Health - Vector Control Internship
Company: Multnomah County
Location: Portland
Posted on: April 1, 2026
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Job Description:
Current employees: Please apply through the employee portal to
be considered for this opportunity. Pay Range: $16.30 - $30.00
Hourly Department: Health Department Job Type: Intern Exemption
Status: United States of America (Non-Exempt) Closing Date (Open
Until Filled if No Date Specified): April 08, 2026 The Opportunity:
Vector Control Internship College to County Intern 2026 - Vector
Control Pay Rate: $24 per hour Job Type: Temporary College Intern
Duration: Summer 2026 - 12 weeks Hours: 30-40 hours a week 8-4/M-F
(schedule is somewhat flexible) Starting in June. Telework: Hybrid
Building Physical Location: Vector Control, 5235 N Columbia Blvd.,
Portland, OR 97203 Does This Position Require Driving a County
Vehicle? If so, please explain why and frequency: Yes, daily for
travel to/from field work locations. TriMet Passes are available if
transportation to County facilities is required. Eligibility
requirements and more details found on our College to County
website. What Does Vector Control Do? Multnomah County Vector
Control works to better the lives of all people living within
Multnomah County through the continued management and mitigation of
insect and vertebrate vectors. We believe that all people deserve
to live a life free from the threat of vector-borne disease.
Working with MCVC provides a real and direct benefit for all people
living within our wonderful county. Our program is part of the
Health Department and Environmental Health Services. Vector Control
monitors, suppresses or maintains at acceptable levels, a range of
emerging and existing local public health vector populations in
order to improve or sustain community livability and safety. The
program also provides community based education in person in a
variety of public settings. Internship Description &
Responsibilities: This internship will support the Vector Control
program to monitor various vector populations. Responsibilities in
the role will include: Assist in monitoring mosquito populations by
collecting adult mosquitoes throughout Multnomah County using
various types of traps. Requires the ability to walk over rough
terrain for up to 0.5 miles while carrying up to 25 lbs. of
equipment. Attend in-person community outreach events throughout
the County, representing both environmental health and vector
control which will require some evenings and weekends. Time will be
flexed accordingly. Collection of dead birds for disease monitoring
and testing which requires training in and use of biohazard
protocols. Assist with testing of rodents for disease surveillance
using AVMA standards for humane treatment and euthanasia. Will
involve live trapping of rodents. Learning Outcomes: During this
internship you can expect to: Learn how an Integrated Pest
Management program is used to protect public health, enhance
livability, and protect the environment. Learn how community
outreach is used to support Multnomah County's diverse populations,
with a focus on education and prevention. Practice synthesizing
information related to vector control and then communicating to the
public in a way that is easily understood and acted upon. Connect
to key staff who can help you deepen your understanding of
environmental health and public service. Receive valuable feedback
on strengths and areas for improvement to forward your public
health or science career. Education and Minimum Qualifications:
Candidates should have completed or enrolled in a
college/university academic institution with a public health or
science focus. Ability to promote a culture of respect,
inclusiveness, and appreciation of diverse perspectives,
backgrounds, and values ( Link to Equity and Empowerment Lens )
Have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation to Vector
Control worksite (work vehicle will be provided for field work) Be
able to navigate or find remote field sites using Google maps or
similar Strong written and verbal communication skills Ability to
confidently, comfortably, and respectfully talk with diverse
audiences, representing the County in public Familiarity with
Google Suite (e.g., Gmail, Calendar, Meet, Drive, Docs, and Slides)
is desired but not required In accordance with Oregon Law ,
Multnomah County is not collecting school attendance dates in the
initial application process; please do not include these dates in
your resume, cover letter and other application materials.
Diversity and Inclusion: At Multnomah County, we don't just accept
difference; we value it and support it to create a culture of
dignity and respect for our employees. We are proud to be an Equal
Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without
regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender
identity, national origin, disability, veteran or protected veteran
status, genetic information and other legally protected
characteristics. The EEO Know Your Rights poster is available for
your reference. Multnomah County is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We
request priority protected veteran referrals. Veterans’ Preference:
Under Oregon Law, qualifying veterans may apply for veterans’
preference. Review our veterans’ preference page for details about
eligibility and how to apply. Accommodation under the Americans
with Disabilities Act: We gladly provide reasonable accommodation
to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing
an application or participating in this recruitment process. Please
contact the recruiter below in advance to request assistance.
Individuals with hearing or speech impairments may contact the
recruiter through the Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing
711. Questions? Recruiter: Cole Whitehurst Email:
cole.whitehurst@multco.us Phone: 1 (971) 2713709 Application
information may be used throughout the entire selection process.
This process is subject to change without notice. Disclaimer: This
announcement is intended as a general descriptive recruitment guide
and is subject to change. It does not constitute either an
expressed or implied contract. Job Profile: 8007 - College
Intern
Keywords: Multnomah County, Portland , Health - Vector Control Internship, Science, Research & Development , Portland, Oregon
