Regional Planning Intern at San Diego Association of Governments

About the Department

Role
The experience is substantive. If selected for an internship, you would be fully integrated into your team and given project responsibilities that are both learning opportunities and a chance for you to contribute to the overall success of the agency. You will enhance your technical knowledge and refine your abilities to collaborate, contribute to high-performing teams, and communicate – skills that are the essence of a successful professional!

Overview of the Regional Planning Department 

The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) has various teams that support our Regional Planning Department. These teams include: Environmental Compliance, Mobility, and Sustainable Communities. Interns have a unique opportunity to experience the many areas of regional planning, receive guidance and mentoring from senior staff, while building their network, gaining real-life work experience, all while increasing the quality of life for the residents in the San Diego region. The Regional Planning Department is currently hiring for three teams. Please see their descriptions listed below.

Overview of the Sustainable Communities Team 

The Sustainable Communities Team manages the development of the Regional Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) and implementation activities related to land use coordination, tribal coordination, and the Housing Acceleration Program (HAP). 

The intern will support a variety of projects such as Reconnecting Communities Initiatives, the San Ysidro Mobility Hub, and the Caliente/Downtown Stopover study.  

Overview of Integrated Transportation Team

The Integrated Transportation team manages traffic safety planning, Comprehensive Multimodal Corridor Plans (CMCP), coordinates federal planning requirements, and supports many planning efforts across the agency. 

The intern will support a variety of projects including implementation of the agency’s Vision Zero Action Plan, transportation performance management, and Interstate 15 CMCP. 

Overview of Mobility Team

The Mobility Section leads the planning, development, and implementation of innovative mobility projects and programs that can be completed in the near term while also assisting with long-range planning efforts.  

The intern will provide staff support for projects including the planning of Rapid routes, transit fare studies, and other short-range transit planning reports. The intern will also provide administrative support of TransNet-funded Rapid bus, Mid-Coast Trolley, and COASTER operations and Social Services Transportation Advisory Council (SSTAC) meetings. 

Position Duties

• Contribute as a team member to various research projects and planning studies; participate in meetings and liaise with project partners; assist with coordinating activities.
• Provide support for formal working groups, committee meetings, and public outreach; record and summarize minutes and actions for distribution to committees, working groups, and the public; assist with specific follow-up requests that arise from meetings.
• Assist with the review and verification of consultant and grantee invoices.
• Prepare tables, charts, and diagrams to display information for written reports and presentations.
• Contribute to the preparation of various types of reports, summaries, correspondence, and presentations; develop and maintain content for web and social media.
• Participate and assist with project-related events.

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduate and/or undergraduate level coursework in urban or regional planning, public policy, business, public administration, or a related field.
• Knowledge of current issues and trends related to regional planning and collaboration.
• Ability to complete assignments that involve researching, analyzing, and synthesizing information into written summaries, reports, or recommendations.
• Proficient Microsoft Office skills, including MS Outlook, MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, SharePoint, and Internet research.
• Ability to communicate with various audiences using exceptional interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills; Spanish language or multi-lingual skills are a plus.
• Flexibility and willingness to perform a variety of tasks typical of an entry-level planning position.