Working Title: Executive Pathways Equity and Employee Engagement Intern
Job Class: Management Analyst 1
Agency: Human Services Dept
Job ID : 92494
Location : St. Paul
Telework Eligible : No
Full/Part Time : Full-Time
Regular/Temporary : Temporary
Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers
Date Posted : 02/28/2026
Closing Date : 03/06/2026
Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Human Services Dept
Division/Unit : DHS-Payroll / (I)Communications
Work Shift/Work Hours : Day Shift / 8:00am to 4:30pm
Days of Work : Monday - Friday
Travel Required : No
Salary Range: $23.98 - $34.69 / hourly; $50,070 - $72,432 / annually
Classified Status : Unclassified
Anticipated Start Date : 06/10/2026
End Date : 08/19/2026
Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : No
The work you'll do is more than just a job.
At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), in collaboration with many partners, helps Minnesota's most vulnerable residents meet their basic needs so they can live in dignity and achieve their highest potential.
The Executive Pathways Program is a paid summer internship (June - August) for college students to explore a rewarding career in public service.
What you can expect during your internship:
Hands-on experience impacting individuals and processes within a large human service agency
Opportunity to meet (virtually and in-person) to network with other state employees
Attend virtual workshops focused on your Professional development
Give back to the communities DHS serves through volunteerism
The Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) and Homelessness, Housing, and Support Services Administration (HHSSA) are committed to advancing equity, both for our staff and for the community members we serve. As we continue the journey towards ensuring every employee can thrive and experience inclusion, psychological safety, respect, wellbeing, and joy, the Equity and Employee Engagement Intern will support our workforce equity and employee engagement efforts. Under the support and guidance of the Equity Director in BHA and HHSSA, the Equity and Employee Engagement Intern will be an important liaison for increasing employee engagement efforts, supporting BHA/HHSSA equity committees, and co-creating implementation and communication efforts for equity and engagement initiatives. This is a great opportunity for someone who is relationship-centered with interest and experience in applying equity principles and using data to drive positive change.
Some responsibilities include but not limited to:
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Conducting best-practice research
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Supporting employee listening sessions and stay interviews
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Collecting and analyzing qualitative data related to employee engagement
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Communicating data and narratives to audiences of different backgrounds
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Supporting the facilitation and/or notetaking for listening sessions or other employee engagement efforts
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Regularly attending Equity Committee meetings, taking minutes, and participating in action team work as needed
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Working collaboratively with Employee Engagement Ambassadors, equity committee co-chairs, research and evaluation team members, and cross-agency partners as needed
Minimum Qualifications
To be eligible for an internship, you must meet the following requirements:
You must be a student at an accredited educational institution; or recently graduated December 2025 or May 2026
AND
Excellent human relation and communication skills sufficient to represent the position and Division in a professional, efficient, and clear manner
Ability to work independently and in a team setting
Strong organizational and interpersonal skills
Proficient with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Ability to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds and contribute to a culture of inclusion
Preferred Qualifications
Preferred majors include: Human Services, Human Resources, Organizational Development/Leadership or related fields or coursework preferred, though all are encouraged to apply
Experience with equity, inclusion, or employee engagement initiatives
Online Presentation Skills- Comfort organizing and executing digital events, including confidence in ability to learn and use online meeting applications.
Time Management- Ability to work in face-paced environment on multiple tasks with various deadlines
Public Speaking- Comfortable speaking to groups of up to 200 individuals in a professional setting
Qualitative Data Collection- Experience or coursework in qualitative data collection methods, especially qualitative interviewing and/or survey data collection Ability to translate data and research into clear insights and recommendations
Relationship-centered approach and ability to build rapport with others
Experience working on projects that involve cross-team or cross-agency collaboration
Additional Requirements
Must be in academic years of sophomore, junior, or senior (Graduate students allowed)
Must provide unofficial transcript to show proof of school enrollment
Must be willing to reside in Minnesota for the duration of internship
Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) criminal background check will be conducted on all finalists for this position. Finalists must pass the DHS background check.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.
Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.
