Urban Planning Intern - Summer 2027

WSP Global Inc.; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

WSP USA is seeking a full-time Urban Planning Intern to join our Louisiana Advisory and Planning team, based in New Orleans with Baton Rouge as a potential location. This 12-week summer internship starts around May 17, 2027 and offers exposure to real-world projects, mentorship, and professional development within a structured program.

The role supports planning tasks, GIS mapping, stakeholder outreach, and data analysis while developing technical, social, and ethical skills under guidance from

Qualifications

• Actively enrolled in an accredited Urban Planning-related undergraduate or graduate program with anticipated graduation August 2027 or later.
• Strong interest in land use and transportation planning.
• Competent interpersonal and communication skills for engaging with engineering and non-engineering audiences.
• Ability to take direction from leadership and mentors to execute projects.
• Basic proficiency with technical writing, office software, and data tools.
• Authorized to work in the United States at internship start.

Responsibilities

• Support land use, transportation planning, and public engagement activities.
• Assist with GIS mapping, existing conditions analysis, graphics, presentations, and report content.
• Support funding research, grant narratives, and project tracking.
• Attend and assist at public meetings and stakeholder outreach.
• Help collect and maintain project documentation and assist in preliminary design calculations.

Job description

This Opportunity

WSP USA hosts hundreds of interns across the United States to gain hands‑on, meaningful work experience to enhance their education and professional aptitude. Our interns gain exposure to real projects while working side by side with senior staff. Through our Developing Professionals Network, interns gain mentorship, networking opportunities and lifelong career connections.

Job Description

Our Advisory and Planning Team is seeking a Full‑Time Urban Planning Intern to work out of our New Orleans, LA office. The following location will also be considered: Baton Rouge, LA. This temporary position is seeking individuals currently enrolled in an Undergraduate or Graduate degree program.

Our internship will be part of the WSP Summer Internship Program. As a summer intern, you have the opportunity to participate in our 12‑week program scheduled to start on or about May 17, 2027. The individual start date of the internship may be flexible.

Join our Louisiana Advisory and Planning team to help communities connect their long‑term goals with practical plans, infrastructure investments, and funding opportunities. Our work spans comprehensive planning, land use and zoning, transportation planning, public engagement, parish‑ and municipality‑wide master/comprehensive plan development and implementation, capital planning and grant support.

This Opportunity

WSP USA hosts hundreds of interns across the United States to gain hands‑on, meaningful work experience to enhance their education and professional aptitude. Our interns gain exposure to real projects while working side by side with senior staff. Through our Developing Professionals Network, interns gain mentorship, networking opportunities and lifelong career connections.

Your Impact

• Internship assignments will depend on project needs and may include the following:
  • Research land use, transportation, demographic, and economic trends;
  • Assist with GIS mapping and existing conditions analysis; prepare graphics, presentations, and report content;
  • Support public meetings, surveys, and stakeholder outreach;
  • Assist with funding research, grant narratives, and capital project tracking. Work alongside planners and multidisciplinary specialists to understand how community priorities become implementable projects.
• Support a variety of planning tasks with the goal to develop technical, social, and ethical skills.
• Learn basic principles of urban system planning.
• Assist with project research, field work, and preliminary design calculations and analysis.
• Support preparation of final design plans, special provisions, and cost estimates.
• Assist in collecting and maintaining project documentation.
• Complete training on assigned tasks.
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision‑making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.
• Please note that there is no relocation or housing assistance associated with this internship.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Actively enrolled in an accredited Urban Planning, or related, Undergraduate program with an anticipated graduation date of August 2027 or later.
• Must be 18 or older.
• Demonstrated interest in land use and transportation planning, or related field, and have a strong desire to advance skills related to WSP’s work and projects.
• Competent interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with others, expressing ideas effectively and professionally to an engineering and non‑engineering audience.
• Capable of taking direction from leadership, mentors, and managers to executive projects.
• Basic proficiency with technical writing, office automation, software, spreadsheets, technology, and tools.
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
• Authorization to work in the United States at the start of the internship
• Occasional travel may be required depending on project‑specific requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Actively enrolled in an accredited Urban Planning, or related, Masters or PhD program with an anticipated graduation date of August 2027 or later.
• Experience using ArcGIS and ESRI products.
• Prior internship and leadership involvement on campus

About WSP

ABOUT US

WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper.

www.wsp.com

WSP provides a flexible and agile workplace model while meeting client needs. Employees are also afforded a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career.

At WSP, we want to give our employees the challenges they seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be essential in meeting client objectives, goals and challenges. Are you ready to get started?

WSP USA (and all of its U.S. companies) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status.

The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.