Summer Office Of Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Intern - (2026) - $19.00/hr.

Summer Office Of Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Intern

The Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) is a bi-state agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey. It owns and operates the Benjamin Franklin, Walt Whitman, Commodore Barry, and Betsy Ross Bridges which are four major bridge crossings of the Delaware River. The Authority's transit subsidiary, the Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO), operates a two-track rapid transit line between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Lindenwold, New Jersey.

The DRPA/PATCO is seeking to hire college students for the 2026 summer season. The hourly rate for most administrative intern positions is $19.00. While former summer interns are welcome to apply, past employment as a summer intern does not guarantee that you will be selected for an internship during summer 2026. Students who wish to apply for a summer internship must meet the following criteria:

1. Successful completion of a pre-employment evaluation which includes drug (including marijuana) and alcohol.
2. Successful completion of a criminal background investigation conducted by a third-party vendor.
3. Submit an official school transcript with the raised seal documenting that you completed at least one year of undergraduate studies (Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 - 24 credits).
4. Submit official school documentation confirming that you will be enrolled in an undergraduate studies for the upcoming Fall 2026 semester on a full-time basis (12 credits).
5. Must be able to commit to working full-time (40 hours per week, which includes a paid lunch hour) for 12 weeks.

Department Requesting Intern: Office of the Chief Administrative Officer

Desired Skills & Professional Expectations:

• Have basic exposure to reading and analyzing information (coursework, projects, case studies, or research assignments)
• Ability to write clearly and thoughtfully, with guidance and feedback
• Ability to follow instructions and complete assigned tasks accurately and on time
• Willingness to apply academic knowledge and skills to real-world assignments
• Openness to learning new concepts, tools, and processes throughout the internship
• Confidence to ask questions, seek clarification, and request feedback when needed
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality work
• Problem-solving mindset when approaching assignments
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment
• Professional conduct, including reliability, respectful communication, and accountability

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Drafting clear, well-organized memos, briefings, and correspondence intended for cross-departmental audiences.
• Researching, drafting, and updating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for various departments, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and consistency.
• Developing and maintaining dashboard metrics and visual summaries to support leadership decision-making and performance tracking.
• Developing high-level annual highlights report that captures key accomplishments and performance metrics across the division, incorporating narrative summaries and graphics.
• Maintaining and updating internal intranet content, ensuring information is current, relevant, and well-organized.
• Attending meetings with CAO, capturing high-quality notes, tracking action items, and preparing timely follow-up.
• Assisting in preparing meeting agendas, materials, and briefing documents to support efficient and productive meetings.
• Supporting CAO in the lead-up to Board-level meetings.
• Supporting signature initiatives that support mental health and self-care awareness.
• Managing multiple assignments simultaneously while meeting deadlines and maintaining a high standard of accuracy and professionalism.
• Performing other projects and duties as assigned.

In addition to supporting signature Mental Health Awareness and Self-Care initiatives, the intern will be responsible for producing a division-wide Annual Highlights Report that showcases the prior year's accomplishments, initiatives, and key performance outcomes.

Education and/or Experience:

• Applicants must be 18 years of age.
• High school diploma or general education degree (GED).
• Intermediate skill level in using MS Office.
• Interns must attend an accredited college/university, including a community college (junior college).
• Home residence must be located within DRPA's Port District, which includes (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania, and Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, and Salem, counties in New Jersey).

Work Location: One Port Center, located in Camden, NJ

Work Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday – Friday, including a paid lunch hour.

A Few Benefits of Interning at the Delaware River Port Authority:

• Competitive pay.
• Paid weekly.
• Free parking at all facilities.
• Complimentary passage on DRPA bridges when they are used for commuting to and from work only.
• Complimentary travel on PATCO, when the train is used for commuting to and from work only.
• Opportunity to participate in a meaningful learning experience with industry leaders and professionals.

What You'll Gain:

As part of a supportive team, you'll gain practical real-world experience, develop essential professional skills, and opportunities to build transferable skills that will build a strong foundation for your future career, and experiences and accomplishments you can confidently discuss in future interviews.

As one program highlight, feedback from past participants has been overwhelmingly positive: "Every 2025 intern who responded to our survey said they'd recommend this internship to other students!"

DRPA/PATCO is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer