Human Resources Intern

Location: CINCINNATI, OH - HEADQUARTERS

At First Student, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We are seeking a motivated, creative, and detail-oriented HR & Marketing Communications Intern to support employee experience, retention, engagement, recognition, and internal communications initiatives that help inform, connect, and celebrate our teams.

This internship is a great opportunity for a student or early-career professional who wants to learn how Human Resources and Marketing Communications work together to support employees across a large, purpose-driven organization. The intern will gain hands-on experience assisting with HR programs, communication planning, content creation, project coordination, and employee-facing materials while working closely with HR and communications partners.

Key Responsibilities

Human Resources Support

Support employee experience initiatives focused on engagement, retention, recognition, connection, and belonging.

Assist with HR programs, events, meetings, project timelines, and follow-up activities that support our employees and leaders.

Help prepare employee-facing resources, guides, FAQs, toolkits, and communications that are clear, practical, and easy to use.

Research HR best practices, employee engagement trends, and communication approaches that support a strong team culture.

Assist with organizing survey feedback, participation data, recognition updates, or other HR program information to support action planning and continuous improvement.

Maintain organized project files, trackers, and documentation to help HR programs run smoothly and on time.

Marketing Communications Support

Draft, edit, and proofread internal communications, newsletters, announcements, leader messages, and employee updates that are clear, engaging, and aligned to First Student’s voice.

Support content development for digital channels, employee communication platforms, presentations, campaign materials, and recognition communications.

Help create audience-friendly messaging that connects employees to HR programs, company updates, and opportunities to share their voice.

Partner with HR and Marketing Communications team members to gather information, organize content, and shape key messages for employee audiences.

Assist with basic design or layout support for flyers, one-pagers, PowerPoint slides, and communication assets that are simple, visual, and easy to understand.

Track communication requests, deadlines, approvals, and distribution needs to help ensure timely delivery.

Bring creative ideas that help improve employee awareness, participation, and engagement in HR programs and communications.

Qualifications

Currently pursuing a degree in Human Resources, Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Business, or a related field.

Strong writing, editing, proofreading, and verbal communication skills with the ability to make information clear and employee-friendly.

Comfortable using Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, and Teams; experience with Canva or similar design tools is a plus.

Highly organized with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.

Creative, curious, dependable, and willing to learn in a fast-paced, collaborative team environment.

Ability to handle information professionally and maintain confidentiality when supporting HR-related work.

Positive attitude, service mindset, and interest in employee engagement, workplace culture, and communications that support frontline and office-based teams.

What the Intern Will Gain

Hands-on experience supporting HR, employee experience, and internal communications initiatives in a large, service-focused organization.

Exposure to employee engagement, retention, recognition, onboarding, change communication, and program support strategies.

Opportunities to strengthen business writing, content planning, project coordination, presentation, and communication skills.

Experience collaborating with cross-functional partners and learning how clear communication supports employees, leaders, and business goals.

A practical understanding of how HR programs are communicated, measured, improved, and brought to life for employees.

Work Environment

This internship offers a hybrid work schedule with flexibility to work both remotely and in person at our downtown office location. The intern should be available to come into the office as needed for collaboration, meetings, onboarding, project work, and team connection. Free parking is available for in-office days. The final schedule, duration, and reporting structure will be determined based on business needs, school requirements, and intern availability.

This position pays $20 an hour.

Language Requirement

This role requires English proficiency. Federal, state, and local requirements, including U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, require training, safety communications, company policies, employment documents, and other job-related communications be conducted in English.

First for a reason

At First Student, we are a family of 60,000+ employees who take pride in safely transporting more than 5 million students and passengers to and from their destinations each day! Our family of brands include Transco, Total Transportation, Maggies Paratransit, and GVC II. Our employees are at the forefront of safety and innovation; they create and implement the most advanced training and technology the transportation industry has to offer.

In the state of Washington, all technician and driving positions, including but not limited to van drivers and any other position requiring employees to drive a company-owned vehicle, are considered safety-sensitive and are therefore subject to drug and alcohol testing, including cannabis.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, dis