Bernalillo County (New Mexico)

Government, Community & Emergency Services

Perks of being an Employee

Working as an intern at Bernalillo County offers a multitude of advantages. As an intern, you would be eligible for :

• Paid time off for Federal Holidays
• Possibility of Flexible Schedules
• Gain Work Experience to Grow Your Future!

As you progress in your career within Bernalillo County and transition into fully benefitted positions, your benefits expand significantly. Fully benefitted positions encompass the following privileges:

• Tuition Reimbursement
• Health/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance
• 12 Paid Federal Holidays
• 3 Paid Personal Holidays
• 13 Paid Days Annual Leave
• 13 Paid Days Sick Leave
• PERA Retirement Pension Plan
• 457 Deferred Savings Plan
• Longevity Pay

This comprehensive range of benefits reflects our commitment to supporting the professional development and well-being of our employees.

Hear from our Employees

Meet Zlata Nourie

Admin Assistant III, Bernalillo County Housing

Meet Karl Redmon

“I began my career with Bernalillo County as an Intern for the Planning and Development Services Department. Through that experience, I was able to gain exposure to the day to day tasks and requirements professional planners use to serve members of the community. The flexible schedule of being an intern allowed to me complete my master’s degree in community and regional planning at UNM while training alongside professional planners. The passion for serving the community found in the Planning and Development Services Department and Bernalillo County as a whole motivated me to pursue a full-time career and I was fortunate enough to be hired on as a Planner after I completed my degree.”

Meet Abhijeet Bhatta

Senior Developer, Bernalillo County Information Technology Department

“I started as an intern inside the Operations Excellence Office in the County. When I started out I was in the final semester towards completing my Masters in Cybersecurity and Business Analytics from UNM. The internship was a great learning experience for me. I had a great experience working together with teams of talented and friendly people who always gave me the love, support and guidance that I needed to grow in the role. I met some amazing people. I worked alongside Davin Nelson, a fellow intern who is now working full time in the Planning and Development Services as a Permit Technician. My supervisor Veronica Schornack provided me with invaluable guidance that helped me to build good habits that I still am grateful for to this day. Those little habits have really made my life so much easier now that I am in a full-time role. I was always encouraged to express my opinions and I never felt like I am “just an intern”. I promise that fetching a cup of coffee was not part of my job duties xD. Jokes apart it was a tremendously impactful learning experience for me that not only developed my technical skills and expertise but actually helped me develop life skills to navigate my professional journey.”

Meet Davin Nelson

Permit Technician, Bernalillo County Planning and Development Department

“During my senior year of studying Community and Regional Planning at the University of New Mexico, I decided to apply for different programs across the Albuquerque metro area . Shortly thereafter, I received an offer to intern with Bernalillo County’s Operations Excellence Office (OEO).

In total I spent 9 months working alongside the department and under the mentorship and guidance of management. Through that time, I gained a number of skills including learning how local government operates on a daily basis, creating educational material for both employees and members of the public, and perhaps most beneficial—professional development. Given the effort that was put into helping me achieve my goals of starting a career in Planning, I felt not only appreciated and valued as an employee, but as a person.

Through meeting with other departments and networking during BernCo Events, I was able to better prepare myself for the transition of interning to joining the Planning and Development Services (PDS) department full time. The County is large, and there’s tons of different positions available. I would encourage others who are interested to set up appointments and meet with staff members to learn more about a specific department or program, as they may just have an opening!”

Employment Opportunities

Internships and Seasonal Positions

Bernalillo County values employees of every level – including students and recent graduates. We recognize the importance of education and understand there must be a balance between work and school. For that reason, we provide opportunities for individuals currently pursuing their education to join us in part-time or temporary roles.

College Internships

The Bernalillo County internship program provides a unique opportunity for undergraduate students to support their community while improving their skills and launching their careers. Our internships offer hands-on experience to exceptional students committed to public service, with opportunities in areas such as Human Resources, Legal, Law Enforcement, Communication, Government, and more throughout the County. Internship applicants must have a high school diploma or a GED and be enrolled in a post-secondary institution or technical school recognized by the state of New Mexico. Participants work for 20 hours or less while enrolled in school.

Before and After School Program

Bernalillo County’s Parks and Recreation department offers part-time positions in the morning before school starts and after. Recreation Aides and Assistants can take on leadership roles by organizing sports, special events, and artistic programs for NM youth. Join us in creating an enriching environment where mentorship and growth extend beyond the classroom.

Featured positions:

Recreation Assistant – https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/bernco/jobs/4189939/recreation-assistant?keywords=recreation&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs

Summer Program

Join our exciting summer hire program! We are thrilled to offer part-time positions at local Bernalillo County parks and community centers, providing a unique opportunity for individuals to help carry out a seven-week program while enjoying the summer months. Job seekers can apply for positions with our Parks and Recreation team to help lead youth activities for children ages 5 – 14 or our Community Services to distribute packaged lunches to members of the community. Stay tuned for more information about next year’s program – Summer 2024!

High School Summer Internship

Bernalillo County is offering a summer internship program for youth aged 16-18 who are interested in exposure to a variety of professions within Bernalillo County departments.

The internship program is designed to provide real‐world experiences that develop the application of academic, technical, and employability skills in a work setting. High school aged youth 16 – 18 (including graduating seniors) who become interns will work up to 20 hours a week. Interns will be required to participate in a paid intern employability training the week prior to placement at a worksite.Stay tuned for more information about next year’s program – Summer 2024!

What is Business Casual?

Business Casual is a dress code that is more relaxed than formal business attire, but is still professional and workplace-appropriate.

Examples of appropriate business casual attire include:

• Collared shirts, blouses, polo shirts, knit tops
• Dress pants, khakis, chinos.
• Skirts and dresses of an appropriate length (about knee-length or longer)
• Blazers, cardigans, pullover sweaters
• Dress shoes, sensible heels, flats, loafers
• Good personal hygiene, well-groomed hairstyles and facial hair
• Clean jeans in good condition can be worn on designated casual days or according to specific department rules

What is not appropriate:

• Sweats and athletic wear
• Overly casual or flashy styles
• Ripped, dirty, or overly-tight jeans
• Anything excessively tight or revealing
• Mini-dresses and short skirts or shorts
• T-shirts with inappropriate graphics or logos
• Poor hygiene, poor grooming, body odor
• Anything that can interfere with workplace safety for your specific job (such as open-toed shoes or sandals in hazardous environments, excessive jewelry that could catch in machinery)

A good rule to remember: if you would wear it to the club, the beach, the gym, or working in the yard, it’s probably not appropriate to wear to work.

What is Workplace Professionalism?

Workplace professionalism is an important factor that contributes to a successful career. A professional attitude creates respect and consideration between co-workers, helps demonstrate that you are serious about your job, and fosters positive relationships with customers and colleagues.

Some important things to remember are:

Dress Appropriately:

• Follow your workplace dress code
• Choose clothing that is neat, clean, and appropriate for your job. For examples, see here!

Be Punctual and Reliable:

• Arrive on time for work
• Respect deadlines and timelines for getting work completed
• Show up when scheduled to work – avoid excessive calling out or tardiness

Use Proper Communication:

• Be respectful and polite when interacting with co-workers, supervisors, and customers
• Practice active listening
• Use clear and professional language
• Use professional language in emails

Be a Team Player:

• Be open to working cooperatively with others
• Take initiative to help instead of letting others on the team carry the work
• Volunteer for additional responsibilities
• Be proactive toward your work

Time Management:

• Prioritize tasks and manage time efficiently
• Meet deadlines
• Focus on your work
• Be respectful of others’ time – avoid excessive socializing with co-workers while at work

Be Adaptable:

• Be open to change and willing to learn new skills
• Be flexible in handling different tasks and challenges
• Learn from mistakes and be open to feedback

Use Conflict Resolution:

• Handle conflicts professionally
• Seek resolutions in a constructive manner instead of arguing or becoming angry

Respect Diversity:

• Treat everyone with kindness and fairness
• Respect that others may have different cultural backgrounds and individual differences
• Be respectful of personal boundaries

Confidentiality and Security:

• Respect the confidentiality of sensitive information
• Follow company policies regarding the handling of confidential data
• Follow company policies on cybersecurity and use of Internet and email

Avoid unprofessional and inappropriate behavior:

• Avoid using inappropriate language or behavior, or talking about inappropriate subjects
• Don’t spread rumors or gossip
• Don’t get involved in negativity or office politics
• Don’t bring personal problems into the workplace
• Don’t spend excessive time on your phone or on surfing the Internet for personal use
• Don’t get involved in personal disagreements or be argumentative with co-workers or customers
• Avoid conversations on inflammatory subjects (such as politics, religion, and sports)
• Don’t procrastinate or miss deadlines

Awards

Resources