2025 DLS Internship Program: Planning and Strategy Intern (Graduate)

This summer internship is anticipated to take place from June through September 2025 for a total of 12-weeks. Start dates can be flexible.

The Department of Local Services Road Services Division is seeking a graduate student intern to join our Grants, Strategy and Planning unit for an amazing opportunity to contribute to our mission “Connecting communities with a safe and reliable road network for all”! In this position, you will enhance your skills to deliver projects for our strategic performance and transportation planning team. This will include, but not be limited to 

• supporting a progress update on King County Roads’ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan,
• collecting data and reporting on division-wide annual plan initiatives, and
• collaborating with multi-discipline teams within the Road Services Division and the DLS Director’s Office in the areas of continuous improvement and project management.

Who Are We? 

As the largest division within the Department of Local Services, Road Services Division is responsible for 1,500 miles of roads, 188 bridges, 5.7 million linear feet of drainage ditches, and other related infrastructure in unincorporated King County. Our work directly supports a wide range of functions that provide responsive and effective support to residents and internal Roads and King County customers.

Our commitment to Equity, Racial and Social Justice   

The Department of Local Services is deeply dedicated to fostering Equity, Racial and Social Justice in every aspect of our work.   Our commitment to “True North” values which ensures every person has the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential and forms the core of our mission and purpose. Our pledge is to cultivate, embrace, and celebrate the distinct experiences, viewpoints, and perspectives of our people, partners, and the communities we serve. Through this work, we dismantle systemic barriers, address inequities, and actively confront prejudices and biases. We acknowledge this journey is ongoing, and we remain steadfast in our efforts to create a positive impact for our employees and communities alike.

Key Learning Objectives

• Apply principles of transportation planning to develop innovative approaches to managing road infrastructure. 
• Research best practices to improve how we collect and analyze key division data, such as traffic safety and asset improvements, contributing County perspectives to local jurisdiction development plans that could impact any portion of the 1,500-mile-network of unincorporated King County, in addition to other data.
• Dive into data trends and contribute to meaningful safety studies that enhance community and employee well-being.
• Learn and contribute to the integration of transportation elements as we implement the County’s recently updated Strategic Climate Action Plan (SCAP), Green Building Ordinance (GBO) and Comprehensive Plan.
• Bring data to life by designing impactful visuals that tell the story of the division’s key initiatives.
• Craft persuasive and creative reports and presentations tailored for a variety of audience types.
• Understand how tools and technologies help agencies track data and monitor compliance.

Learning Outcomes and Deliverables

• Direct access and opportunity to engage with public sector organizational leaders. 
• Participate in field trips to gain firsthand experience of public infrastructure management.
• Learn to research and apply best practices, delivering improved analysis methods and actionable recommendations.
• Enhance your ability to analyze performance metrics and data and create visuals, delivering professional outputs that provide relevant, timely insights for customers and peers.
• Gain experience crafting communications for internal and external audiences to inform, advise, recommend and support King County’s Best-Run Government priorities and goals.
• Leverage existing technologies and tools to enhance data management and analysis.
• Strengthen your ability to analyze, interpret, and communicate data trends, contributing to meaningful public information studies and delivering actionable insights for safer communities and greater access to mobility options.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills:

Our Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will use their training in research, communications, data analysis, public administration, urban planning, or closely related fields. 

• You enjoy creating compelling visuals and crafting narratives to communicate complex information effectively for diverse audiences.
• You are inquisitive, engaging, and practice active listening.
• You are a strategic thinker who excels in planning and optimizing resources.
• You thrive in collaborative environments, working across teams to share ideas and deliver high-quality outcomes.
• You possess strong research skills with experience applying data to improve processes. You are organized, reliable, and able to manage multiple tasks and your time.
• You are committed to equity, social justice, inclusion and belonging.