Description

2026 Mayor's Summer Youth Internship

Are you ready to gain hands-on experience, develop valuable skills, and make an impact in one of the friendliest cities in California? The City of Tracy invites you to apply for our 2026 Summer Internship Program! Whether you're interested in public policy, sustainability, engineering, technology, or community engagement, there's an opportunity for you.

Why Participate in Our Internship Program?

Interns will gain mentorship, hands-on training, and career-building opportunities while contributing to meaningful projects that impact the community.

What You'll Gain

Gain valuable work experience before graduation
Explore different career fields and develop new skills
Work alongside professionals and learn from mentors
Build connections that can help with future jobs and college applications
Get a behind-the-scenes look at how the City of Tracy operates

This is your chance to learn, grow, and make a difference — all while preparing for your future! Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity.

Who Should Apply?

Students attending high school or living in TracyStudents who are curious, motivated, and eager to learnStudents with a passion for public service, innovation, and problem-solving

Internship Highlights & Events

Orientation & City Hall Tour – Meet city leaders and explore Tracy Networking Events – Connect with peers to learn about their assignment and experienceExclusive Site Visits – Get exclusive access to the inner workings of Tracy! Explore behind the scenes at key city operations, including the City of Tracy Animal Shelter, Water Plant, and other essential municipal facilities, gaining insights into how the city functions and innovatesClosing Ceremony & Reception – Celebrate your summer achievements

Internship Opportunities by Department

This year, we are offering exciting opportunities across multiple city departments, where interns will contribute to real projects that make a difference.

During the application process, students will be able to select their top three (3) internship placement preferences, however due to the number of candidates and the popularity of the program, placement in a selected department is not guaranteed. Students who submit a complete application, including a resume and letter of recommendation, will be placed on an interview employment list for consideration by City department mentors. Departments will interview candidates and select the candidate that will best meet their needs. Interns will be assigned a City employee mentor at the start of the program.

We encourage you to read through all of the opportunities and select the top 3 that best align with your interests!

City Manager's Office

City Manager's Office

The City Manager’s Office serves as the administrative and strategic center of the organization, providing leadership, coordination, and support to all City departments. This office oversees major initiatives, guides policy implementation, manages interdepartmental collaboration, and ensures that city operations run efficiently and transparently. As the hub of executive decision-making, the City Manager’s Office offers a unique vantage point into how the City functions at the highest level.

The intern will gain hands-on experience in the City Manager’s Office, supporting a variety of day-to-day tasks including basic office work, preparing materials, and assisting staff with research on citywide topics and emerging issues. They will also have the opportunity to observe how decisions are made, learn how policies are developed, and see how the City Manager’s Office collaborates with departments across the organization. Along the way, the intern will learn a little bit of everything about how the City runs from its executive leadership team.

Communications

The Communications Division of the City Manager's Office will be hosting an intern this year. This division manages the City’s branding, digital content, website, and public information efforts, serving as the central hub for clear and consistent communication across the organization.

The intern will gain hands-on experience in the Communications Division, supporting a variety of projects including photography, videography, social media content creation, graphic design, and website updates. They will also assist with organizing digital assets and help keep our communications running smoothly, learning a little bit of everything along the way.

Community & Economic Development

This unique department includes the City’s Economic Development, Building Safety, Development Engineering, and Planning Divisions. The intern will likely rotate through the different division unless the intern’s interests and goals are specific to a single division.

In the CED Department, the intern will learn how neighborhoods, logistics centers, and other new development occurs in the City of Tracy and how the City’s broader planning and economic development initiatives impact existing communities. The intern will learn the development review process, the role of city planning, and the importance of meaningful public engagement and service. The intern will work through the various divisions to learn and understand the whole process from attraction to application to permitting/inspection and final delivery. For example, the intern may contribute to a forthcoming General Plan Update process, perform in-field surveys of downtown buildings and land uses, or undertake another meaningful assignment. The intern will also engage with the Economic Development division to observe the relationship between their programs and initiatives and its impact on the business community. All told, the intern should expect to learn the complex process of economic development, planning, permitting, and inspection. A project, or deliverable, may be developed in collaboration with the intern and their goals.

Finance

The Finance Department ensures the fiscal foundation necessary to deliver community services. The Department is responsible for City budget preparation and compliance, accounting and financial reporting, debt issuance and management, accounts payable, City employee payroll preparation, utility billing, business licensing, accounts receivable, cashiering and sales.

Interns in the Finance department will learn some of the day-to-day functions in the finance department. Using administrative and technical skills, the intern will help with tasks such as processing collection and returned mail, records retention, provide assistance and back up on invoice processing and updating records. Interns may help with updating utility billing account records for delivery methods and change of addresses. Additionally, they may assist with sorting bank statements and record the interest earned and debt service payments. The summer intern also may provide assistance on cost recovery agreements invoice processing and retrieving back up. The interns will have the opportunity to job shadow staff in the following divisions within the department: accounting, budget, accounts payable, accounts receivable, front counter customer service and utility billing.

Parks, Recreation & Community Services

Parks

There are over 252 acres of public ground, consisting of City-owned parks, sports facilities and fields, maintained by the Parks Maintenance Division. There are also 41 landscape maintenance districts throughout town that includes mini parks, streetscape, medians, and residential trees in the landscape districts. The City prides itself in having attractive and safe parks, as well as sports facilities for residents to enjoy.

As an intern, you'll gain hands-on experience in plant and turf care, including learning the intricacies of maintaining park system turf and proper plant care such as irrigation, pruning, and planting techniques. You'll also mulch planter beds, repair and install irrigation systems, learning the skills of plumbing, rotors, sprays, and programming irrigation controllers. Additionally, you'll be involved in amenity repair, maintaining facilities like restrooms, arbors, benches, and sports courts. For sports fields, you'll handle all aspects of baseball field maintenance, including chalking, painting, packing, and watering. This comprehensive internship provides a well-rounded understanding of both general and specialized maintenance tasks in parks and sports complexes. In order to beat the summer heat, interns must have flexible hours. Work may start as early as 6:00 am.

Recreation

The Recreation Division of the Parks and Recreation Department offers a variety of classes, camps, and events for all ages in the Tracy Community. Interns in this division will assist in various recreation programs, gaining knowledge and experience in each area, and understanding how these programs interrelate.

A recreation intern will support a wide range of programs across the department, helping lead and assist with activities such as arts and crafts, fitness, games, and both indoor and outdoor recreation. They contribute to the planning and delivery of classes, camps, events, and community outreach by preparing materials, supporting staff, creating promotional content, and gathering community feedback. The role also includes hands-on experience across key program areas—including Summer Camps, the Senior Center, Rollin’ Rec, Aquatics, and Front Desk operations—offering a well-rounded introduction to how recreation services are delivered in the community.

Police Department

Animal Services

The City of Tracy Animal Services Unit is dedicated to serving the public and animals with kindness and compassion. They provide education, protection, and humane treatment to ensure a safe and healthy community while promoting responsible pet ownership.

A shelter intern supports daily animal care by helping clean kennels, maintain and organize shelter spaces, and create enrichment items that keep animals mentally and physically stimulated. They spend time socializing cats, observing and learning dog behavior, assisting with documentation, and taking photos or videos of adoptable animals for social media. Interns may also learn about shelter policies, basic medication practices, and join ride-alongs with Animal Services Officers to understand field operations. Clerical assignments such as filing, data entry, preparing simple documents, and updating records are also part of the role to support smooth shelter operations. However, students with allergies to animals might want to consider other volunteer opportunities.

Code Enforcement

The City of Tracy's Code Enforcement Unit focuses on maintaining a safe and healthy community by ensuring compliance with local and state regulations. Their primary objective is to achieve voluntary compliance with laws addressing issues like abandoned shopping carts, building code violations, dangerous structures, garbage and debris accumulation, graffiti on private property, housing laws, illegal dumping, inoperative vehicles on private property, and zoning requirements for structures and land.

Interns support Code and Parking Enforcement by assisting with administrative tasks such as answering calls and emails, helping customers with complaints, opening and updating cases, scanning documents, and organizing files. They also contribute to special projects and reports, learn how cases are processed through systems like Government Outreach (GO), and participate in ride-alongs with both Code Enforcement Officers and Parking Enforcement Officers to observe field operations. This role offers a practical introduction to how community standards are maintained through both office-based work and on-the-ground enforcement activities.

Familiar Faces

Familiar Faces supports individuals experiencing homelessness by connecting them with essential resources, conducting targeted outreach, coordinating donations, and partnering with community organizations. The division focuses on building trust, reducing barriers to services, and strengthening pathways to housing, health care, and long-term stability. Through both administrative systems and direct engagement, the team works to improve the well-being of vulnerable residents and enhance community safety and support.

Interns working with Familiar Faces gain hands-on experience in both the administrative and outreach components of homeless services. They assist with data gathering and entry, help organize and distribute donations, prepare outreach tools, write thank-you notes to donors, and participate in targeted outreach to individuals experiencing homelessness. Interns also support community engagement efforts, learn about daily service operations and policies, and take on additional duties as needed, offering a well-rounded introduction to the field of human services.

Public Works

Engineering

The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and Construction Management Division plans, designs, and oversees the construction of essential city infrastructure, including water and wastewater systems, roadways, traffic improvements, and public facilities. The division manages project budgets, schedules, engineering design reviews, construction inspections, and contractor coordination to ensure projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and in compliance with city standards. Their work plays a critical role in maintaining and improving the infrastructure that supports daily life in the community.

This internship is designed for high school students interested in civil engineering or construction management and offers hands-on exposure to how city infrastructure is planned, built, and maintained. Interns shadow engineers and construction project managers, assist with organizing and filing Capital Improvement Project documents, and provide general office support. They also participate in ride-alongs to construction sites to observe inspections, collect basic field data, conduct simple engineering calculations, read construction drawings, perform quantity and fee calculations, and help review and prepare encroachment permits. This experience provides valuable mentorship and a practical introduction to careers in engineering and construction.

Transit

The Transit Division provides safe, reliable, and accessible transportation services for the community through fixed-route buses, paratransit services, and regional mobility programs. The team manages daily operations, schedules, customer service, fleet maintenance coordination, and long-term planning to improve mobility options for residents. Their work ensures that riders can travel efficiently throughout the city and connect to essential destinations such as schools, jobs, medical services, and regional transit systems.

Transit interns gain exposure to both the operational and administrative sides of public transportation. They may assist with customer service inquiries, help track ridership data, support schedule and route planning tasks, and organize program materials. Interns also have opportunities to observe transit operations firsthand, participate in field visits, and learn how transit services are coordinated, maintained, and improved. This role offers a practical introduction to careers in transportation planning, public service, and mobility management.

Utilities

The Utilities Division is responsible for delivering safe, reliable, and high-quality water, wastewater, and stormwater services to the community. The team manages daily system operations, maintains pipelines and treatment facilities, monitors water quality, and ensures compliance with state and federal regulations. Their work supports public health, environmental protection, and the long-term sustainability of the city’s essential utility infrastructure.

Utilities interns support lead staff through a blend of technical and administrative tasks that contribute to the division’s daily operations. They may assist with spreadsheet entry, data classification, hands-on field tasks, outreach and education efforts, social media content, and potentially website updates. Interns also perform administrative duties such as word processing, correspondence, answering phones, filing, and general office support, offering a well-rounded introduction to careers in water resources, environmental services, and public works.

Minimum Qualifications

To apply for this amazing opportunity, applicants must:

Be a current high school student enrolled in grade 9th – 12th AND living in and/or attending high school within the City of Tracy.

Submit a resume AND letter of recommendation.

Applicants who do not submit a resume and letter of recommendation will be ineligible to move forward in the application process.

Additional Information

Everything Else You Need to Know

Next Steps

There will be a virtual information session on April 14, 2026, from 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm that all applicants and parents are encouraged to attend. During this session, we will review key details about the upcoming 2026 program, including eligibility requirements, program expectations, and the selection process. This is a virtual event, and registration is required. Please use the link to sign up and join us.
Invitations to interview will be sent between April 20 - April 24, 2026
Interviews will be conducted between April 27 - May 7, 2026
Selected candidates will be notified between May 11 - May 22, 2026
To learn more about how to obtain your work permit, visit our Summer Internship Program webpage https://www.cityoftracy.org/our-city/departments/human-resources/summer-internship-program
Recruitment timeline subject to change depending on departmental needs.
The program is six weeks from June 15, 2026 – July 23, 2026. Interns work up to 20 hours a week Monday– Thursday. Work hours may vary depending on the needs of the department or division. All assignments will be in office/on-site.
A mandatory program orientation will be held on the first day of the program.
The successful candidate having been offered employment, if a MINOR, must have a valid work permit.
It is recommended that the successful candidate having been offered employment have a bank account to their name for direct deposit payment. If the successful candidate does not have a bank account in their name, live checks will need to be picked up on paydays.
Depending on the nature of the internship, some successful candidates having been offered employment will undergo background investigation and fingerprinting. Minors will be required to be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Candidate must be cleared prior to start date.
The successful candidate having been offered employment will need to present valid identification on the first day of employment, which may include one or more of the following: U.S. Passport, School Photo ID, Driver’s License, CA ID, Social Security Card, and/or Birth Certificate. Please do not submit any of these until requested to do so.

NA

01

Please list any activities, clubs, sports, or community groups that you have been involved with. If none, indicate N/A.

02

Please describe your career goals and why you are interested in this position that you have applied for.

03

Did you attach a resume? This is required and your application will not be considered if a resume is not attached.

04

Did you attach a letter of recommendation from a previous employer, teacher, counselor, OR school administrator? This is required and your application will not be considered if a letter of recommendation is not attached.

05

I understand that I am selecting my top three (3) choices for student internship opportunities, however due to the number of candidates for each position, I may be placed on interview lists for other positions not selected.

06

Please select your #1 preference for student internship placement.

City Manager's Office
City Manager's Office - Communications
Community & Economic Development
Finance
Parks, Recreation & Community Services - Parks
Parks, Recreation & Community Services - Recreation
Police Department - Animal Services
Police Department - Code Enforcement
Police Department - Familiar Faces
Public Works - Engineering
Public Works - Transit
Public Works - Utilities

07

Please select your #2 preference for student internship placement.

City Manager's Office
City Manager's Office - Communications
Community & Economic Development
Finance
Parks, Recreation, & Community Services - Parks
Parks, Recreation, & Community Services - Recreation
Police Department - Animal Services
Police Department - Code Enforcement
Police Department - Familiar Faces
Public Works - Engineering
Public Works - Transit
Public Works - Utilities

08

Please select your #3 preference for student internship placement.

City Manager's Office
City Manager's Office - Communications
Community & Economic Development
Finance
Parks, Recreation & Community Services - Parks
Parks, Recreation & Community Services - Recreation
Police Department - Animal Services
Police Department - Code Enforcement
Police Department - Familiar Faces
Public Works - Engineering
Public Works - Transit
Public Works - Utilities

09

Don't forget to register for the information session on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. Applicants and parents are encouraged to attend. Registration details are on job flyer.

I understand.
Required Question

City of Tracy

New Jobs

Mayor's Summer Youth Internship