Community Engagement Intern

Labor Classification: Intern

Exemption Status: Non-Exempt

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

Reports to: Community Engagement Associate/Senior Community Engagement Associate

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, public health, 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 Baltimore metropolitan 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, health, or the environment field is also desirable.

This is a hybrid position, with the expectation of staffing in-person outreach events in the Baltimore metro region.

Duties and Responsibilities

Community Engagement

• Help develop and implement communications and community engagement plans, including using strategies and tactics to reach historically underserved populations
• Support equitable community engagement initiatives to meaningfully involve historically underserved communities in decision-making, including people of who are Black, people who are Indigenous, and people of color, people with disabilities, people living in poverty, people who use languages other than English
• Coordinate events and help implement meetings, briefings, and special events
• Research, write, and edit content for newsletters and press releases, social media, fact sheets, informational brochures, presentations, summary reports, online open houses, and websites
• Help produce PowerPoint presentations
• Create meeting agendas, take notes, and prepare meeting summaries
• Maintain a database to track briefings and public correspondence
• Coordinate with language services team to transcreate and translate project materials to multiple languages
• Respond to questions and correspondence from community members
• Conduct outreach activities, virtual or in-person, such as fairs and festivals, distributing flyers, briefings, open houses, and community partner interviews.

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 and enjoyment in talking to 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 $21 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 drivers license

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be expected to work extended hours; including, but not limited to, standing or sitting for extended periods. The employee may have to lift over 30 pounds. The employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee will regularly operate office equipment.