PWD Grad Strategic Planning Internship- 177 - City of Philadelphia

A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.

As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What we offer

• Impact - The work you do here matters to millions. 
• Growth - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it? 
• Diversity & Inclusion - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
• Benefits - We care about your well-being.

Agency Description

The Philadelphia Water Department is a municipal department of approximately 2500 employees working in all facets to provide water/wastewater treatment services to the City of Philadelphia and the surrounding counties.

The Philadelphia Water Department’s (PWD) Strategic Planning Program team is seeking a highly qualified graduate student intern. The Strategic Planning Program team is responsible for facilitating strategic planning across PWD’s Planning & Research Unit. It does this through the implementation of strategic PWD programs, partnerships and initiatives to advance PWD’s mission of delivering high quality drinking water and enhancing our watersheds and quality of life by managing wastewater and stormwater effectively. The Strategic Planning team is made up of three groups: Policy and Partnerships, Program Development and Data Analytics. These groups work on a combination of efforts: supporting internal planning initiatives including PWD strategic planning; coordinating with internal and external stakeholders to develop and sustain programs, (e.g. Green City, Clean Waters) and citywide initiatives; develop the Department’s portfolio of grant and partner funded projects; support thought leadership on issues impacting PWD investments and operations; and support data management and application.  

Position Summary

The candidate selected will assist the Strategic Planning Program groups with ongoing efforts to develop internal planning initiatives, coordinate and support the implementation of critical projects and citywide initiatives.  The candidate will assist in managing data, producing reports, and supporting coordination processes with partner agency projects. Individual assignments will be based on the candidate's capacity, and strengths.  Typical tasks and responsibilities include: 

• Assist staff in collecting, preparing, and analyzing data, as well as program research and development.  

• Policy, legal, database and peer review research and analysis to inform staff decision-making.  

• Write content, create graphics, and design page layouts for external or internal audiences in coordination with internal staff. 

• Data entry, editing, processing, analysis, and general data management.  

• At times, conduct field work, including but not limited to collecting parcel data and searching land and utility records. 

• Attend meetings with other agencies to document meeting decisions and learn about city planning initiatives.      

• Support grant reporting and procedure development 

Essential Functions

Candidates with the following will be preferred: 

• Experience related to water resource management, strategic planning, environmental policy, green stormwater infrastructure, climate resilience, equity, and environmental justice and similar (all experience levels) 

• Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, etc.), ArcGIS, R, and Python proficiency.  Lack of proficiency is not a barrier for candidacy  

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Applicants are required to meet the following minimum requirements:

- Must be enrolled as a full-time student

Applicants are required to meet the following minimum requirements:  

• Must be enrolled as a full-time graduate student; and 

• Course of study in the following academic departments: Planning, GIS, Urban Design, Landscape Architecture, and/or Environmental Studies 

• Solid computer and software skills, including Microsoft Suite (Office, Excel, Teams, etc.) 

• Highly motivated, with strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills 

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in an independent, as well as collaborative, environment 

• Interest in water resources, climate resilience, stormwater management, green stormwater infrastructure  

Please provide a cover letter, resume, a 1-3 page writing sample (preferably showcasing a relevant topic in professional memo format), these can be submitted as a single PDF. 

TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample.

Hourly Rate: $18 Undergraduates $20 Graduates

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:

• Transportation: City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses, subways, trolleys, and regional rail for their daily commute and more.
• Parental Benefits: The City offers its employees 6 weeks of paid parental leave.
• We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options are available
• Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.
• Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too!

Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!

*The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that  are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to faqpchr@phila.gov.

For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx