA) is responsible for services and programs to support Allegheny County's older adult population. Interns will serve in AAA's Division of Special Services and Strategic Initiatives to support AAA in the recruitment, training, and management of individuals who support and advocate for older adults in personal care. This role provides a unique opportunity to engage in the development of new government initiatives and provide input that will improve the experiences of older adults in Allegheny County. Travel will be required as a part of this role.
Location: Birmingham Towers: 2100 Wharton Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203
The Office of Administration (OA) - Beginning June 1, 2024
The Office of Administration is responsible for overseeing funding sources, accounts payable, financial reports, travel, IT, budget analysis and grants management. Interns will serve on the fiscal team to assist Budget Analysts and Revenue & Claims Managers with the analysis and completion of invoices, drawdown requests, financial reports, funding confirmation letters, and additional requests from program offices as necessary. This position provides a great opportunity to learn about complex government funding streams and the fiscal responsibilities of a county department. Interns must have previous knowledge and/or experience in accounting and excel.
Location: Human Services Building: 1 Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh PA 15222