OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE ORGANIZATIONAL CONSULTANT INTERN - STUDENT 4 - HYBRID

At the University of California (UC), your contributions make a difference. A world leader producing Nobel and Pulitzer Prize recipients with over 150 years of groundbreaking research transforming the world. Choose a career where you can leverage your knowledge, skills and aspirations to inspire and support some of the greatest minds in the world, and those who will follow in their footsteps. Working at the University of California is being part of a unique institution, and a vibrant and diverse community. At the University of California, Office of the President, we propel our mission through impactful work locally, in government centers and systemwide. We are passionate people, serving the greater good.

The University of California, one of the largest and most acclaimed institutions of higher learning in the world, is dedicated to excellence in teaching, research and public service. The University of California Office of the President is the headquarters to the 10 campuses, six academic medical centers and three national laboratories and enrolls premier students from California, the nation and the world.

Department Overview

The University of California Office of the President (UCOP) serves as the systemwide headquarters for the University of California, overseeing and managing programs that support UC's academic, research, and public service missions and enabling campuses to achieve efficiencies through centralized operations.

Within UCOP Operations, the Operational Excellence (OE) Center of Expertise (CoE) is a newly established internal consultancy dedicated to building sustainable process improvement capability across UCOP. OE empowers staff through education, drives improvements through coaching and consulting, connects practitioners across the system, and partners to advance innovation and technology-enabled solutions.

Position Summary

This is a paid, short term student internship designed to provide practical skill development, related training, and professional work experience in a complex public-sector organization. A defining feature of UCOP internships is an intentional learning agenda, in addition to the intern completing meaningful project work.

The Operational Excellence Organizational Consultant Intern will provide project based analytical, stakeholder engagement, and communication support to the OE Center of Expertise. The intern will deliver two high-visibility products used by senior leadership and shared across UCOP:

1. Operational Excellence Impact Measurement Dashboard (Smartsheet based prototype)
2. Inaugural Operational Excellence Annual Report

This entry-level internship emphasizes learning, mentorship, and supervised skill development. The intern will work under close supervision and will not exercise independent authority for final reporting, official communications, or policy decisions. Hybrid Position Located in Oakland, CA.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Excellence Impact Dashboard

• Conduct structured stakeholder interviews with OE staff, project clients, and executive sponsors to identify data needs and reporting priorities
• Assist in defining and documenting key performance indicators aligned to OE's strategic framework (e.g., capacity built, consulting impact, community reach, technology adoption)
• Build and refine a Smartsheet based dashboard prototype, including executive-level and operational views
• Develop standardized data collection templates and supporting documentation
• Draft a data dictionary describing definitions, assumptions, and calculation logic

Inaugural OE Annual Report

• Interview OE engagement partners and certified practitioners to surface impact narratives and quantified outcomes
• Synthesize dashboard data into clear, executive-ready impact summaries
• Draft written content including program highlights, project spotlights/case studies, metrics summaries, and forward-looking priorities
• Coordinate with UCOP communications or design partners if available; otherwise produce a clean, professional Word/PDF-ready report
• Prepare and deliver a summary presentation of findings and recommendations to OE leadership

Cross Cutting Work

• Draft a refreshed one page OE value proposition overview suitable for new client intake
• Conduct targeted peer benchmarking of comparable internal consulting or continuous improvement functions and summarize practical takeaways
• All work products are reviewed and finalized by OE leadership.

Learning Objectives

• Through this internship, the student will:
  • Apply graduate-level frameworks in strategy, measurement, and stakeholder engagement within a large, matrixed public organization
  • Gain practical exposure to operational excellence and continuous improvement concepts
  • Develop executive communication skills, including data visualization, professional writing, and leadership presentations
  • Learn how internal consulting functions create value without direct authority
  • Build professional relationships across UCOP and the broader UC system

Required Qualifications

• Current enrollment in a graduate program (MBA, MPA, MPH, MS, or related discipline) at a University of California campus
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills demonstrated through coursework or project experience
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint (or equivalent tools)
• Ability to organize information, manage multiple tasks, and work effectively in a structured, deadline-driven environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Smartsheet, dashboards, reporting automation, or data visualization
• Exposure to Lean, Six Sigma, process improvement, or operational excellence concepts
• Interest in public sector management, higher education operations, internal consulting, or organizational effectiveness
• Familiarity with AI-assisted productivity tools (e.g., Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT) and curiosity about how emerging technology supports process improvement and knowledge work

Duration & Schedule

Internships are fixed term and typically run 10 to 12 weeks during the summer

Summer interns may work up to 40 hours per week

While classes are in session, student employees are limited to 20 hours per week across all UC appointments

Salary & Benefits

Salary is $25.00 to $30.00 per hour, commensurate with experience.