College Internship - Visual Communications Intern at Seattle Public Utilities

College Internship - Visual Communications Intern

Do you have a passion for design? SPU’s Community Affairs team is seeking one (1) graduate intern to join their team as a Visual Communications Intern. You will play a key role in creating visually compelling materials that align with SPU’s and the City's style guidelines. Your work will support a variety of communication projects, including web images, posters, flyers, digital signage, newsletters, social media graphics, and more.

You’ll have the opportunity to gain hands‑on experience while collaborating with a talented team in a professional setting.

• Gain valuable experience working within established brand guidelines to create a cohesive visual identity.
• Learn how to collaborate with a professional communications team on both internal and external projects.
• Develop expertise in organizing and utilizing professional photo libraries and other multimedia resources.

This internship is for up to 24 months from start date or graduation, whichever comes first.

About Seattle Public Utilities: Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is a community-centered utility that delivers vital services to Seattle residents and businesses including drinking water, drainage and wastewater, and garbage/recycling/compost. SPU also provides drinking water for 1.5 million customers in the region. SPU’s work includes system maintenance and improvements and keeping Seattle clean. Over 1,400 SPU employees work with our community to provide affordable and equitable stewardship of our water and waste resources for future generations.

For more information about Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), checkout the:

SPU commits to Our City Values and Race and Social Justice as core principles that guide our work. We actively take steps to dismantle systemic racism and increase service equity. We value diverse life experiences and strive to create a workplace that is welcoming to all. We take steps to be inclusive and equitable in our recruiting, hiring and promotional opportunities.

Create eye-catching graphics for social media ads, posts, newsletters, and website content that engage and inform our audience.

• Develop visuals for internal communications, including posters, flyers, digital signage, and images for SharePoint to keep staff informed and engaged.
• Curate and enhance visuals from SPU's photo library, ensuring photos are properly archived and ready for use in future projects.
• Provide logos, icons, and other visual assets for both internal and external requests, helping to maintain brand consistency across platforms.
• Assist with a variety of design-related tasks to support the team as needed.

Education: Applicants must be currently enrolled as a graduate student pursuing a degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Communications, Marketing, or a closely related field.

Students must be enrolled at least part-time or full-time and maintain a 3.0 GPA (graduate) for the duration of the internship.

Exception: Students do not need to be enrolled over the summer months but will need to provide at the end of Spring Quarter proof of continuing and pre-registration for the Autumn session as applicable.

History of creating graphics while following brand guidelines

• Prior experience working in a team environment
• Background in working collaboratively with diverse teams
• Experience with layout design for publications with multiple stories or sections
• Eager to learn and grow in a fast‑paced, professional environment

During school sessions, work hours will be scheduled to complement class schedules (20 hours per week).

This internship opportunity may permit up to 40 hours per week during breaks and summer months.

Work is normally performed between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday - Friday.

The full salary range for this position is: $26.71 - $26.71 per hour.

• Resume identifying how you meet the qualifications of the internship.
• Graphic Design samples/portfolio
• Cover letter indicating your interest in this internship.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

This position allows for the flexibility of a hybrid work schedule. Individual schedules will be agreed upon by the employee and their supervisor.

The City of Seattle encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experience. This position is open to all qualified candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity.