Administration Graduate School Intern

Administration Graduate School Intern

• Type:Intern
• Salary/Pay Rate:$20.00 Per hour
• Posted Date:08/05/2026

Position Summary
This internship provides graduate-level professional work experience within Kendall County’s Administration Department. Under the supervision of the County Administrator, the Graduate
School Intern conducts independent research and analysis to support Kendall County’s operations and strategic initiatives. The role offers practical exposure to local government
administration, including, but not limited to policy development, grant writing, benchmarking, budgeting, communications, and organizational improvement projects. This graduate level
internship may be paid or unpaid and eligible for school credit (at the discretion of the County Administrator).

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The essential duties for this internship include, but are not limited to the following:

 

• Applies graduate-level education to complex organizational issues including, but not limited to policy development, budget analysis and projections, benchmarking studies, development and implementation of strategic initiatives, operational assessments, communications, and organizational improvement projects.
• Independently researches complex policy, financial, operational, and legislative issues; prepares written analyses; and presents recommendations for consideration by the County Administrator and other County leadership.
• Assists with grant research, grant writing, grant administration, and post-award compliance reporting.
• Coordinates and manages assigned projects from initiation through completion, including gathering data, communicating with departments, monitoring project milestones, and preparing status updates.
• Evaluates administrative processes and recommends improvements to records management, operational procedures, and workflow efficiencies while ensuring compliance with applicable laws and record retention requirements.
• Drafts correspondence, reports, Board memoranda, grant applications, policies, ordinances, resolutions, presentations, communications, recommendations, and other professional documents requiring independent judgment and analysis.
• Attends Kendall County Board and Committee meetings as requested, both during and after business hours.
• Handles confidential matters daily relating to all functions of the Administration and maintains confidentiality of such information.
• Collaborates with County departments, elected officials, employees, outside agencies, consultants, and community stakeholders to gather information, coordinate projects, and facilitate implementation of County initiatives.
• Complies with all applicable laws, regulations, union contracts, and County policies and procedures regarding or relating to assigned job duties.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

 

Qualifications
To perform this internship successfully, an individual must be able to perform all essential duties and responsibilities satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the
knowledge, skill, and/or ability required for the internship:

 

• Language Skills:
  1. Demonstrated ability to conduct research, synthesize complex information, prepare professional reports, and communicate recommendations clearly both orally and in writing.
  2. Requires proficient knowledge of the English language, spelling and grammar and ability to alphabetize.
• Mathematical Skills:
  1. Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
  2. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
  3. Ability to analyze financial information, budgets, statistical data, operational metrics, and performance measurements using spreadsheet software and other analytical tools.
• Reasoning Ability:
  1. Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
  2. Ability to evaluate complex issues, analyze alternatives, exercise sound judgment, identify practical solutions, and make recommendations with minimal supervision.
• Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations:
  Current and valid driver’s license.
• Other Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:
  1. Strong organization and multi-tasking skills.
  2. Excellent prioritization skills and the ability to meet deadlines.
  3. The ability to display a positive, cooperative, professional, and team orientated attitude.
  4. The ability to listen, understand information and ideas, and work effectively with County personnel, department heads, and elected officials.
  5. Ability to work with minimal supervision while exercising independent judgment.
  6. Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
  7. Excellent research abilities.
  8. Ability to interpret laws, regulations, policies, financial information, and governmental procedures.
  9. Must be proficient in the use of computers and in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Teams, and PowerPoint.
  10. Must be proficient in the use of Microsoft Excel for financial forecasting and data analysis.
  11. Knowledge of office practices, principles of modern record keeping, and maintaining filing systems.
  12. Skilled in operating a personal computer, facsimile machine, copier, and typewriter.
• Education and Experience:
  Currently enrolled in, or recently graduated (within three months), from an accredited graduate degree program in Public Administration, Public Policy, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Political Science, Urban Planning, Economics, Human Resources, Organizational Leadership, or another graduate program relevant to local government administration.

 

Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this internship, the intern must be able to:

• Frequently sit for long periods of time at a desk or in meetings.
• Frequently work with computers and look at computer screen and other electronic devices.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.
• Frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
• Use hands to finger, handle, feel, grip, and type.
• Reach, push, and pull with hands and arms.
• Talk and hear in person and via use of telephone.
• Specific vision abilities include close and distance vision, as well as depth perception.
• Travel independently to other County properties to perform assigned internship responsibilities.

 

Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an intern encounters during this internship. While performing the duties of this internship, an intern may
be subject to the following working conditions:

• Mostly inside environmental conditions, except when outside traveling between various buildings/locations in Kendall County to perform assigned duties.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderately quiet.
• The intern may be exposed to stressful and difficult situations and material.
• The intern may be required to provide their own transportation to travel to and from the internship site location and other County properties.

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