Description

The Environment Department at Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) is offering an internship for the Fall to support environmental and climate resilience projects as well as other climate-related efforts, throughout the MAPC region.
MAPC fosters a supportive learning environment for all staff. Anticipated outcomes from this internship experience include:

• Networking opportunities within the planning field
• Increased familiarity with climate and environmental planning projects, such as hazard mitigation plans, flood impact assessments, climate action and resilience plans, etc.
• Exposure to the range of planning areas represented at MAPC, beyond climate and environmental planning; including public health planning, arts and culture planning, land use and zoning, and more
• Exposure to the operations and decision-making processes of local governments

About MAPC:

MAPC is the Regional Planning Agency (RPA) serving the people who live and work in metropolitan Boston. Our strategic priorities involve sustainable development, advancing equity, regional collaboration, and creating a climate-friendly region. We are guided by our regional plan, MetroCommon2050: Shaping the Region Together. MAPC’s staff includes approximately 100 full-time employees located in downtown Boston in a transit-accessible and bike-friendly office.

MAPC strongly supports the professional development of each and every staff person, believing their growth to be consistent with the best interests of MAPC and the region. We encourage all our staff to develop new ideas to make MAPC’s planning and policy work more relevant and impactful, and to adapt to changing times.

Interns will be working remotely, and will not be expected to come into the office regularly. Candidates must reside in Massachusetts while they are working remotely.

Responsibilities (including but not limited to)

• Support the development of the Climate Resilience Playbook which will serve as a statewide resource for cities and towns

• Support with stakeholder engagement and content development

• Support various regional flood assessment studies

• Help with the engagement of municipal staff and residents in EJ neighborhoods

• Assist with the project management of a long term, multiple stakeholder project

• Support the development of Hazard Mitigation Plans (HMPs) for cities and towns in MAPC region, including:

• Conduct research on community profiles, natural hazards, climate data analysis;

• Assist with identifying community stakeholders, conducting outreach, and support notetaking and facilitation of project team and public meetings; and

• Provide writing support for select HMP chapters.

• Help organize stakeholder meetings and provide communications and administrative support for other work in the department, including the Accelerating Climate Resilience grant program, and various climate action and resilience planning projects.

• Participate in reviewing and drafting memoranda on climate-related policy issues.

• Conduct research and assess innovative opportunities for the Environment Department to implement equitable community-based programs in the Greater Boston region.

Qualifications

Applicants for this position must be a student studying environmental studies, climate policy, urban planning, natural resources management, emergency management, engineering, public policy, architecture, business, communications, or another related field.
Successful candidates for this position will demonstrate all or most of the following:

• Experience in community engagement, specifically discussing climate hazards and lived experience

• Familiarity with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s guidelines for hazard mitigation planning, and Massachusetts’ Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program, as well as related hazard mitigation and adaptation planning efforts;

• Familiarity with climate change mitigation and adaptation, current environmental and/or climate-related policies, programs in Massachusetts;

• Experience with climate data analysis; and

• Strong writing and research skills, WordPress, AirTable, Qualtrics, GIS or graphic design is a plus.

Compensation and Benefits:
This is a paid internship with an hourly rate of $18 - $22 per hour, depending on qualifications. We are seeking between 15 and 25 hours per week with flexibility, depending upon skill level and selected students availability. To qualify as an intern, individuals must be enrolled in an academic program, provide written verification of their status, and agree to a scheduled end date upon hire. This internship has the possibility to extend past the fall semester, depending upon funding.

How to Apply:
Apply online at www.mapc.org/jobs. The position is open until filled, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume. Candidates selected to interview will be asked to submit three (3) references plus a sample of relevant writing or work product. Candidates must have legal authorization to work in the USA. MAPC participates in E-Verify, which is a federal program that helps us to determine work eligibility in the United States.

MAPC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that a staff with a range of perspectives, experiences, and skillsets strengthens our work. We are committed to building a more equitable workplace that allows staff with diverse backgrounds and identities to thrive, grow, and lead. For more information on MAPC’s culture of equity, see our Equity at MAPC page.