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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Urban Planning Intern

💰 $35,000 - $55,000

Urban PlanningInternshipGISPlanning Intern

🎯 Role Definition

The Urban Planning Intern supports planning teams by conducting GIS and spatial analysis, preparing technical reports, assisting with zoning and land use research, engaging with community stakeholders, and contributing to design and policy projects. This role is ideal for a current planning student or recent graduate seeking hands-on experience in municipal, regional, or consulting planning environments. The position emphasizes practical application of GIS, data analysis, site and transportation assessments, and public outreach to advance sustainable, equitable urban development.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Undergraduate student in urban planning, geography, public policy, architecture, or civil engineering (internship/co-op experience)
  • Recent graduate with a certificate or bachelor's degree in Urban Planning or related field
  • GIS Technician or Research Assistant with planning-adjacent responsibilities

Advancement To:

  • Planning Assistant / Junior Planner
  • Associate Planner / GIS Planner
  • Transportation Planner or Urban Designer

Lateral Moves:

  • GIS Analyst / Cartographer
  • Environmental Planner

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Assist senior planners and project managers with land use and zoning research, including reviewing municipal codes, overlay districts, conditional use permits, and development standards to support development review and policy recommendations.
  • Create, update, and analyze GIS datasets using ArcGIS Pro, QGIS, or equivalent to produce parcel analyses, suitability maps, land use change visualizations, and thematic cartography for planning reports and presentations.
  • Conduct site analyses and field visits to document physical conditions, infrastructure, access, environmental constraints, and neighborhood context; prepare field notes, annotated photos, and site summary memos for project files.
  • Support preparation of planning studies, technical memoranda, grant applications, and regulatory documents by compiling data, drafting text, formatting exhibits, and producing citation-ready source lists.
  • Perform demographic and socio-economic analyses using census data, American Community Survey (ACS), and local datasets to inform housing, economic development, and equity-focused planning recommendations.
  • Assist with transportation and mobility analyses, including multimodal site access assessments, pedestrian and bicycle connectivity audits, transit proximity mapping, and support for travel demand modeling inputs.
  • Produce clear, publication-quality maps, graphics, figures, and renderings (using ArcGIS, Adobe Illustrator, SketchUp, or AutoCAD) to communicate planning concepts, design alternatives, and project impacts to technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Support public engagement activities by preparing meeting materials, interactive maps, presentation slides, handouts, and online survey content; attend public meetings and community workshops to take notes and document feedback.
  • Help prepare development review packets and visual impact assessments, checking plans and submittals for completeness against application requirements and municipal checklists.
  • Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams (transportation, housing, environmental services, engineering, and economic development) to integrate planning analysis into cross-functional projects and to coordinate deliverables.
  • Conduct policy research and comparative case studies on best practices in affordable housing, transit-oriented development (TOD), climate resilience, and urban design to support plan updates or policy memos.
  • Review and summarize environmental documents (EAs, EIRs/CEQA, NEPA-related materials) and compile environmental constraint maps related to floodplains, wetlands, soils, cultural resources, and hazardous materials.
  • Assist with creation and maintenance of project databases, parcel inventories, affordable housing registries, and build-out analyses using spreadsheets, relational databases, or GIS attribute tables.
  • Prepare feasibility analyses and simple cost/benefit assessments for small-scale projects or pilot programs, including basic economic indicators and project viability summaries.
  • Provide drafting and technical support for zoning amendments, overlay district proposals, and design guideline updates, including schematic diagrams and illustrative plan graphics.
  • Help coordinate with reviewing agencies, utility providers, and permitting authorities to collect necessary documentation and to track application and approval statuses.
  • Support strategic planning tasks such as comprehensive plan element updates, neighborhood plans, and corridor studies by compiling baseline conditions, SWOT analyses, and draft recommendations.
  • Assist in the development of performance metrics and monitoring frameworks for plan implementation, tracking indicators such as housing production, vacancy rates, mode share, and access to services.
  • Conduct literature reviews and prepare annotated bibliographies on topics such as green infrastructure, complete streets, parking management, and equitable development strategies.
  • Support the preparation of grant proposals and funding applications by assembling required attachments, budget spreadsheets, supporting maps, and narrative sections describing project need and community benefits.
  • Maintain organized project folders, metadata records, and version control for GIS layers, CAD files, and planning documents to ensure reproducibility and compliance with data standards.
  • Help create public-facing content for project websites, newsletters, and social media channels, including map images, infographics, and succinct project summaries to maximize community reach and transparency.
  • Assist in stakeholder outreach by scheduling interviews, preparing stakeholder lists, documenting stakeholder feedback, and synthesizing comments into actionable summaries for project teams.
  • Prepare meeting minutes, technical appendices, and draft recommendations for internal review and for board/commission packets, ensuring materials are accessible and meet publication standards.

Secondary Functions

  • Support administrative project tasks such as coordinating site visits, preparing cost estimates for small project tasks, and maintaining timesheets and expense records.
  • Assist in onboarding new interns or student volunteers by documenting standard workflows, mapping templates, and data sources used in recurring tasks.
  • Compile and clean raw datasets received from partners or public sources; transform and normalize data for integration into GIS projects and analytic workflows.
  • Provide ad-hoc visualization support for executive summaries and grant submittals, tailored to funder requirements and evaluation criteria.
  • Participate in internal training sessions and professional development opportunities focused on GIS, planning law, and community engagement best practices.
  • Support monitoring of project timelines and deliverable schedules, alerting project managers to potential delays and recommending mitigation steps.
  • Assist with quality control and QA/QC checks on spatial datasets, map layouts, and report drafts to ensure accuracy and adherence to standards.
  • Help maintain a library of precedent studies, design standards, and regulatory templates that can be reused across projects.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Proficiency with GIS software such as ArcGIS Pro, ArcMap, QGIS, and experience creating map layouts, geoprocessing workflows, and spatial analysis outputs.
  • Experience creating graphics, diagrams, and presentation materials using Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop) or equivalent tools.
  • Familiarity with CAD and 3D modeling tools such as AutoCAD, SketchUp, Rhino, or Revit for producing site plans and conceptual massing studies.
  • Strong spreadsheet and data management skills in Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, and basic data cleaning.
  • Basic statistical and data analysis skills using R, Python (pandas), or SPSS to analyze demographic, housing, or transportation datasets.
  • Ability to interpret zoning ordinances, land development codes, and municipal policy documents and translate regulatory language into practical application guidance.
  • Knowledge of transportation planning concepts and tools (mode share analysis, pedestrian/bicycle audits, transit proximity mapping); familiarity with traffic analysis software is a plus.
  • Experience producing publication-ready cartography and visual exhibits that adhere to cartographic standards and accessibility guidelines (color contrast, legibility).
  • Understanding of environmental planning processes (CEQA/NEPA basics), permitting requirements, and how environmental constraints inform planning outcomes.
  • Experience with public engagement platforms and tools (survey tools like SurveyMonkey/ArcGIS Survey123, virtual meeting platforms, and social media outreach).
  • Familiarity with database systems, basic SQL queries, or experience maintaining project registries and parcel inventories is desirable.
  • Basic grant-writing or proposal support experience: assembling attachments, writing needs statements, and formatting budgets.

Soft Skills

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills for drafting memos, presenting findings, and facilitating community or stakeholder conversations.
  • Effective interpersonal and stakeholder engagement abilities, with sensitivity to diverse communities and equitable planning practices.
  • Critical thinking and problem-solving skills to synthesize data, identify constraints, and propose feasible planning solutions.
  • Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail to manage multiple project tasks, maintain accurate records, and meet deadlines.
  • Ability to work collaboratively in multi-disciplinary teams while taking initiative on individual assignments.
  • Public presentation confidence and the ability to translate technical analysis into clear, non-technical language for diverse audiences.
  • Cultural competency and awareness of equity, inclusion, and environmental justice principles in urban planning work.
  • Adaptability and eagerness to learn new software tools, planning approaches, and regulatory frameworks.
  • Time management skills to balance project deliverables, fieldwork, and academic or training commitments.
  • Professionalism, discretion, and ethical conduct when dealing with confidential project information or sensitive community data.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Current enrollment in or recent graduation from a Bachelor's program in Urban Planning, Geography, Public Policy, Architecture, Civil Engineering, Environmental Science, or a closely related field.

Preferred Education:

  • Pursuing or completed coursework toward a Master of Urban Planning (MUP), Master of City Planning (MCP), or related graduate degree; relevant certificates in GIS, urban design, or transportation planning are a plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Urban & Regional Planning
  • Geography / GIScience
  • Public Policy / Public Administration
  • Architecture / Urban Design
  • Civil or Environmental Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 0 to 2 years; most candidates are current students or recent graduates with internship or volunteer experience.

Preferred:

  • 1+ internship or practical experience in municipal planning offices, regional agencies, consulting firms, non-profits, or university research projects; demonstrated experience with GIS and community engagement activities preferred.
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