Intern - Economic Security

Overview

Job Summary

The Economic Security team is hiring an intern who will work up to 35 hours per week for at least 8 weeks between May and August 2025. The Economic Security Intern will work with the Economic Security team to implement and manage programs to support equitable economic opportunity in New Jersey, particularly in the areas of food security and support for the child care sector.

Economic Security Interns will assist the Economic Security team across a broad range of programs and initiatives. Recent Economic Security team priorities have included:

• Creating the Food Equity and Economic Development in New Jersey (FEED NJ) grant program, a $30 million competitive grant program designed to support a wide range of potential food security-related projects in food desert communities across the state,
• Launching the Food Desert Relief Supermarket Tax Credit Program, part of the $240 million in resources available under the Food Desert Relief Act, to incentivize the development and operation of supermarkets in food deserts,
• Implementing Phase 1 of the Child Care Facilities Improvement Grant, which has awarded more than $100 million for interior and exterior improvements that will contribute to high quality early childhood learning environments at licensed child care centers, and
• Reviewing applications for Phase 2 of the Child Care Facilities Improvement Grant, which provides grants of up to $20,000 to registered home-based Family Child Care providers to improve the health, safety, and quality of the learning environment.

 The Economic Security Intern may be involved in supporting these priorities or others through research and other project work.

Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct policy research on assigned economic development, workforce development, social services and poverty alleviation topic(s);
• Write policy memos to distill research, policy recommendations, and other information;
• Engage in stakeholder outreach to help develop and advance special projects;
• Support program implementation, and monitoring across Economic Security team program areas.
• Assist the Chief Economic Security Officer and Senior Advisor through other project-specific and administrative tasks as assigned;
• Promote teamwork and communication to encourage an interactive, cooperative, collaborative, and customer focused work environment among division, EDA staff, and external customers; and
• Perform other duties and special projects, as assigned.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing; proficient in grammar, spelling and editing; and foster communications with business professionals and EDA staff
• Ability to prioritize workload, must be highly organized, detail-oriented, handle various tasks simultaneously and work independently within limited time constrains with little or no supervision
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality and deal effectively and diplomatically with business professionals and EDA staff
• Demonstrates respectful behavior and promotes teamwork and communication to encourage an interactive, cooperative, collaborative and customer focused work environment among division, EDA staff and external customers. 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and the ability to learn new software packages

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

Education and Experience Requirements

• Current enrollment in an accredited Associate’s, Bachelor’s or Master’s degree program

Physical Demands

• Minimal

Travel

• N/A

Certificates and Licenses Required

• Valid driver’s license

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job description. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed. This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope, general nature and level of work performed by job holders within this job.  This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with the position.

Your employment at NJEDA is voluntary and subject to termination by you or NJEDA at will, with or without cause, or with or without notice, at any time.  Nothing in this job description shall be interpreted to conflict, eliminate or modify the employment-at-will status of NJEDA employees. 

NJEDA reserves the right to amend/revise this job description as necessary to meet current and changing business needs.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Position Requirements

• Foreign degrees/transcripts must be evaluated by a reputable evaluation service at your own expense and must be submitted prior to a start date. If this cannot be provided within 21 days of an offer the offer will be rescinded.
• Must comply with the “New Jersey First Act” which requires employees hired after September 1, 2011 to reside in New Jersey. Non-New Jersey resident employees must relocate to New Jersey within one year of their date of hire and provide proof of residency to Human Resources.
• Must complete an Outside Activity Questionnaire (disclosure of outside office or employment) on an annual basis.