Internships

Launch your career with Northern Development internships

Join our network of 100+ Northern Development interns and kickstart your career in local government, First Nations government and business development in Northern B.C. Available to recent graduates of post-secondary, our 12-month paid internship programs offer emerging professionals the opportunity to spend a year living and working in beautiful Northern B.C., receive personal mentoring, professional development and a network of flexible career options.

• Business Development Internship application information
• First Nations Internship application information
• Local Government Internship application information 

Our 2020 Program

Visit our Intern FAQ page for more information about the 2020 internship program.

Host local governments, First Nations governments and Community Futures (for the business development internships) vary from year to year. Each of the below organizations are approved, after submitting an application, to host a Northern Development intern for 12 months. They have gone through a comprehensive selection process that consider factors like work plan, mentor and more.

Our 2020 host communities:  

Who are we looking for?

Northern Development is seeking motivated, enthusiastic and civic-minded graduates to learn and develop their professional skills for a career in government administration and economic development.

Professional Qualities

• Expressed interest in local government, politics and policy
• An interest in pursuing a career in government, economic development or business development
• Experience working in large groups toward a common goal
• The ability to think big picture
• Effective and professional communication
• Willingness to be flexible and adaptable

Eligibility

• A recent (2 years) graduate of a bachelor’s degree program from a recognized Canadian post-secondary institution
  • Students currently enrolled or graduated from a recognized Canadian Graduate degree will also be considered
  • Students graduating in Spring 2020 are eligible
  • Students enrolled in a certificate or diploma program in Public Administration or First Nations/Indigenous Studies will be considered
• Qualified self-identifying Indigenous/First Nations individuals will be given preference for First Nations government internship
• Must hold a valid B.C. drivers license or international drivers license
• Must be legally entitled to work in Canada for the duration of the 12-month internship
• Successful completion of security screening requirements which includes a criminal records check, and/or Criminal Records Review Act (CRRA) check.

Proposed Timeline (subject to change in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic)

• February 14 Deadline for 2020 local government intern applicants.

• February 17-25 Northern Development will assess applications for completeness and conduct pre-screening calls.
• February 29 Deadline for 2020 First Nations government and business development intern applicants

• March 23/24/25/26 (dates still being determined) Panel interview with all host governments in Prince George.

• March 27 Deadline to notify successful interns of 2020 placements.

• April Successful interns will complete studies and make arrangements to move to host community.

• May 1 – May 9 Internships begin in host communities. Each host and intern will determine exact start date.

Compensation

• Interns will receive a salary of $45,000 and may be eligible for a housing allowance up to $10,000.
• Interns will also receive support to pursue professional development opportunities mutually determined by mentor and intern to be beneficial to intern role and career.

Our Intern Alumni

The Northern Development Intern alumni community is over 100 members working at varying levels of government across the country. Read some of our recent alumni success stories below:
Internship benefits recent grad and local government: Madelaine Swift
Intern reflects on their local government experience: Angelina Leon
Internship programs generates myriad of benefits: Valerie Caden-Baptiste
Q&A with Lina Gasser, 2015 intern
Through Rayne or Shine
The Future is Never Crystal Clear
The Call of the North