Extra Help Office of Emergency Services (OES) Specialist - Intern

Under general direction, assists with the County of Lake Office of Emergency Services (Lake OES) programs and functions; provides analytical, paraprofessional, technical, and administrative support work to Lake OES; and performs related duties as assigned.

EXTRA HELP – TEMPORARY WORK ASSIGNMENT
 A temporary extra-help work assignment is determined by County of Lake personnel rules and regulations.

• Extra Help Employees are typically hired at an hourly rate of pay at the first step of the salary range.
• Extra Help Employees are paid only for hours worked.
• Extra Help Employees are only entitled to legally mandated benefits, which does not include paid vacation or holidays.
• Extra Help Employees do not have status. 
• Extra Help Employees are temporary and may be terminated at any time based on department need.

EXTRA-HELP APPOINTMENT

Extra help positions are limited to no more than 25 hours per week (unless a position is considered seasonal) and no more than 900 hours per fiscal year.

SEASONAL EXTRA-HELP EMPLOYEE
 Extra help seasonal employees must perform work tied to an actual season and will not perform any work for at least 26 consecutive weeks between seasons.  The seasonal employee definition is subject to change as defined by the IRS and Affordable Care Act.

• Seasonal employees may work 40 hours a week for up to 26 consecutive weeks and;
• Seasonal employees must be terminated for the 26 weeks they are not performing any work. 

CalPERS RETIRED ANUITANT ASSIGNMENT

A Retired Annuitant is a CalPERS retiree employed by the County on an at-will basis, with specific restrictions to protect their retirement allowance (pension payments). Examples of assignment for a Retired Annuitant are work to eliminate a backlog, work on a special project, and work that is in excess of what regular staff can do. Retired Annuitant are subject to work under Limited-Duration. The employment is expected to end once the specific task or project they were hired to complete is finished. All work restriction is governed by Government Code (G.C.) sections 21224, 21229, and 21221(h).

Minimum Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications 

Applicants should have graduated high school and be currently enrolled in or planning to enroll in a college or university program such as Emergency Management, Public Administration, Political Science, Environmental Studies, Communications, or a related field. 

An interest in emergency services, public safety, or disaster planning, along with strong written and verbal communication skills. 

Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) is required, and familiarity with Canva or web content tools is a plus. 

Candidates should be comfortable working both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years old and legally eligible to work in the U.S.
• Possess a valid California driver’s license or reliable transportation.
• Willingness to complete FEMA online training courses (e.g., ICS 100/200, NIMS 700/800) during internship period.
• May be required to pass a background check depending on assignment.

General Recruitment Information

OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES SPECIALIST INTERN

Overview  The Lake County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) is seeking a motivated college student intern to support emergency management efforts. This paid internship provides hands-on experience in emergency management coordination, emergency preparedness, disaster response planning, and public outreach. You will work alongside emergency management professionals, assist with critical projects, and gain valuable exposure to local government operations.

Special Project Objective  Students are encouraged to apply for a specific Special Project area that aligns with their educational and career goals:

1. Planning and Exercise: Provide assistance to OES with a focus on emergency operations plan development, tabletop exercises and after-action review. 
2. Community Preparedness: Provide assistance to OES with a focus on active and planned engagement with stakeholders to enhance community preparedness and outreach. 
3. Field Research Project: A project developed under the supervision of an instructor for credit and approved by the Office of Emergency Services related to any phase of emergency management and that the final report will inform OES planning and decision making.

Key Responsibilities  Intern will work with the OES Manager to set the goal(s) and arrange their schedule to achieve the agreed upon goals. While the Special Project will be the main focus of the Internship, Intern is required to support the Office as needed which may include any or all of the following:

• Support of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) if activated 
• Participation and engagement with community outreach events 
• Other office duties identified related to emergency management which could include: 

• Collect and analyze data related to local hazards, response activities, or emergency planning.
• Provide general administrative support including taking meeting notes, preparing correspondence, and organizing project files.
• Help maintain OES websites and social media accounts with timely updates and content.
• Support disaster response activities (e.g., staffing the Emergency Operations Center during exercises or activations).
• Assist in grant research, documentation, and reporting.

Training Provided  The Office of Emergency Services will provide an initial orientation along with ongoing training and learning opportunities to ensure the internship is both educational and vocational. Through direct, one-on-one mentorship with the OES Manager, the intern will gain practical skills, industry insight, and personalized guidance to support their growth in the field of emergency management.

Preferred Qualifications  Applicants should have graduated high school and be currently enrolled in or planning to enroll in a college or university program such as Emergency Management, Public Administration, Political Science, Environmental Studies, Communications, or a related field. They should have an interest in emergency services, public safety, or disaster planning, along with strong written and verbal communication skills. Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) is required, and familiarity with Canva or web content tools is a plus. Candidates should be comfortable working both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

Eligibility Requirements 

• Must be at least 18 years old and legally eligible to work in the U.S.
• Possess a valid California driver’s license or reliable transportation.
• Willingness to complete FEMA online training courses (e.g., ICS 100/200, NIMS 700/800) during internship period.
• May be required to pass a background check depending on assignment.