PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The purpose of the Port of Palm Beach Summer Internship Program is to introduce interns to varies career fields within the Port industry and teach them valuable skills that can easily translate to any career.
The Port of Palm Beach is offering a paid Summer Internship Program for 2026 high school graduates (enrolled in college in Summe ro Fall 2026) and college students interested in gaining work experience. The eight- week internship program provides comprehensive training and hands-on experience in specific departments with additional opportunities to learn about various aspects of the Port and its operations beyond the intern’s primary duties.
There are positions available in the areas of:
- Accounting/ Finance/ Procurement
- Administration
- Cement Terminal (Ozinga)
- Communications
- Engineering
- Human Resources
- Information Technology (IT)
- Port Operations
- Tenant Relations
View Internship Responsibilities by Department here
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Enrolled in trade school, college or university (Academic credit may be granted)
- Current resident of Palm Beach County and/or graduated from a Palm Beach County high school
- Preferably 18 years and over
Applicants are required to provide the following to be considered for an interview:
- Essay (must be at least 250-word) on “What interests you most about working at the Port of Palm Beach, and how do you see this internship helping you better understand the role of ports in the community and global economy?"
- One-page personal resume
- A letter of recommendation from a school counselor, teacher and/or advisor on an official letterhead
- Unofficial high school transcripts with GPA (high school seniors only)
- Unofficial college transcripts with GPA (collega nd trade school students only)
- College acceptance letter on an official letterhead (high school seniors only)
- Summer or fall schedule of college classes (college and trade school students only)
All documents must be a Word document or PDF. We will not accept screenshots.
Please note, interns must commit to the entirety of the program (June 8- July 31).
Selection Process
Applications will be accepted for the Summer Internship Program from Monday, March 9 to Sunday, April 19, 11:59 PM (EST).
Applicants can select up to three areas of study when applying. Please review the internship responsibilities to fully understand the duties of each department.
Completed applications and supporting documentation need to be submitted online through the Summer Internship Application.
Click Here to Apply Online
(Applications open March 9, 2026)
The Selection Committee and department supervisors will review submissions in mid-April. Interviews will take place the end of April into the fist week of May.
Human Resources Manager Raquel Rivera will email offer letters to selected candidates at least two weeks before commencement of the program.
Orientation will be held on the first day of the program, Monday, June 8, 2026. Interns shall bring a government issued identification card and social security card or a passport with them to the orientation. A pre-employment drug test will be conducted on this day.
Work schedules depend on the needs of the hiring division and the intern’s availability. Typically, interns are scheduled to work Monday through Friday 9:00 AM- 4:30 PM. The intern salary is $16.00 per hour, totaling 32.5 hours per week.
Interns will have a chance to explore different terminals and learn about the career opportunities at the port through our weekly "Port Activity Day."
Interns will be required to attend two Commissioners Meetings in June and July. They will also have the opportunity to attend community events, meet Port and industry executives, business leaders, governmental officials and dignitaries.