Planning Internship

Planning Intern

Location: Chicago, IL (Hybrid: up to 10% in-person field work / 90% choice of remote or in-office). Opportunities to travel throughout the Midwest or other parts of the U.S. may be available. If travel is necessary, Walker will provide travel accommodations.

About this Opportunity

Walker Consultants is seeking a part-time Planning Intern to work on parking policy studies, supply/demand analyses, parking system research, alternative transportation studies, data collection and analysis, and other related tasks. Anticipated schedule is 10 to 20 hours per week, but additional hours may be available on a periodic basis. 

• Assist a team of planners in the Chicago office and throughout the Midwest and U.S. on a variety of parking and mobility planning, operations, and curb management projects.
• Conduct research and analyze data in specific or general parking, mobility, and curb management areas using a variety of methods.
• Define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Write and present findings, formal and technical reports, working papers, and correspondence.
• Identify common problems, issues, and opportunities based on observation, research, and data analysis.
• Develop strategies, actions, and projects to address identified issues consistent with community goals, best practices/standards, and applicable regulations.
• Develop recommendations and implementation strategies.
• Prepare information (i.e., project fact sheets, maps, display boards, slides, online platforms, etc.) to explain projects in simple terms to and gather input from stakeholders and the public.
• Work with and communicate effectively with a broad range of team members, clients, review agencies, and others as appropriate for a range of project types.
• Participate in a range of challenging parking, mobility, andcurb management projects.
• Support development of planning, operations, and technology documents with a primary focus on research, data collection, field assessment, data analysis, mapping, writing, and editing reports.
• Prepare information to explain projects clearly and succinctly to stakeholders and public, as well as gather feedback and input from community members and stakeholders.
• Assist with coordinating projects among team members, clients, and external consultants.
• Communicate and interact with team members, clients, and review agencies.
• Conduct field visits to client sites, collect data, make observations, help facilitate meetings, and present findings.
• Up to 10% travel - overnight and air travel to client sites.

• Actively pursuing a master’s degree in urban or transportation planning or policy, transportation engineering, or a related field.
• Demonstrated excellent written communication, verbal communication, creativity, storytelling, organization, and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to analyze large data sets, provide technical analysis, and extract key findings and takeaways.
• Ability to organize and execute on a variety of tasks across multiple projects and deadlines.
• Creativity and the ability and attitude to take the initiative with assigned tasks.
• Interest in and curiosity about access, mobility/transportation, parking, technology, and curb management topics and initiatives.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Working knowledge of ArcGIS, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe InDesign.
• Graphic design and public engagement experience is a plus.

• Understand how transportation planning projects proceed from launch to implementation by working with diverse sets of clients, teams, and communities.
• Experience and influence data collection efforts. 
• Practice community engagement techniques.
• Receive mentorship about potential career opportunities in the transportation and urban planning field. 

 Who We Are

Walker is a 100% employee-owned company of many capabilities offering professional services to both public and private sector clients in the municipal, higher education, aviation, health care, entertainment, cultural attraction, and housing sectors, among others. Walker maintains a strong foundation as an industry leader in all aspects of parking and mobility planning, design, engineering, restoration, and consulting that encompass operations, technology, and mobility solutions.

Additionally, our abilities reach far beyond parking and include highly experienced advisors in forensics who provide investigative assessments, creative repair solutions, and litigation support on all types of facilities around the world impacted by natural events as well as design or construction defects. We are among the largest providers of restoration and building envelope services in the industry. The combination of our structural engineering design excellence, building science experts, and vast geographic presence makes Walker the first choice for these services throughout the country.

Walker Consultants is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). We invite all qualified applicants to apply and do not discriminate against individuals because of their race, color, religion, national origin, gender, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or age.