Internship Info: City of Sioux Falls Ascend Internship Program

Tell us about yourself.

Born and raised in Sioux Falls, I have always loved this community! In fact, when selecting a major in college, I always knew I wanted to serve our community. After graduating college from the University of Sioux Falls in 2007, I decided to begin my career in higher education. I spent 15 years working in higher education between the University of Sioux Falls and Southeast Technical College. These experiences solidified my interest in workforce development for the Sioux Falls community. In December 2022, I took a leap and changed my career from education to local government. As the new Talent Manager for the City of Sioux Falls, I’m excited to use my background in higher education and workforce development to showcase the City of Sioux Falls as an Employer of Choice in our community!

Tell me about the City of Sioux Falls as an employer.

Sioux Falls is growing exponentially, and we need you to join our team of 1,300 full-time and hundreds more part-time and seasonal employees. Find a place to serve alongside us in a range of careers available in 11 diverse departments. There’s a role for every interest from public safety and health, to culture and recreation, to technology and internal operations. Our employees’ partner with local businesses and community members to provide the infrastructure, safe neighborhoods and recreation opportunities that keep Sioux Falls consistently ranked among the top places to live and work. Our core values of safety, teamwork, innovation, character, and respect build community from the inside out. Employees’ top culture drivers include a strong sense of accomplishment, growth through learning and training, and supportive colleagues. Team members achieve job satisfaction every day with the knowledge that their service positively impacts the high quality of life this community enjoys.

What is it like being an intern for the City of Sioux Falls?

The City of Sioux Falls offers paid internships throughout the summer, providing mentoring, professional development and growth opportunities to students interested in a variety of careers. As one of the most diverse employers in Sioux Falls, we provide a wide array of settings for you to explore your interests, gain real world experience, and develop professional skills and competencies. Our internship will provide you with a full-time mentor in your department, meaningful projects for you to spearhead, acquisition of career-specific skills, weekly intern cohort networking, speakers, tours, and dedicated resources to the cohort of interns.

What makes the City of Sioux Falls stand out from other employers?

The City of Sioux Falls developed the One Sioux Falls Framework that guides our work for strategic community growth. It truly is an honor to work for the City who takes such pride in focusing on these four focus areas that are supported by innovation, engaging people, and sustainable growth:

Safety & Health: Provide a safe community in which the health and well-being of our citizens is above the national average.

Accessible Housing: Foster the availability of housing options at all income levels, throughout the city.

Workforce: Continue to develop a community with a qualify of life that will attract and retain the best employee base in the United States.

Kids: Support a community where kids and families want to be and can thrive.

Additionally, the salary and benefits! The City of Sioux Falls just completed a salary and benefit review and the results prove that the City has a competitive advantage as it relates to its salary and benefit packages as compared to other public organizations and private industries.

What do you love about living and working in Sioux Falls?

Sioux Falls is home. Being a young adult, I always wondered what it would be like to live in a big city, but never took the risk. Sioux Falls has the small-town feel, but in a larger community. It feels like the best of both worlds. And I’m not the only one to recognize this! SmartAsset ranked Sioux Falls the number one city in America for young professionals in 2021.