News

Smart Growth America (SGA) and its Land Use and Development team are looking to recruit a Fall 2024 intern to support its economic development portfolio and technical assistance work.

Organizational Overview

About Smart Growth America

Smart Growth America is a national nonprofit organization that envisions a country where no matter where you live, or who you are, you can enjoy living in a place that is healthy, prosperous, and resilient. We empower communities through technical assistance, advocacy, and thought leadership to realize this vision of livable places, healthy people, and shared prosperity.

About the Land Use and Development (LUD) team

The Land Use and Development (LUD) team at Smart Growth America is focused on how land use, development, and real estate can advance SGA’s mission and vision for equitable, sustainable development. LUD’s topic areas include real estate development, planning, zoning, development finance, climate adaptation, and brownfield redevelopment.

Position Overview

The intern will be a member of SGA’s Land Use & Development Department, reporting to Michael Rodriguez, Director of Research, and is expected to contribute to a collaborative team environment.

This position will assist in delivering Smart Growth America’s work in zoning, land use, and economic development. Specifically, this internship will focus on a project regarding zoning, permitting and processing, and economic development currently underway for a small Midwestern city.

Other projects may include, but are not limited to, assisting with innovative analytical work, developing new methods of analysis, assisting technical assistance engagements, and supporting projects across the LUD team and organization. The position is also likely to support SGA’s research efforts and signature reports.

Knowledge and Skills

Interns seeking to work with SGA should strive to have the following skills:

• Commitment to SGA’s mission, including diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Working knowledge of and passion for zoning, land use, economic development, and urban planning topics, including interest in or exposure to zoning
• Specific knowledge of zoning codes, zoning language, land-use regulations, and permitting processes through some combination of coursework or experience
• Strong research and writing skills
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Ability to display data, research, and policy concepts in a clear and relevant manner
• Organized and able to fulfill tasks per instructions
• Knowledge or ability to learn ArcGIS or other GIS platforms
• Proficiency in G-Suite and Microsoft Office suite of tools, or similar, for document preparation (memos, presentations, etc.)
• Local knowledge of Tulsa urban development policies are a plus

SGA also strongly encourages interns to apply with the following skills:

• Knowledge or familiarity in visual graphic design editors (i.e. Adobe Suite with a strong preference for InDesign or similar) 
• Experience with policy analysis and literature reviews, as well as distilling academic analysis into more accessible language  
• Familiarity with key data sets, including the U.S. Census and how to use state and local zoning data.
• Knowledge or familiarity with descriptive and inferential statistics and statistical packages (SPSS, State, R)

Educational Background

Graduate students in Urban Planning, Real Estate Development, Public Policy, Sociology, or related disciplines are encouraged to apply. Key among intern applicants is an interest in land use and zoning.

Compensation, Schedule, and COVID-19 Protocols

The prospective intern will need to supply their own computer and access to wifi. The intern will also be expected to commit 20-30 hours per week for a minimum of 12 weeks in Fall 2024 for up to a total of 340 hours during the course of the internship. The internship may last up to 15 weeks until the end of December.

The intern will be paid a semi-monthly stipend throughout their tenure in the program at the hourly rate of $22 for graduate students for a stipend not to exceed $7,779 during the entirety of the internship. All interns are expected to be insured by their school’s or personal health and/or liability insurance, as this internship program does not provide health or liability insurance coverage for interns.

SGA is based in Washington, DC, and operates on a hybrid work schedule. SGA staff work in the office three days a week (Tuesday-Thursday), while generally working remotely the rest of the week. Interns are expected to report to the office at least two days per week if located in the Washington, DC area. Fully remote candidates may be considered on a case-by-case basis; interns not located in Washington, DC are still encouraged to apply.

If an intern works in the office, they will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination and a booster.

How to apply

Please send a resume and cover letter where you specifically address the below three questions to jobs@smartgrowthamerica.org with “LUD Intern” in the subject line. Applications will be accepted immediately on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

• What interests you about working for Smart Growth America / the LUD team?
• What key issue(s) in zoning and land use will have the biggest impact on Americans, particularly low-income Americans and people of color, and why?
• How did you hear of this internship opportunity?

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Smart Growth America is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. SGA and the Economic Development team are committed to building a diverse staff and strongly encourage applications from candidates of color.

Employment and promotional opportunities are based upon individual capabilities and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation/preference, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status or any other protected characteristic as established under law.