Community Engagement Intern

About the role

Join Columbia Gas of Virginia for a 12‑week summer internship where you’ll help bring community engagement efforts to life. You will support community events, create social media and digital content, capture photos and videos, and help develop outreach strategies, gaining hands‑on experience across communications, public relations, and community engagement. The internship starts in May 2027 and is based in Chester, Virginia. Candidates must reside within 50 miles of the reporting location and be entering their junior or senior year in fall 2027.

Responsibilities

• Assist with public relations projects and programs, including charitable giving campaigns and community volunteer events.
• Serve as a brand ambassador at targeted community events to promote core company messages (e.g., energy efficiency, safe digging, energy assistance, renewable energy education, career opportunities).
• Travel throughout Central Virginia for community events.
• Update community stakeholder lists.
• Develop news content related to community events and engagement for internal communications intranet (MySource) and external websites (nisource.com and columbiagasva.com), including photo and video.
• Support social media activity.
• Research and identify opportunities to further engage communities and extend outreach across the service territory.
• Develop a strategy to track Columbia Gas of Virginia’s community engagement efforts and measure outreach.
• Work with Communications to develop a strategy for sharing community engagement efforts with internal and external stakeholders.

Requirements

• Enrollment in a public relations, communications, social work, or related undergraduate program with strong writing and organizational skills.
• Must be a rising junior or senior.
• Willingness to travel throughout the Columbia Gas of Virginia service territory to attend and support events.
• Self‑starter able to manage multiple tasks in a fast‑paced environment.
• Basic knowledge of communications, public relations, planning, implementation, and evaluation (desirable).
• Authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.
• Intermediate skill level with Canva.
• Intermediate skill level with Microsoft Teams and other Microsoft programs (PowerPoint & Excel).
• Background in photography, videography, or editing.

Pay

Salary Range: $17.40 – $29.30 per hour (based on skills, experience, and internal pay equity).

Schedule

12‑week full‑time summer internship starting in May 2027, for students entering their junior or senior year in fall 2027.