Digital Operations Specialist Internships
Digital operations specialist internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience across live business workflows, mentorship from working digital operations specialists, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated across Retail, with The New York Public Library, Plexus, and Casey's among the employers posting roles now.
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Showing 5 of 8+ Digital Operations Specialist Internships
For more than 125 years, The New York Public Library (NYPL) has been an essential provider of books, information, ideas, and education. With collections numbering more than 56 million items and serving more than 16 million patrons in person each year and millions more online, NYPL’s reach is both local and global. Our mission is to inspire lifelong learning, advance knowledge, and strengthen our communities.
The intern will gain exposure to and hands-on experience with the following areas of work across week or multi-week-long rotations within various DCO teams:
- Digitization & Reformatting: Gain exposure to DCO’s different approaches to digitization and reformatting across its two production labs and vendor services. Participate in project-cycle deep dives, practice material handling, camera setups, and lighting concepts using test materials. Assist with physical inspection, preparation, and reformatting of audio, video, and film formats, and learn vendor digitization workflows and coordination
- Digital Preservation & Born-Digital Services: Assist with forensic imaging and reformatting of physical born-digital media (floppy disks, optical media, mass storage drives); assist with preservation packages into Preservica; assist with quality control and troubleshooting on legacy digital collection assets
- Metadata Services Unit (MSU): Learn how MSU reuses existing archival description and catalog records to create item-level metadata; gain hands-on practice with metadata remediation through a mini-project in a specific collection area (e.g., historical maps or performing arts photos); assist with control by researching URIs (Library of Congress, VIAF, Wikidata) and identifying name variants across library systems
- Permissions: Learn the public order request lifecycle by monitoring permissions intake and routing orders; assist with collection divisions to confirm physical item availability before digitization; gain exposure to administrative setups in ClickUp, preliminary financial invoicing in Freshbooks, and public documentation audits
- Rights Clearance: Participate in rights reviews for digitized items from NYPL Collections; assist with appropriate copyright statutes or other intellectual property designation in NYPL systems, such as the Metadata Management System; participate in rights holder research
- Digital Asset Management & Repository Systems (DAMS): Shadow Digital Asset Management staff to observe repository operations, asset ingest workflows, and system go-live protocols; gain high-level exposure to DAMS access permissions and digital preservation infrastructure
- Project Management & Operations Coordination & Leadership: Gain exposure to how DCO leadership coordinates priorities, capacity, dependencies, and decision-making across operational areas. Support operational documentation and process mapping; assist with project tracking, follow-up coordination, and leadership meeting materials; support change management and system rollout logistics by synthesizing user feedback and drafting adoption resources
Required Education, Experience & Skills
- Currently enrolled in, or recently graduated from a Master’s program in Library and Information Science (MLIS), Archival Studies, Museum Studies, Digital Humanities, or a related field
- Demonstrated interest in digital preservation, audiovisual archiving, commercial/studio photography, metadata, or library technology operations
- Basic familiarity with physical handling of archival, library, or museum collections
- Familiarity with project management tools
- Strong organizational skills and keen attention to detail
- Effective written and verbal communication skills with an ability to work collaboratively across diverse, specialized teams
- Curiosity and demonstrated interest in digital collections, preservation, archives, libraries, museums, or related fields
- Ability to adapt to different teams, projects, and work environments throughout a rotational internship
- Eagerness to learn new tools, technologies, professional practices, and ways of working.
- Ability to follow established workflows and procedures, document work accurately, and ask questions or escalate issues when appropriate
- N/A
More...
All team members are expected and encouraged to embody the NYPL Core Values:
- Be Helpful to patrons and colleagues
- Be Resourceful in solving problems
- Be Curious in all aspects of your work
- Be Welcoming and Inclusive
- Work is performed across multiple NYPL facilities, primarily splitting time between the Library Services Center (Long Island City, NY), the Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center (New York, NY), and the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building (New York, NY)
- Laboratory, studio, and standard office environments
- Possible exposure to dust, mold, and historic preservation chemicals
- Lifting and/or moving items up to 30 lbs. required (moving collection boxes, media carriers, and studio equipment)
- Handling fragile, historical physical materials with appropriate care and dexterity
- May require travel within NYC between library locations
No
Union/Non Union
Non-Union
FLSA Status
Non-Exempt
Schedule
- Up to 14 hours per week
- Duration: 17 Weeks / Spring Term (January – May)
About The New York Public Library
For more than 125 years, The New York Public Library (NYPL) has been an essential provider of books, information, ideas, and education. With collections numbering more than 56 million items and serving more than 16 million patrons in person each year and millions more online, NYPL’s reach is both local and global. Our mission is to inspire lifelong learning, advance knowledge, and strengthen our communities.
The intern will gain exposure to and hands-on experience with the following areas of work across week or multi-week-long rotations within various DCO teams:
- Digitization & Reformatting: Gain exposure to DCO’s different approaches to digitization and reformatting across its two production labs and vendor services. Participate in project-cycle deep dives, practice material handling, camera setups, and lighting concepts using test materials. Assist with physical inspection, preparation, and reformatting of audio, video, and film formats, and learn vendor digitization workflows and coordination
- Digital Preservation & Born-Digital Services: Assist with forensic imaging and reformatting of physical born-digital media (floppy disks, optical media, mass storage drives); assist with preservation packages into Preservica; assist with quality control and troubleshooting on legacy digital collection assets
- Metadata Services Unit (MSU): Learn how MSU reuses existing archival description and catalog records to create item-level metadata; gain hands-on practice with metadata remediation through a mini-project in a specific collection area (e.g., historical maps or performing arts photos); assist with control by researching URIs (Library of Congress, VIAF, Wikidata) and identifying name variants across library systems
- Permissions: Learn the public order request lifecycle by monitoring permissions intake and routing orders; assist with collection divisions to confirm physical item availability before digitization; gain exposure to administrative setups in ClickUp, preliminary financial invoicing in Freshbooks, and public documentation audits
- Rights Clearance: Participate in rights reviews for digitized items from NYPL Collections; assist with appropriate copyright statutes or other intellectual property designation in NYPL systems, such as the Metadata Management System; participate in rights holder research
- Digital Asset Management & Repository Systems (DAMS): Shadow Digital Asset Management staff to observe repository operations, asset ingest workflows, and system go-live protocols; gain high-level exposure to DAMS access permissions and digital preservation infrastructure
- Project Management & Operations Coordination & Leadership: Gain exposure to how DCO leadership coordinates priorities, capacity, dependencies, and decision-making across operational areas. Support operational documentation and process mapping; assist with project tracking, follow-up coordination, and leadership meeting materials; support change management and system rollout logistics by synthesizing user feedback and drafting adoption resources
Required Education, Experience & Skills
- Currently enrolled in, or recently graduated from a Master’s program in Library and Information Science (MLIS), Archival Studies, Museum Studies, Digital Humanities, or a related field
- Demonstrated interest in digital preservation, audiovisual archiving, commercial/studio photography, metadata, or library technology operations
- Basic familiarity with physical handling of archival, library, or museum collections
- Familiarity with project management tools
- Strong organizational skills and keen attention to detail
- Effective written and verbal communication skills with an ability to work collaboratively across diverse, specialized teams
- Curiosity and demonstrated interest in digital collections, preservation, archives, libraries, museums, or related fields
- Ability to adapt to different teams, projects, and work environments throughout a rotational internship
- Eagerness to learn new tools, technologies, professional practices, and ways of working.
- Ability to follow established workflows and procedures, document work accurately, and ask questions or escalate issues when appropriate
- N/A
More...
All team members are expected and encouraged to embody the NYPL Core Values:
- Be Helpful to patrons and colleagues
- Be Resourceful in solving problems
- Be Curious in all aspects of your work
- Be Welcoming and Inclusive
- Work is performed across multiple NYPL facilities, primarily splitting time between the Library Services Center (Long Island City, NY), the Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center (New York, NY), and the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building (New York, NY)
- Laboratory, studio, and standard office environments
- Possible exposure to dust, mold, and historic preservation chemicals
- Lifting and/or moving items up to 30 lbs. required (moving collection boxes, media carriers, and studio equipment)
- Handling fragile, historical physical materials with appropriate care and dexterity
- May require travel within NYC between library locations
No
Union/Non Union
Non-Union
FLSA Status
Non-Exempt
Schedule
- Up to 14 hours per week
- Duration: 17 Weeks / Spring Term (January – May)
About The New York Public Library
Digital Operations Specialist Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Retail
Tips for Your Digital Operations Specialist Internship Search
Apply earlier than you think necessary
Large employers recruit summer digital operations specialist interns the preceding fall, closing cohorts months before the role starts. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so openings appear year-round. Check listings regularly from early fall onward rather than waiting for spring recruiting season.
Build a project portfolio before you apply
Hiring teams for digital operations specialist interns expect limited work history and weigh projects heavily instead. Document two or three complete examples, such as process improvement analyses, workflow automation builds, or operational dashboards, with the tools used and links to the finished work so recruiters have something concrete to review.
Work your campus network alongside direct applications
Campus career fairs surface structured programs tied directly to your university, and professors or career center staff often know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to companies running smaller cohorts at the same time widens the pool you reach beyond what any single campus channel surfaces.
Practice the actual intern screen out loud
Digital operations specialist intern interviews typically include a process analysis exercise, an operations case, or a data interpretation task. Practice working through problems out loud and explaining your reasoning step by step, since interviewers weigh how you think as much as the final answer you reach.
Target structured operations internship programs first
Many larger employers run cohort or rotational programs built specifically to train people new to digital operations roles. These programs recruit early and fill fast, so identify the ones that match your background and apply in the first wave of their recruiting cycle, well before general applications open.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 0% of the digital operations specialist internships listed here. Decide what you can commit to before you begin searching, then filter by location and work type so you are not sorting through roles you cannot take. On Migrate Mate, the work-type filter applies instantly to narrow your results.
Digital Operations Specialist Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a digital operations specialist internship?
Lead with coursework and personal projects rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. For digital operations specialist roles, a documented portfolio of process improvement projects, workflow analyses, or operations case studies gives recruiters something concrete to assess. Pair direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a digital operations specialist internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. For digital operations specialist interns, what drives it is performance on real work, available headcount on the team at offer time, and return-offer timing, which some employers set before the internship ends. Position yourself by owning your projects fully and asking about the team's hiring plans early, while keeping other options open.
When should I apply for digital operations specialist internships?
Earlier than most expect. Large employers recruit summer interns the preceding fall, often closing cohorts before spring semester begins. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings regularly rather than waiting for a single recruiting season gives you a wider window to find roles that fit.
Are digital operations specialist internships paid?
Most professional digital operations specialist internships in the U.S. are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, and listings show it where the employer chooses to disclose it. Unpaid internships exist but are less common at larger organizations, and academic credit arrangements vary by school, so confirm your program's requirements before accepting an unpaid role.
What should a digital operations specialist internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three complete, documented projects that show the tools you used and what you built, such as process maps, workflow automations, operational dashboards, or case studies, with links to the work where possible. Add relevant coursework, any operations or analytics software you know, and keep the whole document to one page.
Are there remote digital operations specialist internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 100% of the digital operations specialist internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast because they draw applicants from across the country, so apply early and filter by work type to see them before seats close.
Can international students get digital operations specialist internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
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