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JOB SUMMARY
Job Profile Summary
The Government Relations Intern will support the Government Relations team during a state legislative session while gaining firsthand experience in the legislative and public policy process. This internship is designed for students interested in government relations, public policy, political science, public administration, law, communications, agriculture, energy policy, or related fields.
Interns will be assigned to a state capitol location and work directly with a Government Relations professional to observe and participate in legislative activities, stakeholder engagement, policy analysis, and issue monitoring. The internship provides meaningful, hands-on experience in a professional legislative environment while supporting the organization's state government affairs objectives.
This is a semester-based internship aligned with active legislative sessions.
Key Responsibilities
The Government Relations Intern may assist with:
- Monitoring legislative and regulatory committee meetings, hearings, and floor sessions.
- Tracking legislation and regulatory proposals affecting the company and industry.
- Researching legislative, regulatory, political, and public policy issues.
- Preparing bill summaries, issue briefs, presentations, and background materials.
- Attending legislative hearings, committee meetings, and stakeholder events.
- Supporting Government Relations staff with policy analysis and strategic planning.
- Developing and maintaining professional relationships with legislators, government officials, agency staff, and industry stakeholders.
- Assisting with special projects, reports, and administrative activities as assigned.
- Providing timely updates on legislative developments during active legislative sessions.
- Maintaining accurate records of legislative activities, stakeholder meetings, and policy developments.
Learning Opportunities
Interns will gain exposure to:
- State legislative and regulatory processes.
- Public policy development and advocacy strategies.
- Legislative research and analysis.
- Government and stakeholder relations.
- Corporate government affairs operations.
- Energy and infrastructure policy issues.
- Professional communication in governmental and public affairs settings.
Qualifications
Required
- Currently enrolled in an accredited two-year or four-year college, university, or graduate program.
- Pursuing a degree in Political Science, Public Administration, Public Policy, Law, Communications, Business, Economics, Agriculture, Energy Studies, or a related field.
- Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Strong research and analytical abilities.
- Ability to work independently while managing multiple assignments.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
Preferred
- Sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student standing.
- GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Demonstrated leadership through student organizations, community involvement, or extracurricular activities.
- Prior internship, part-time employment, campaign, governmental, or civic engagement experience.
- Interest in government relations, advocacy, public affairs, or energy policy.
Internship Structure
- Semester-based internship aligned with a spring legislative session.
- Part-time schedule during the academic semester.
- Interns will work directly with a Government Relations representative in their assigned state capitol location.
- Opportunities may be available in locations where Government Relations personnel are actively engaged in legislative affairs.
- Internship duration and work hours will be structured to comply with company internship policies and applicable employment requirements.
Compensation and Benefits
- Competitive hourly compensation.
- Housing or travel assistance may be available for qualifying candidates when relocation or extended travel is required.
- Eligible interns may receive academic credit subject to university approval and program requirements.
What You Will Gain
This internship provides a unique opportunity to experience the legislative process from inside a state capitol environment while developing practical skills in government relations, advocacy, policy research, stakeholder engagement, and professional communications.
Strength Factor Rating - Physical Demands/Requirements
- Sedentary Work - Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (Occasionally: activity or condition exists up to 1/3 of the time) and/or a negligible amount of force frequently (Frequently: activity or condition exists from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.
Strength Factor Description - Physical Demands/Requirements
- Standing: Remaining on one's feet in an upright position at a work station without moving about (Occasionally)
- Walking: Moving about on foot (Frequently)
- Sitting: Remaining in a seated position (Constantly)
- Lifting: Raising or lowering an object from one level to another (includes upward pulling) (Occasionally)
- Carrying: Transporting an object, usually holding it in the hands or arms, or on the shoulder (Occasionally)
- Pushing: Exerting force upon an object so that the object moves away from the force (Occasionally)
- Pulling: Exerting force upon an object so that the object moves toward the force (includes jerking) (Occasionally)
- Climbing: Ladders, Stairs (Occasionally)
- Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling (Occasionally)
- Stooping: Bending the body downward and forward by bending the spine at the waist (Occasionally)
- Kneeling: Bending the legs at the knees to come to rest on the knee or knees (Occasionally)
- Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending the legs and spine (Occasionally)
- Crawling: Moving about on the hands and arms in any direction (Occasionally)
- Reaching: Extending hands and arms in any direction (Constantly)
- Handling: Seizing, holding, grasping, turning or otherwise working with the hand or hands (Manual Dexterity) (Constantly)
- Fingering: Picking, pinching or otherwise working with the fingers primarily (Finger Dexterity) (Constantly)
- Feeling: Perceiving such attributes of objects/materials as size, shape, temperature, texture, movement or pulsation by receptors in the skin, particularly those of the finger tips (Constantly)
- Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas/information by means of the spoken word (Frequently)
- Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sound by the ear (Frequently)
- Tasting/Smelling: (Occasionally)
- Near Vision: Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less (Constantly)
- Far Vision: Clarity of vision at 20 feet for more (Frequently)
- Depth Perception: Three-dimensional vision; ability to judge distances and spatial relationships so as to see objects where and as they actually are (Frequently)
- Vision: Color - The ability to identify and distinguish colors (Constantly)
Working Conditions/Environment
- Employee is subject to inside environmental conditions
Working Conditions
- Well lighted, climate controlled areas (Constantly)
- Frequent repetitive motion (Constantly)
- CRT (Computer Monitor(s)) (Constantly)
Travel
- Travel to other locations may be required
Driving
- Based on assigned tasks, employee may be assigned a company vehicle requiring the applicable driver's license
ONEOK is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, national origin, gender identity, disability, military/veteran status, genetic information or any other categories protected by applicable law.
The job description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of ONEOK.
ONEOK is committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request an accommodation email HRSolutions@ONEOK.com or call 1-855-663-6547.
