Historical Trades, Preservation & Contract Compliance Intern - On-Site Summer 2026 Internship

Intern Sarasota County is proud to be #VaultRanked as one of the Top 150 Internships for 2026! Department: Parks Recreation and Natural Resources

About:

Our Job This specialized internship provides a student with hands-on

experience:

in the preservation, restoration, and skilled maintenance of Sarasota County's historic properties (structures and artifacts). In this internship you will integrate traditional trim carpentry

skills:

with government contract oversight and historical research to ensure that all physical work on historic assets complies with the standards set by the Sarasota County Division of Historical Resources. Job

Description:

Are you interested in getting hands-on

experience:

in your chosen field? Do you want to make a difference in your community? Intern Sarasota County is dedicated to providing students with an unsurpassed learning

experience:

and insight into the dynamic world of public sector employment.

• Develop new

skills:

you can apply in the workplace. Gain

skills:

that will enhance your resume and increase your career options while exploring public service! Observe and participate in tasks and

responsibilities:

• performed daily by skilled professionals.

Experience:

workplace culture, office dynamics, and business etiquette. Your internship will include impactful hands-on work within a department, networking, professional development, and building long lasting connections with other interns, mentors, and Sarasota County team members. Department

Responsibilities:

• Perform hands-on restoration and maintenance tasks on designated historic county properties (e.g., structures within Parks and County grounds).
• Execute specialized finish and trim carpentry work (e.g., window repair, millwork replication, siding replacement), applying traditional techniques to match and repair historic architectural features.
• Assist in conducting condition assessments, drafting condition reports, and documenting preservation treatments for historic building components.
• Work with the Maintenance Services Division to plan, schedule, and coordinate the work of third-party construction and maintenance contractors.
• Assist the Sarasota County Division of Historical Resources with the Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) process by reviewing proposed alterations on historic properties for compliance with Chapter 66 of the County Code and State/Federal preservation guidelines.
• Conduct site visits and inspections of in-progress contract work to monitor adherence to contract specifications and historic preservation standards.
• Assist in the preparation of contractual maintenance solicitations and the approval of contractor invoices.
• Conduct archival research at the Sarasota County History Center (part of Libraries and Historical Resources) to find original building records, historic photographs, and documentation necessary to inform accurate restoration projects.
• Assist in digitizing or rehousing certain materials relevant to current historic maintenance projects for preservation and future reference.

*Learn how to utilize historic preservation resources, such as the Sarasota County Register of Historic Places, to determine regulatory

requirements:

for county assets.

• Collaborate with your department colleagues to make and influence real changes.

Internship Program

Responsibilities:

A presentation to the County Administrator and other County Leadership staff is required at the close of the internship program on Friday, August 7, 2026.

• Participate in all organized intern events and trainings.

Your Internship Includes: In-person, on-site work! Competitive wage Hands-on work

experience:

Professional headshot 1-1 mentoring with county staff Professional Development Events: Civics 101 & Facility Tour Own Your Career Business Etiquette & Professional Networking Philanthropy & Your Career Board of County Commission Public Hearing Session Speaking for Success

Opportunity:

to job shadow in other departments Location: Twin Lakes Park, 6700 Clark Road, Sarasota Learn more

about:

the internship program at: scgov.net/intern

About:

You Minimum

Qualifications:

Ages 16-17 with parental consent, or 18 and above. Eligible to work in the United States – we love local, national, and international students! Active, enrolled student.

Preferred Qualifications:

Field

Experience:

Prior hands-on

experience:

or apprenticeship in construction, carpentry, restoration, or skilled building trades. Academic Background: Students working toward a degree in Historic Preservation, Public History, Architecture, Construction Management, Building Trades/Carpentry, or Public Administration. Technical Knowledge: Working knowledge of traditional building materials, and an understanding of the challenges and methods of historic building repair versus replacement.

Familiarity with Government Process: Coursework or

experience:

related to contract administration or government compliance.

About:

Everything Else Program Dates: The 2026 internship program will begin on May 18, 2026 and end on August 7, 2026. Internship Hours: 40 hours/week, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; some departments vary. Pay Range: $15 per hour (high school student) up to $20 per hour (Grad/Masters student), based on your credit hours earned.

Employee Type: Seasonal (Fixed Term) (Seasonal) Our interview process could include phone interview(s), Microsoft Teams video interview(s), and/or in-person interview(s). If you are selected to join our team, please click on this link to review the Required First Day Documents. You will need to present the following items on your first day: 1.

I-9 Acceptable Documents to show your identity and authorization to work. Use this link to learn more and review the different document options: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents If your position requires a Florida Driver’s License, this must be one of your documents. (Your Florida Driver’s License can serve as one of your documents listed in link above – List B Documents.) 2.

U.S.:

Social Security Card (signed, physical card). This is a requirement of our Payroll Department and failure to provide this document could jeopardize timely

compensation:

(Your U.S. Social Security Card can serve as one of your documents listed in link above – List C Documents.)

Benefits:

Employee

benefits:

and Florida Retirement System contributions are not available for seasonal and temporary positions. Positions marked Full Time and Regular (Budgeted) are eligible for

benefits:

, for more information

about:

employee

benefits:

, please click this link or visit SCGov.net. A different blend of voices prompt better conversations, choices and results for everyone. Sarasota County – Many Voices, One Team. We celebrate and value the

experience:

s, backgrounds, perspectives, talents and strengths that make us different. Our vision is to attract, develop, retain and engage a talented workforce broadly representative of the citizens and communities we serve. To further value creativity, innovation, collaboration and great customer service – internally and externally.

A job applicant with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to participate in the application/selection process is requested to make known the need for an accommodation to Human Resources or appropriate county staff members. For assistance with the application, please call 941-861-5353. Sarasota County prohibits discrimination in all services, programs or activities.

View the complete policy at scgov.net (keywords: ADA Compliance). Sarasota County Government is a Tobacco-Free/Drug-Free Workplace. Do you like leaving things better than you found them? We serve the greater good! Our team is here to make Sarasota the premier community to live, work and play! Sarasota has 37 miles of award-winning beaches, over 80 parks and 100 golf courses, and is known as the cultural capital of Florida with museums of art, theaters, an aquarium, botanical gardens and the annual international film festival.

Unsurpassed beauty, rich cultural offering, diverse

education:

al opportunities, wide-ranging recreational possibilities make Sarasota a great place to live and work! We believe in work-life balance with a generous leave plan. “US News & World Report: Sarasota is No. 1 in Florida and No. 18 in the country for best place to live.” We need YOU to help create wonderful

experience:

s for residents and vacationing guests enjoying Sarasota! Apply today!