Join Us

The Department does not have any openings for interns or fellows at this time. Please check back later for future opportunities.


Benefits of an Internship with the Department

We are a small department, meaning that there are many opportunities for an intern to get real, hands-on experience with our policy and programmatic work. Though some administrative tasks would be required, we can offer more than just filing and photocopying. Interns will get a sense of what it means to be a part of City government.

 

An internship with the Department will provide you with valuable government and policy experience, a chance to meet senior City officials, and the opportunity to network and make contacts for future jobs. We are happy to comply with any requirements that allow students to receive academic credit. The Department can also provide letters of recommendation.

 

In late 2017, we made a short slide show of some of our past fellows and interns: 

 

 

Policies and Programs

If you are passionate about the advancement of women and human rights, this is the place to be. The Department is on the cutting edge of women's policy. Browse our website to learn about the Department's many programs, such as our groundbreaking and internationally-recognized work advancing the human rights of women, the local implementation of the Women's Human Rights Ordinance (CEDAW), our violence prevention and intervention initiatives, and much more.

 

Interns will be assigned a primary policy area, with the majority of projects addressing that issue. However, interns will also have the opportunity to learn about and assist with projects in all the policy areas of the Department. Interns should specify what area(s) of interest they would prefer to work on during an internship with the Department:

  • Gender Equality in the Workplace

  • Anti-Human Trafficking

  • Women's Human Rights

  • Violence Against Women – City and Criminal Justice Response

  • Data Gathering and Report Writing

 

Examples of Possible Activities and Tasks

Whatever policy or program area assigned, an intern will likely carry out many of the following tasks:

  • Research and write briefing memos on a variety of subjects, commission resolutions, reports, etc.

  • Prepare, organize, attend, and/or facilitate meetings with other City department staff, community partners, and/or members of the public

  • Write press releases, and do public outreach about the Department

  • Data tracking, analysis, and evaluation

  • Office and departmental administration, budget and performance measure preparation, etc.

  • Website and social media management

This is only a partial list. The Department is interested in giving interns a chance to learn new skills, as well as to utilize skills interns already possess. We are willing to work with interns to develop work plans that meet the needs of both the Department and the intern. Have a project idea? Let us know!

 

Who Should Apply?

Though any interested student is welcome to apply, an internship with the Department may be most relevant to students in the following educational tracks:

  • Social Work

  • Public Policy

  • Public Administration

  • Women's Studies

  • Government

  • Public Health

 

Desirable Qualifications 

  • Current college students, recent college graduates, graduate students, or those with an master’s degree in relevant area are preferred

  • Ability to commit 20 hours/week

  • Ability to commit to 12 months is preferred

  • Familiarity with women, girls, and human rights issues preferred

  • Excellent research and writing skills required

  • Self-starter and attention to detail

  • Ability to prepare clear, accurate and well-organized narrative and statistical reports and other documents

  • Ability to effectively prioritize and organize multiple assignments and projects

  • Familiarity with Word, PowerPoint, Excel, database and website maintenance, newsletter publication, and social media experience required

 

Internship Program Details

The Department is able to accommodate two (2) - three (3) graduate-level interns during the school year (September - May). Interns should expect to commit 20-32 hours per week, depending on scheduling and academic requirements. The Department will provide an in-office workspace, though it may be shared with other interns. Our standard office hours are 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday-Friday. Specific start and end dates, as well as work schedules, will be determined with the selected intern.

 

The Department is located at 25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94102. We are accessible by numerous lines of public transportation, including Muni lines F, J, K, L, M, N, S, T, 6, 7, 9, 21, 47, 49, and 71. We are approximately 4 blocks from Civic Center BART.

 

How to Apply

Complete the Department Fellowship Application and submit it with the required materials by the appropriate deadline (see below).

 

Submit application and all supporting documents in one of the following methods:

 

Email:

DOSW@sfgov.org, with "DOSW Internship Application [First and Last Name]" on the subject line

 

Mail:

Department on the Status of Women

ATTN: Internship Program

25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 240

San Francisco, CA 94102

 

 

Have questions? Please contact us at: 415-252-2570 or dosw@sfgov.org

 


 

Job Opportunities

 

 

For Job Listings visit the City & County of San Francisco's Job listings page