• Public Health Lead Poisoning Program Intern – Fall 2026 – Remote with option for in-person work in the Springfield, IL office.

    Candidates must have secure home internet access, a hotspot, or VPN and the ability to work remotely while collaborating with program staff at the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).  

     

    Welcome to the Office of Health Protection and Response – Bureau of Environmental Health at IDPH. You will play a key role in developing a geographic map of Illinois that identifies areas with the greatest need for IDPH-licensed lead contractors. Responsibilities include collecting and organizing public health data, analyzing and mapping priority areas, and developing outreach strategies and materials to encourage public interest in becoming an IDPH-licensed lead contractor. 

    Under supervision, you will collect data from existing lead project notifications and identify areas of opportunity for outreach. You may contact contractors for their input on license practices, feedback on resources, and participation in abatement projects. Additional tasks may include evaluation and suggested updates to the IDPH Lead Poisoning webpages, social media outreaches, and forms and documents.  

    This role will provide hands-on experience in data collection and community engagement, supporting efforts to build meaningful relationships with communities impacted by childhood lead paint hazards.  


    Responsibilities:  

    • Collect, organize, and analyze public health and lead project notification data. 

    • Assist in the development of geographic maps identifying areas with the greatest need for IDPH-licensed lead contractors. 

    • Contact contractors to gather feedback on licensing practices, resources, and participation in lead abatement projects. 

    • Obtain public feedback to determine how IDPH can effectively maintain relationships with existing license contractors and obtain new license contractors. 

    • Suggest improvements to guide future licensees and promote IDPH lead licensing.  

    • Improve and update communications with the public through social media campaigns.   

    • Assist with the evaluation and revision of IDPH Lead Poisoning Program webpages, forms, and educational materials. 

    • Assist staff with special projects and administrative tasks related to environmental health and lead poisoning prevention initiatives. 

    • Other duties as assigned and related to these projects.   


    Requirements:  

    • Must be in good academic standing and currently enrolled in one of the following graduate or undergraduate programs - Public Health Communications, Health Systems Evaluations, Public Administration, Social Work, Environmental Health, or another related field.  

    • Ability to work remotely and communicate with supervising team regularly during working hours (8:30 am – 5 pm) – flexible based on your academic schedule.  

    • Secure home internet access, a hotspot, or VPN.  

     

    Optional:  

    • Report to the Springfield, IL office as needed if in the area.  

     

    Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:  

    • Ability to interpret and summarize public health data, including trends, indicators, and descriptive statistics, supported by proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (e.g., Excel, Word, PowerPoint), and familiarity with data and graphic design tools (e.g., Canva). 

    • Ability to synthesize quantitative and qualitative information, including identifying key themes, gaps, patterns, and emerging issues from data and documents.  

    • Strong written communication skills, with the ability to produce structured reports, briefs, and other written materials. 

    • Strong organizational skills, including tracking partnership activities, managing datasets, and maintaining accurate records.  

    • Strong attention to detail when working with data, reports, and partner communications.  

    • Ability to collaborate effectively with internal teams and external partners, including gathering input and incorporating feedback into recommendations.  

    • Ability to translate feedback into actionable insights and support development of recommendations.  

    • Knowledge of social media platforms and digital communication strategies. 

    • Basic experience with databases or data tracking systems for project or partnership management (preferred).  

    • Experience with data visualization, mapping software, or GIS tools is preferred. 

    • Foundational coursework in public health, statistics, or research methods (preferred). 

      

    Schedule and Compensation:  

    This internship will be for the Fall 2026 semesters (start and end dates are flexible) and will require 20 hours per week.  

     

    This is an unpaid internship, but academic credit may be available depending on your institution’s policies and guidelines – please speak with an academic advisor.  

     

    All applications must be submitted by 9 a.m., Wednesday, June 24, 2026 to be considered for this internship. 


    Apply Here