Transportation Planning Intern

The City of Wilmington is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

The Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WMPO) is a federally mandated and federally funded entity, housed within the City of Wilmington, that is tasked with providing regional and cooperative Transportation Planning that serves as the basis for the expenditure of all federal transportation funds within its planning area boundary. The current WMPO planning area boundary encompasses 494 square miles and is home to an estimated 300,000 residents in 3 counties and 7 municipalities.

The WMPO is required to perform long-range planning and technical services functions within its planning boundary. These functions include preparing a Metropolitan Transportation Plan and other long range transportation plans, an annual planning work program, assisting with the prioritization of projects for inclusion in the State Transportation Improvement Program, coordination of Traffic Impact Analyses, maintaining a Congestion Management Process, and allocating Direct Attributable funding in the region. 

The Transportation Planning Intern is responsible for assisting in the implementation of the short- and long-term objectives and activities of the WMPO. This is accomplished by completing assigned tasks and projects for both the long-range planning and technical services functions of the organization.

• Assist in developing, implementing, and tracking long-range transportation plans. As necessary, long-range planning efforts are coordinated with a variety of stakeholders, including but not limited to other city departments; local, state and federal agencies; and local governments.
• Assist in identifying and prioritizing local Transportation Planning and project needs.
• Ensure that information is made available to the public by assisting with the development and publishing of information through methods such as the organization’s website, social media accounts, and other public facing platforms.
• Assist with public outreach, marketing, and event planning.

• Perform other related duties as assigned.

• Education 
  1. This internship is intended for a student currently pursuing a master’s degree in planning, public administration, or a closely related field.
• Knowledge
  1. Principles and practices of urban, regional, and/or Transportation Planning
  2. Methods of effective report preparation and presentation
  3. Public involvement techniques and processes
  4. Principles and practices of research and data collection
  5. Computer programs and applications, including but not limited to Microsoft Office, internet applications, and geographic information systems (GIS)
• Skills
  1. Ability to communicate and foster a cooperative and professional culture.
  2. Ability to work on several projects simultaneously and meet firm deadlines.
  3. Effective written and verbal communication skills.
  4. Creative problem-solving skills to gather relevant information to solve practical problems and address citizen inquiries and concerns.
  5. Effective interpersonal skills to develop good working relationships with staff, elected/appointed officials, residents, and other stakeholders.
  6. Ability to attend to details while keeping big-picture goals in mind.
• Work Schedule
  1.  Ability to work nights and weekends.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Exerting up to 10 lbs. occasionally or negligible weights frequently, sitting most of the time.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

This position generally requires work indoors/office setting. Some outdoor work may be necessary for particular events.  

Our Core Values: 

INCLUSION | COLLABORATION | CREATIVITY | ACCOUNTABILITY

Our Mission Statement:  Through forward-thinking policies and responsible stewardship, we are creating a better city every day with excellent core services and quality of life for all.

What we offer:

The City of Wilmington believes that employees are one of our most important resources.  We offer an excellent salary and competitive benefits package to serve the needs of our employees and their families.  Our benefits package includes:  

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance + many other insurance options
• Excellent retirement benefits, including a city provided 4.5% contribution each pay period into a 401(k) or 457 account and automatic enrollment into the North Carolina Local Government Employees’ Retirement System
• Employer-paid health & wellness clinic  
• Paid sick and vacation leave + 13 paid holidays per year
• 6-weeks paid parental leave
• Paid volunteer & blood donation leave to give back to our community
• Flex schedule and telework availability, depending on your position
• Professional development trainings & leadership initiatives 
• Tuition assistance benefits

Applicant Status Updates:  After the closing date for this position, applications will be screened by Human Resources. Applicants who meet the minimum and/or preferred qualifications will be referred over to the hiring department.   All updates regarding an application can be viewed through your applicant portal.