Business Internship Jobs in Sedro-Woolley, WA

The City of Sequim is seeking a graduate-level Business Analyst Intern to conduct research and data analysis that will drive meaningful improvements for our community. The Business Analyst Intern will support the City of Sequim in evaluating and enhancing customer experience (CX) for three primary audiences: residents, businesses, and employees. This graduate-level internship is designed for individuals who are pursuing or have recently completed a degree in public administration, business administration, or a related field. The Business Analyst Intern will analyze feedback from existing data sources, and collect new data to assess perceptions and effectiveness of the City's current services and provide a strategic roadmap to improve service delivery to all groups. The outcome of the internship will be a white paper summarizing findings, conclusions, and recommendations for improving the City's customer experience for all departments. This final product may be suitable as a capstone or culminating project for the intern's academic program. While some onsite work is expected, this position can be performed partially or mostly remotely depending on the intern's location and schedule. PLEASE NOTE: candidates must establish their primary residence in Washington State during the internship period. We encourage applicants to consider these residency requirements before applying. There may be option of short-term housing on City-property, subject to availability at time of hire. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Review and analyze existing data from City surveys (e.g., resident satisfaction survey, business climate survey, employee engagement survey). Collaborate with the City Manager to identify project priorities, budget constraints, and technology resources to strategically guide research and project deliverables. Conduct research on customer experience best practices used by comparable local governments and other public or private organizations. As needed, design and implement original research methods, including but not limited to interviews, focus groups, and supplemental surveys, to gather new insights. Analyze qualitative and quantitative data to identify themes, service delivery gaps, pain points, and opportunities for improvement. Map the customer journey across different City services, identifying points of friction or inefficiency. Develop stakeholder personas to help clarify the unique needs of residents, business owners, and City employees. Engage with internal departments to better understand existing service models and operational constraints. Draft a formal white paper that includes a synthesis of findings, visualizations of data (charts, graphs), and actionable recommendations. Prepare and deliver a presentation summarizing findings and recommendations to the Senior Management Team. Maintain documentation of sources, methodologies, and project steps to comply with public records requirements, ensure transparency and reproducibility of findings. Collaborate with the City Manager and staff throughout the process to ensure alignment with organizational goals and values. Perform other duties as assigned that support project success or the intern's professional development. In addition to the above duties, the Business Analyst Intern will have the opportunity to participate in the following activities, as they align with the intern's time availability and professional interests: Attend meetings for internal committees and those of elected officials, boards, and commissions in order to acquire insights into governance processes, policy-making, and civic engagement. Shadow City employees in different departments and roles to understand the various functions and strategic operations that support local government. Engage in staff training and workshops, as offered, to build skills and knowledge relevant to public sector management. Tour City facilities to understand the scope, function and roles of different local government operations. Develop and pursue self-directed projects related to City operations which align with the intern's academic and professional interests. Minimum Qualifications KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES Knowledge of public administration principles, organizational behavior, or business analysis. Ability to conduct both qualitative (e.g., interviews, thematic coding) and quantitative (e.g., survey analysis, basic statistics) research independently. Proficiency in tools such as Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint; familiarity with survey platforms (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics) and data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) is a plus. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex information clearly and persuasively to non-technical audiences. Ability to synthesize large amounts of data and translate findings into practical, policy-relevant recommendations. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build working relationships with staff, stakeholders, and community members. Ability to be highly self-motivated and organized, with a demonstrated ability to manage time effectively and meet deadlines. Ability to navigate ambiguity and adapt to the evolving nature of applied research and policy analysis. Willingness and ability to appropriately use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to enhance productivity, research, and data analysis while maintaining accuracy and ethical standards. Familiarity with concepts such as equity in service delivery, customer-centric design, performance management, and continuous improvement is preferred. Commitment to the City's core values of Integrity, Stewardship, Positive Attitude, Respect, Teamwork, Customer Service and Continuous Improvement. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS Current enrollment in or recent graduation from a graduate-level program in Public Administration, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, or a related field. Demonstrated experience conducting research and writing reports in an academic or professional setting. Availability to work onsite in Sequim occasionally, with the remainder of the work completed remotely as agreed upon with the City Manager.