Land Planning Intern

Westwood Professional Services; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 25,000 - 36,000; Part time

Job summary

Westwood Professional Services, Inc. is seeking a Land Planning Intern to support entitlement, zoning, and master planning for residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments.

You will assist senior planners with concept plans and rezoning applications, prepare graphics and presentation materials for client meetings and public hearings, and observe site visits as part of an immersive learning experience.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate program in Urban Planning, Land Use Planning, Landscape Architecture, or a related field.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills with clients, management, and public stakeholders.
• Willingness to learn in a flexible, cross-disciplinary environment.
• Willingness to attend site visits and occasional public meetings, with some outdoor work.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

• Assist in preparing concept plans, master plans, and due diligence studies for residential and commercial land development projects.
• Research zoning ordinances, comprehensive plans, and jurisdictional regulations to assess feasibility for prospective sites.
• Support preparation of rezoning, special use permit, and entitlement applications for local agencies.
• Prepare graphics, exhibits, and presentation materials for client meetings and public hearings.
• Coordinate with civil engineers, landscape architects, and surveyors to compile multidisciplinary information into planning documents.
• Attend site visits and public meetings to observe the entitlement process.

Skills

Verbal & written communication

Willingness to learn

Team collaboration

Driver's license

Education

Undergraduate program in Urban Planning, Land Use Planning, Landscape Architecture or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

AutoCAD

ArcGIS

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

Job Type

Internship

Description

Westwood Professional Services, Inc.

The Land Planning Intern will join a land planning team supporting entitlement, zoning, and master planning services for land development projects, including residential subdivisions, commercial centers, and mixed‑use communities. Projects range from due diligence and feasibility studies to master plans and rezoning applications for private developers, homebuilders, and public agencies. This position offers a direct opportunity to apply planning and land use coursework to real‑world development projects.

As a Land Planning Intern, the selected candidate will learn to research zoning ordinances and comprehensive plans in the entitlement process and will assist Senior Planners in the preparation of concept plans, rezoning applications, and presentation materials for clients and public hearings.

Requirements

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist in the preparation of concept plans, master plans, and due diligence studies for residential and commercial land development projects.
• Research zoning ordinances, comprehensive plans, and jurisdictional regulations to assess development feasibility for prospective sites.
• Support preparation of rezoning, special use permit, and entitlement applications for submission to local planning agencies.
• Prepare graphics, exhibits, and presentation materials for client meetings and public hearings.
• Coordinate with civil engineers, landscape architects, and surveyors to compile multidisciplinary information into cohesive planning documents.
• Attend site visits and public meetings to gather site information and observe the entitlement process firsthand.

Required Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate program in Urban Planning, Land Use Planning, Landscape Architecture, or a related field.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally with clients, management, and public stakeholders.
• Willingness to learn in a flexible, cross‑disciplinary work environment.
• Willingness to attend site visits and occasional public meetings, with some work in outdoor field conditions.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Preferred Qualifications:

The following qualifications are preferred but not required for consideration:

• Relevant industry experience through coursework or prior internships in urban planning, land planning, or real estate development.
• Experience with AutoCAD, GIS software such as ArcGIS, or Adobe Creative Suite for graphic presentations.

About Westwood Professional Services, Inc. (Westwood)

At Westwood, our purpose is to create a better world for people through our work. We transform the energy grid, design resilient infrastructure, and develop communities that will flourish today and for future generations. With over 50 years of experience and a legacy of innovation, we stand at the forefront of our industry, dedicated to understanding the unique needs of the markets we serve.

Our approach revolves around people. We are committed to building a culture that attracts, retains, and develops high performers. Our team values relationships, innovation, dedication, initiative, and growth. We believe fostering a collaborative "One Team" mentality yields superior outcomes in everything we do.

We customize our technical capabilities and geographic reach to meet our clients where they are and help them realize their vision. We are partners in our clients' success, driving to provide solutions that make a lasting difference. Safety, sustainability, and operational excellence are not just facets of our work; they are intrinsic to our identity, guiding every decision we make.

We are deeply invested in the communities we serve. Through our projects and giving‑back initiatives, we enrich the lives of those we serve, engage others within our industry, and create a lasting impact on communities around the world. To us, success transcends the completion of projects; it is reflected in the lives we have positively impacted by our work.

Join us in creating a better world.

In 2025, Westwood was recognized as #77 on the ENR Top 500 Design Firms. Additionally, Westwood was ranked #5 for ENR's Top Design Firm for Solar, #6 for Battery Storage, and #3 for Wind (2025). The firm consistently ranks on the industry's top 25 lists and receives recognition for its involvement in award‑winning projects nationwide.

Westwood provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. We believe that diverse backgrounds strengthen our business. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.