Frederick County Government Career Explorer Program

Your Compass to Frederick County Government-Discover Opportunities. Find Your Path. Serve Your Community.

Frederick County Government is committed to fostering civic engagement and developing future public service leaders. To support workforce sustainability and community enrichment, we are introducing the Career Explorer Program, a county‑wide initiative for high school and college students, as well as participants in Frederick County Family Partnership who want to explore careers in local government. This program provides guided, hands‑on experience under the mentorship of seasoned professionals, building the skills and insight needed for success in public sector careers while deepening understanding of local government’s role in the community. The Career Explorer Program is broken down into two sub-programs, Career Discovery and Career Pathfinder. Each sub-program focuses on those at different stages in their career exploration journey.

Program explorers will unlock unique opportunities and experiences such as:

Community Connection – Make an impact where it matters most.
Structured Exploration Opportunities – Explore diverse roles across local government.
Professional Development – Mentorship, feedback, and skill-building opportunities.
Stability & Benefits – Learn about the advantages of public service careers.

Start your journey today and unlock your potential in public service with Frederick County Government!

Career Discovery: Explore Your Interests

This program is designed for students working toward their high school diploma or actively engaged with Frederick County Government's Family Partnership who want to take the first step toward identifying a meaningful career through a variety of experiential learning opportunities. This program helps participants identify their interests and discover careers within local government through immersive, hands-on experiences that build confidence and career readiness. For more information on specific opportunities, navigate to the Discovery Program page.

Career Pathfinder: Explore Career Paths

This program is currently designed for college and university students to bridge classroom learning with real-world experience through an internship, empowering them to apply their knowledge, gain practical skills, and explore career paths. In addition, this program allows possible job shadowing and future registered apprenticeship opportunities. For more information, navigate to the Pathfinder Program Page.

Volunteer with Frederick County Government-Explore and Serve Your Community!

Looking for other ways to give back to your community? Volunteering is about more than donating your time—it’s about making a real difference. By sharing your skills and energy, you help strengthen our community and support the vital work of local government. Volunteers play an essential role in events, outreach, and daily operations, creating a lasting impact and increasing visibility for important programs. Ready to get involved? Explore the divisions, offices and independent agencies below to see where your talents can make the greatest impact.

Discover Your Future with Frederick County Government-Step into Opportunity!

Frederick County Government is home to a wide range of Divisions and Offices, each offering valuable opportunities for career exploration or meaningful volunteer experiences. Every area operates under the leadership of the County Executive and plays a vital role in serving our community. Below are the Divisions and Offices currently participating in the Career Explorer Program or offering volunteer opportunities. Click on each division or office logo to learn more about the work they do to keep the community thriving and the opportunities offered. Check back regularly, as new opportunities are being developed to help you explore your interests and build your path with Frederick County Government.

Division of Aging and Independence

Office of Agriculture

Division of Animal Control

Frederick County Council

Division of Energy and Environment

Division of Family Services

Division of Fire and Rescue Services

Division of Human Resources

Division of Parks and Recreation

Division of Planning and Permitting

Division of Public Works

Division of Solid Waste and Recycling

Division of Water and Sewer Utilities

Division of Volunteer Fire and Rescue Services

Frederick County-Independent Agencies

Frederick County Government partners with several independent agencies that operate outside of the County’s organizational structure. These agencies function autonomously, often established under state law, and are governed by their own elected officials or appointed boards. Due to their independent nature, they typically manage and structure their own experiential learning programs, with support from Frederick County Government as needed. To explore opportunities with these independent agencies, along with their application procedures, please visit their dedicated pages below for more information.