MPO Transportation Planning Intern

CITY OF JANESVILLE DIVERSITY STATEMENT:

The citizens of Janesville choose this community, not just as a place to live, but as a place to realize life’s opportunities. We strive to sustain a community culture where differences are recognized, understood, and appreciated. As such, the City of Janesville recognizes the importance of developing an environment where diversity is not merely accepted but embraced and celebrated. As public servants, we believe everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. To this end, we will diligently recruit and retain the most talented employees in an environment that fosters maximizing one’s potential. Therefore, we encourage individuals from all backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences to consider employment with the City of Janesville and serve the residents of “Wisconsin’s Park Place”.

OBJECTIVE:

The Janesville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) seeks an Urban Planning student, or a student in a related field, to assist with a variety of transportation planning projects including conducting a Downtown parking utilization study, monitoring usage of bike and pedestrian trails and on-street bike corridors, conducting a pilot bicycle and pedestrian safety analysis for school areas, and participating in recreational trail planning efforts. The Janesville MPO is responsible for coordinating transportation planning and State/Federal transportation programs within the Janesville Area, assisting the Janesville Transit System, as well as performing other planning-related tasks within the City of Janesville Planning Division. This position is designed to build on skills learned in the classroom by offering hands-on experience and exposure to working in a professional city planning division.

This position is hybrid in-person and remote and can range from 20-40 hours per week from May through August, with some opportunity continue working into the fall. In-person office hours are generally weekdays from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm with occasional evening or weekend hours required. 

RELATIONSHIPS:

Reports to: MPO Coordinator

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Essential duties are not necessarily listed in priority order.

1. Research and collect data, perform spatial and data analysis, and prepare related charts, graphs and maps using ESRI’s mapping software, Microsoft Excel, or other software provided by the City of Janesville.
2. Organize and prepare professional and technical studies, analyses, and reports, including conducting background research, utilizing data from a variety of sources, interpreting City Code/Ordinances or State/Federal Code, writing in clear, concise language, and utilizing basic graphic design principles.
3. Prepare and deliver presentations to a public audience, develop accurate and appealing graphics, and be able to interpret data and communicate findings to a variety of audiences.
4. Work collaboratively with City staff and be able to communicate with members of the public, members of City Council, and the Plan Commission. 
5. Perform other work duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Minimum education and experience required to perform essential duties of the position.

Education and Experience 

1. Be pursuing a degree in urban planning from an accredited college or university preferred. Other related fields may be acceptable.
2. Be familiar with Microsoft Office.
3. Experience with ESRI ArcMap or ArcGIS Pro.
4. Have desire to learn more about transportation planning, planning in a small-City, and Metropolitan Planning Organizations.
5. Valid state-issued driver’s license is required.

Knowledge of:

1. Basic statistical methods.
2. Public-sector planning processes and methods.
3. Comprehensive and transportation planning is preferred.

Skill in: 

1. Strong written and verbal communication skills.
2. Skilled in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and Outlook, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software.
3. Excellent organizational, analytical, professional judgement, and problem-solving skills.
4. Communicating with team members and other staff in an office setting.

Ability to: 

1. Work independently, and on a team.
2. Communicate effectively, both in verbal and written form, and to follow verbal and written instructions with limited supervision. 
3. Perform duties with considerable judgment, resourcefulness, and initiative under limited supervision and within the boundaries of responsibility.
4. Multi-task and manage multiple projects simultaneously; ability to adapt to changing priorities and to work smoothly and cooperatively on a variety of projects.
5. Compose routine correspondence and reports in a clear, concise, logical, and effective manner, utilizing proper grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, and tone.
6. Maintain a positive attitude and professional demeanor; address resident and customer concerns in a helpful, courteous manner.
7. Represent the City in a positive and professional fashion to the public and other community stakeholders.
8. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with City elected and appointed officials, City Council and Committee members, Department and Division heads, staff, employees, businesses, outside agencies, vendors, and the general public.
9. Maintain strict confidentiality, possess a high level of integrity, adopt a professional work ethic, and demonstrate tact and decorum.
10. Interact with a diverse group of individuals and work effectively as part of a team and independently. 
11. Operate City vehicles and equipment in a safe manner.

EQUIPMENT, INSTRUMENTS AND MACHINES: 

The City of Janesville will provide access to a Personal Computer, Microsoft Office, ArcGIS, Canva, and other equipment required to complete work tasks.

PHYSICAL FACTORS:

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

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in an office environment.   An individual in this position is frequently involved in sedentary work, which requires sitting for the majority of the time.  This position occasionally walks, stands, stoops, kneels, crouches, crawls, and exerts up to 25 pounds of force by lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling objects. The employee is frequently required to see/observe, talk/speak, and listen/hear; use their hands to finger, handle, feel, or operate objects and equipment; repetitive arm, wrist, hand, and eye movements are included. There is frequent twisting, reaching, wrist turning, and grasping.  The employee may be required to climb or balance. 

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.  Hand-eye coordination is necessary to operate computers and various pieces of equipment. Employee is required to use cognitive ability to reason, analyze, and verbalize thoughts and ideas.  Requires the ability to recognize and identify similarities or differences between characteristics of colors, shapes, and sounds associated with job-related objects, materials or tasks.

The employee may, on occasion, be exposed to outside weather conditions, including extreme heat and extreme cold.  The employee may work near moving mechanical parts in precarious places; and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes, or airborne particles, toxic, or caustic chemicals, and vibration.  The working conditions in the office environment are comfortable.  The noise level in the office environment is generally quiet to moderately noisy. 

DISCLAIMER

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position, or is responsive to the needs of the City of Janesville. 

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

The City of Janesville, Wisconsin is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.  In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.