Careers

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Head Start California (HSC) is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation supporting California’s Head Start programs serving over 80,000 children and their families. Our office is in Sacramento, CA near downtown with free parking.

HSC currently has one position open:

Position: Event Intern

Reports to: Events Director

Status: Temporary Intern from January 2026 – May 2026 (5–6 months, aligned with HSC’s event season)

Standard Work Schedule: 8-12 hours per week, plus additional time during events

Starting Hourly Range: 20.00 per hour

Location: Sacramento, CA

Benefits: Sick time

Head Start California (HSC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit association serving Head Start preschool programs throughout the state. As an Event Intern (EI), you will learn to support the planning, coordination, and execution of conferences and advocacy events. This internship offers valuable hands-on experience in conference management, providing an opportunity to develop skills in organization, communication, problem-solving, and teamwork within a dynamic and fast-paced environment.

The focus of this internship will be on three conferences: Annual Conference (February – Ontario), Advocacy Day (March – Sacramento), and Managers & Directors Institute (April – San Francisco). You will work closely with our whole team, but especially our Events Director and Engagement Coordinator. Ideally, you will be able to attend all three conferences. All travel, lodging, and meal expenses related to event attendance are covered by HSC. This position is primarily remote, with one partial day per week in our Sacramento office (Tuesday morning), plus in-office conference preparation days as needed.

This internship is ideal for a student studying Hospitality Management, Event Planning, Marketing, Communications, or a related field.

What you will learn:

• The basic operations of a nonprofit association
• Working with volunteers and committees
• Best practices in event planning and production

Your activities will include:

• Assisting with the coordination of conference and institute speakers, including sending individualized email reminders, making phone calls, providing instructions, and aggregating and sending evaluations.
• Assisting with tracking and delivery of sponsorship benefits and exhibitor registrations.
• Assisting with the build of conference platforms, apps, social media, and other attendee facing engagement tools.
• Aid in the creation and distribution of materials, including invitations, agendas, surveys, signage, badges, and promotional materials. Provide on-site support during events, including set-up, registration, attendee assistance, and breakdown.
• Assisting in post-conference activities, such as collecting feedback, analyzing data, and compiling reports.
• Assisting with conference-related social media posts.
• Coordinate, track, and develop signage for gift cards and other donations for raffle prizes.
• Assisting with webinar production as needed.

Please view the full job description here. Skills and abilities needed for success in this position include:

• Excellent time-management skills with the ability to organize and prioritize multiple tasks effectively.
• Strong team player with a collaborative and solution-oriented approach.
• Demonstrated ability to work with individuals from diverse people and cultures.
• Familiar with technology, specifically Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Teams, OneDrive, etc.), Canva, and Zoom.
• Ability to lift and carry supplies and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.

Preferred qualifications include:

• Experience in event planning and production, social media marketing, or other tasks relevant to this position.
• Familiarity with event management platforms—such as PheedLoop (the platform we use), Cvent, Whova, or Bizzabo—is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of and/or interest in Head Start or Early Head Start (preference will be given to Head Start alumni).
• We are seeking a candidate who is fluent in both English and languages other than Spanish as we currently have staff who are bilingual in Spanish.

This is a temporary non-exempt internship working approximately 8-12 hours a week, plus additional time during events, with a compensation of $20.00 per hour. HSC offers sick time for this position.

Application Instructions 

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to edwin@headstartca.org by December 5, 2025. In your cover letter, be sure to tell us why you want to intern for Head Start California, and what you hope to learn. Incomplete applications will not be considered and only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. Head Start California is an equal opportunity employer.