Community Engagement Intern

Labor Classification:   Intern

Exemption Status:       Non-Exempt

Employment Status:    Part-time (20 + hours per week), hybrid

Reports to:                   Community Engagement Associate/Senior Community Engagement Associate

Internship Duration:    Three months minimum

Summary:

At PRR, we help create meaningful and inclusive opportunities for people affected by change to influence decision-making. Our clients include government agencies, organizations, and businesses that focus on transportation and the environment.

This paid summer internship position will coordinate communications, events, and inclusive community engagement activities for a variety of transportation and infrastructure projects in the Puget Sound Region. This position will support internal project managers in planning and implementing strategies that help clients engage communities in building public projects.

Candidates with demonstrated commitment to social and racial justice and experience supporting successful campaigns to reach diverse audiences will be prioritized. Candidates who use languages other than English will also be prioritized. Experience and strong interest in transportation or the environmental field is also desirable.

This is a hybrid position, with the expectation of some in-person work in our Seattle office and frequent staffing of in-person outreach events throughout the Puget Sound region.

Duties and Responsibilities

Community Engagement

• Coordinate, transport materials to and from, breakdown and set up, and attend in-person outreach (e.g. fairs and festivals, door-to-door flyering, briefings, and more) during evening and weekend hours
• Help develop and implement communications and community engagement plans, including using strategies and tactics to reach historically underserved populations
• Support equitable community engagement intiatives to meaningfully involve historically underserved communities in decision-making, including people who are Black, people who are Indigenous, and people of color, people with disabilities, people who are LGTBQIA+, people living in poverty, people who use languages other than English
• Research, write, and edit content for newsletters and press releases, social media, fact sheets, informational brochures, PowerPoint presentations, summary reports, online open houses, and websites
• Create meeting agendas, take notes during in-person and virtual meetings, and prepare meeting summaries
• Respond to questions and correspondence from community members
• Maintain a database to track briefings and public correspondence
• Coordinate with language services team to transcreate and translate project materials to multiple languages

Communication

• Excellent public speaking and oral communications skills
• Superior written communication; able to write concisely and quickly in a variety of styles, appropriate to the client voice chosen for a project, in reader-friendly language
• Ability to analyze complex technical information, translate into easily understood language, and tailor messages for the target audience
• Ability to talk to and get to know community members and clients; excellent interpersonal skills

Project Management

• Support multiple project teams
• Complete tasks within scope, schedule, and budget for projects
• Ensure work is on time, on budget, and on target with objectives; troubleshoot any issues as they arise
• Develop and manage event work plans

Client Relations

• Establish and support effective working relationships with clients, community-based organizations, and communities
• Provide excellent customer service
• Provide best possible solutions to project team
• Set and maintain the highest client service standards
• Provide responsive and timely information to clients
• Maintain confidentiality of client information
• Attend client meetings
• Anticipate and respond to client needs

Productivity/Efficiency

• Proactively complete tasks

Administrative

• Complete timesheets and expense reports on time and with accurate information
• Update excel spreadsheets
• Miscellaneous graphics coordination with PRR design team
• Provide accurate and timely billing information to accounting department
• Other admin support as needed

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. The employee may be tasked with other duties which fall within the reasonable scope of the job.

Compensation

The hourly rate for this position is $23 per hour.  This position is an internship, part-time (approximately 20 hours per week), and not eligible for benefits.  

Experience/Education

• This internship position is designed for a college student, recent college graduate with a degree or equivalent experience in communications or related discipline or someone interested in transitioning into the community engagement profession
• Experience working with historically underserved communities highly desired
• Experience working in customer or client service and/or the public sector highly desirable

Skills Required

• Strong work ethic and ability to take initiative and work independently and efficiently
• Ability to stay on task and meet deadlines in a deadline-driven environment
• Superior commitment to quality
• Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds
• Understanding of and interest in public policy, public affairs, and current events
• Comfort working in a variety of settings, including a busy office, remote settings, meetings with elected officials, or out in the community
• Proficient with PCs and MS software, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Ability to quickly learn new software, including content management systems and design software, is essential
• The successful candidate will have the poise and maturity to participate in meetings with clients and teammates

Desirable, but not Essential, Skills and Interests

• Interest in planning, transportation infrastructure, transportation, water quality, and/or environmental sustainability
• Multilingual skills
• Experience planning and staffing events
• Knowledge of Adobe Suite programs
• Valid driver’s license