Bowdoin Public Service Summer Fellowships

Policy and Communications Intern

Senate President’s Office, Maine State Legislature 

The office of the Senate President is seeking a Policy and Communications Intern for the summer of 2026!

The ideal candidate is resourceful, adept at balancing and pivoting between multiple priorities, and can work successfully both as part of a team and independently.  The Policy and Communications Intern works closely with the Policy and Communications teams to conduct research on policy priorities and to disseminate clear information about those policies to the public.

The staff of the Senate President’s Office supports and enhances the work of Maine State Senators in the Democratic caucus as they serve their constituents and strive to have tangible, positive impacts on the lives of all Maine people.

The Policy and Communications Intern’s responsibilities include:

• Monitoring news at the local, state, and federal levels and flagging relevant coverage
• Assisting with drafting social media copy, press materials, and internal communications
• Conducting policy research and summarize\ing findings on assigned legislative, budgetary, and/or regulatory issues
• Attending governmental and/or stakeholder meetings and producing clear, timely notes
• Helping to maintain policy trackers, spreadsheets, and internal documents

Preferred Skills and Qualifications:

• Strong writing, editing, and reading comprehension skills
• Media literacy and familiarity with major social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X, etc.)
• Experience with photography and basic video formats for digital content
• Attention to detail and the ability to work in a highly challenging, complex, and fast-paced environment
• Ability to communicate, coordinate, and work effectively with the public and legislative staff
• Interest in Maine politics, public policy, and government communications

This position is fully in-person in Augusta.

Bowdoin Public Service Intern – Town of Bowdoinham

Position Description

Title: Bowdoin Public Service Fellow – Town of Bowdoinham Planning & Codes

Duration: 10 weeks, full-time (summer) – hybrid (up to 3 days/week remote) with a monthly in person night meeting (second Wednesday of the month).

Role Summary: Support the Town’s Comprehensive Plan/Open Space planning, improve permitting workflows, and expand public access to land-use information through GIS and clear, plain-language resources. The fellowship offers hands-on experience with local government, public engagement, and data-driven decision-making consistent with the internship’s mission.

Desired Skills

To successfully fulfill this role, the following skills and competencies are highly valued:

• GIS and Mapping Expertise - Experience with GIS for creating maps and managing geospatial files.
• Marketing and Public Communication -Strong written and visual communication skills for creating clear, accessible public-facing materials, presentations, and outreach content.
• Regulatory Understanding - Ability to comprehend and summarize local ordinances, permitting processes, and land-use regulations into plain-language guides and checklists.
• AI and Digital Tools -Comfort with emerging technologies, including AI-assisted research and content generation, to enhance efficiency in drafting documents, analyzing data, and creating workflows.
• Workflow Modeling and Process Improvement - Skills in mapping processes, identifying bottlenecks, and designing streamlined workflows for internal operations (e.g., permitting systems).
• Collaboration and Public Engagement - Ability to work effectively with staff, committees, and community members during meetings, surveys, and outreach activities.

Detailed Project Briefs

Objective: Build GIS, survey analysis, policy analysis, and public engagement skills while advancing Bowdoinham’s Open Space Plan goals.

The work will include significant community outreach through events, newsletters, social media, and website information to introduce the concept and value of open space planning to residents and collect community feedback to guide and prioritize conservation efforts, recreational opportunities, and identify where commercial and residential development efforts should be directed. Additional engagement opportunities to collect feedback on the draft plan and to promote the plan to the public will be initiated.

Key Tasks & Deliverables:

• Compile base maps and produce 5–7 publication-quality maps.
• Assist with survey design, distribution, and analysis; draft a 3–4 page summary.
• Co-develop 1-2 public meeting slide decks; present portions to the public.
• Create marketing material including posters, newsletter articles, and Facebook posts to promote the planning process

Timeline: Weeks 1–2 onboarding; Weeks 3–5 survey work; Weeks 6–8 draft report/maps; Weeks 9–10 public meetings.

Training & Tools: The Director of Planning & Development will:

• Orientate the student to Open Space Plan goals
• Provide the student with any existing town resources such as GIS layers, maps, plans, policies, and public input for consideration; and
• Assist the student in compiling a list of community partners and their contacts.

Success Metrics: Deliverables complete; positive feedback; materials used in meetings.

Objective: Practice process mapping and service design to improve internal efficiency and consistency.

Key Tasks & Deliverables:

• Shadow staff to map workflows for CEO permits and Site Plan reviews.
• Draft one-page coversheet checklists for each permit type.
• Create a work flow for this work in Monday.com or in an excel sheet.

Timeline: Weeks 1–3 discovery; Weeks 4–6 drafting; Weeks 7–8 pilot; Weeks 9–10 finalize and train.

Training & Tools: Planning Department Staff will:

• Orientate the student to the Land Use Ordinance
• Orientate the student to Monday.com
• Provide the student with any existing town resources such existing drafts check sheets 

Success Metrics: Staff adoption; reduced rework/incomplete applications.

C) Public Resource Guides (CEO)

Objective: Build policy writing and public communication skills by translating ordinances and application requirements into plain-language guides.

Key Tasks & Deliverables:

• Draft 3 public-facing guides (3–5 pages each) with checklists, timelines, and FAQs.
• Produce companion visuals and web copy version.
• Develop accessibility review.

Timeline: Weeks 3–7 drafting; Weeks 8–9 review; Week 10 publishing.

Training & Tools: The CEO will:

• Orientate the student to the Land Use Ordinance
• Provide the student with any existing town resources such existing draft documents 

Success Metrics: Guides published; fewer incomplete submissions; positive feedback.