Transportation and Long Range Planning Intern II

City of Charlottesville; Charlottesville (VA); On-site; USD 23,000 - 32,000; Part time

Job summary

City of Charlottesville is offering an internship in Transportation and Long-Range Planning within the Department of Neighborhood Development Services. The Intern II will assist with collecting information for a low-stress bike network, developing website content, and supporting data representation for long-range planning, using GIS and Census data.

The role provides exposure to multimodal planning, urban transportation policy, and public-facing planning processes, under supervision.

Qualifications

• Must be in final semester of an Associate's Degree or Technical School Program
• Upcoming Junior or Senior in a Bachelor’s Degree program
• Current Graduate Student or Recent Graduate considered
• Relevant internship experience preferred in related areas

Responsibilities

• Assist in collecting information for a low-stress bike network with regional partners
• Develop website and digital content
• Support data collection and representation for comprehensive plan updates
• Shadow community engagement in public planning processes
• Produce reports, presentations, or materials as needed
• May participate in board or council meetings as required

Skills

Data collection

Writing skills

Public engagement

GIS basics

Policy reading

Education

Associate's Degree or Technical School Program (final semester)

Bachelor’s degree candidate/Recent graduate (preferred)

Tools

ArcGIS

Canva

U.S. Census data

Job description

The hiring amount for this position will be $20.00 per hour. This is a temporary, variable-hour, position with no benefits. Working hours may vary but may be required to work up to 10 hours per week, with the Internship anticipated to last up to 16 weeks (January - May 2027).

The assignment will be related to Transportation Planning and Long-Range Planning within the Department of Neighborhood Development Services. The Intern will assist with a range of professional and technical tasks, including collecting information to assist the department in building a low stress bike network (https://bikestreets.com/) with regional partners, development of website and digital content, assistance with data collection and data representation for comprehensive plan update and other long-range planning efforts using tools and sources such as the U.S. Census, GIS open data, Canva, and ArcGIS, and opportunities to support and shadow community engagement on public facing planning processes. The position offers the opportunity to contribute to the advancement of key community planning initiatives while gaining hands-on experience in transportation planning, long-range planning, and local government operations.

Primarily and most frequently, work is performed under the close supervision of Transportation and Long-Range Planning staff, and is designed to promote professional development through meaningful, applied work in a public sector setting, with exposure to transportation policy, multimodal planning, and community-based planning processes.

To learn more about the department, please visit https://www.charlottesville.gov/261/Neighborhood-Development-Services.

The Intern II position is designed to provide college/university students and recent graduates with substantial entry-level work experience the opportunity to receive and observe meaningful job tasks which requires application of college/university-level knowledge typically gained in profession-specific curriculum and that promotes professional and career development. To incorporate academic learning with real-world application, an Intern II will gain hands-on learning experience where academic and technical skills can be applied to fulfill a specific city programmatic need, project, goal, or objective; will learn about departmental and/or city operations; will learn about a career in public service; expand professional network by networking with a diverse staff and/or leadership; and will make an impact in the community.

• Performs substantial entry-level tasks requiring application of relevant college/university coursework.
• Gains knowledge and experience of local City government through hands-on learning opportunities by investing time in an assigned department or division.
• Observes and assists in the daily operations of a work unit or department to learn how work is accomplished and participates in the work for purposes of further developing programmatic knowledge and skills.
• Assists in the completion of tasks and/or projects related to assisted area which may include one or more of the following areas: administrative, communications, marketing, plans/inspections review, engineering/construction, technology, trades/maintenance, and/or other applicable tasks related to the division or department.
• Provides support that may be department-specific or City-wide which may include but is not limited to scheduling, taking/distributing notes, recordkeeping, planning development, basic maintenance, compiling/analyzing data, program development, developing alternative solutions, analyzing recommendations, use of technologies or equipment, and/or other support related tasks.
• Professionally represents the city to citizens and other departments both verbally and in writing.
• May develop implementation plans including resources required, timelines and measures of effectiveness; tracks deadlines and notifies staff of impending due dates.
• May provide services to other employees, citizens, and/or customers.
• May develop reports, presentations, or other materials.
• May be asked to take a lead role on a department/division program or project, if approved by the department manager.
• May cross-train and collaborate with other professionals, leaders, and/or subject-matter experts to perform department specific tasks.
• May be asked to attend applicable board or council meetings.
• Depending on assignment, may hold or operate basic hand tools and power equipment (except power saws) under the supervision of a professional.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Must meet one of the following education criteria:

• Student in final semester of an Associate's Degree or Technical School Program
• Upcoming Junior or Senior in a Bachelor’s Degree program
• Current Graduate Student
• Recent Graduate of Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s Degree, or Technical School.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Relevant education, work or volunteer experience, practicums, or other internship in a related area to the work assignment highly preferred.

Special Requirements:

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Depending on assignment, a valid driver’s license may be required in order to operate equipment.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Functional knowledge of or basic understanding of subject matter and/or relevant technologies related to assignment through completion of relevant university coursework; Ability to read and comprehend policies, procedures, program information and technical materials; Writing skills to compose and edit reports, procedures, policies, recommendations; Ability and skill to use applicable technology to complete work tasks including most current office technology for word processing, data management and presentations, and specific industry/work applications; Critical thinking and problem solving skills; Ability to gather relevant information to solve vaguely defined practical problems and make recommendations for resolution; Ability to work independently and as part of a team; Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with diverse audiences of City personnel while using interpersonal skills to develop effective work relationships with coworkers, supervisors, customers and mentors.

Depending on assignment, this position may involve indoor and/or outdoor work. Position may be exposed to extreme temperatures, extreme brightness, fumes/airborne particulars, blood-borne pathogens, fuels, allergens and pollen, inclement weather, wet or humid conditions, uneven terrain, and animals/wildlife. Position may be subject to driving a city vehicle and to the vehicle use policy and procedures. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

For General/Office Interns - Physical requirements of this position as outlined by the Department of Labor: LIGHT WORK: Ability to lift up to 20 lbs. occasionally and/or up to 10 lbs. frequently and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires the ability to lift or move more than 20 lbs. for sedentary work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for light work. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Sedentary Work.

For Maintenance or Engineering Interns - Physical requirements for this position as outlined by the Department of Labor: MEDIUM WORK: Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. occasionally and/or up to 30 lbs. frequently and/or up to 10 lbs. constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Light Work. Usually when transporting or lifting video gear and other related equipment. Manual dexterity to operate A/V, computers and other equipment is required.