Research Assistant (Research and GIS for our Zoning and Land Use Assessment Project) - MPC Chicago

 Link to application

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Description 

Research assistants play an important role at MPC, offering support for our projects by researching, writing, and learning about planning policy in the region. Research Assistants at MPC have exposure to a broad range of regional policy issues and the opportunity to connect with a variety of planning agencies, community groups, and officials. Compensation for research assistant positions is $18 per hour. MPC also provides a $35/month transportation subsidy. We welcome students with federal work-study and those seeking course credit to apply. 

 

MPC is looking for a Research Assistant (RA) with advanced Excel and GIS skills. The RA will support MPC’s Zoning and Land Use Assessment project and will work closely with the Research team, particularly the Director and Manager. 

 

This independent contractor position requires a time commitment of 20 hours per week. It will start in January 2025 and run through June 2025 with the possibility of extension until the end of 2025. Specific dates are to be determined based on the candidate's availability.  

 

Key Responsibilities 

 

• Primary responsibilities will be supporting the Research Team on a longitudinal examination of Chicago’s zoning policies and their impacts on several outcomes, primarily climate change adaptation and productive land use. Potential research questions on these outcomes could include: 
• How has zoning over time contributed to climate harms/mitigation? How is zoning conducive (or not) to climate adaptation? 
• How is the distribution of vacant land and parking uses related to zoning and demographics? Does the distribution of vacant land and parking uses have implications for racial equity, public health, and sustainability? How are productive uses defined and how do they relate to zoning? 
• Secondary responsibilities include supporting the Research Team on other zoning and land use-related research tasks. Potential projects could include scanning and georeferencing defined geographies in historic zoning maps, and GIS mapping of case studies focusing on the relationship between zoning and both pollution exposure and business corridors, as well as the other four outcomes identified as part of the initiative 

Kris Tiongson (he, him, his) 

Manager, Research & Evaluation | Metropolitan Planning Council 

140 S. Dearborn St. | Suite 1400 | Chicago, IL 60603 

224.645.7149 | ktiongson@metroplanning.org

MPC advocates for policies and practices that support thriving communities, equitable infrastructure, and just public systems. Explore the 2024 policy objectives for the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois today. 

Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellowship

 Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellowship, a prestigious year-long service-learning program for graduate students from a range of professions who wish to collaborate with communities to address health equity.  Annually, the Fellowship selects 26 graduate students from diverse fields to become Fellows.  They are seeking UIC Department of Urban Planning and Policy students to join the next cohort. 

 

The Schweitzer Fellowship program provides support for you to demonstrate leadership by designing, implementing and evaluating your own community collaboration project as a part of the 2025-2026 cohort.  In addition to the service projects, the Program includes supportive mentors, trainings, and monthly meetings with an interdisciplinary cohort of graduate students focused on humanitarian contributions. Fellows receive a $2,750 stipend for their participation.

 

The Fellowship is recruiting graduate students in health, social service, and public interest professions to apply for the 2025-2026 Schweitzer Fellowships. To learn more about the Fellowship, please attend an informational session. You will find sessions listed on the Application webpage. You will also find a link on this page to a listing of past Chicago Area Schweitzer Projects to give you inspiration. 

 

The deadline to apply is February 1^st 2025.  The application for the Fellowship is here.  The program has provided the rubric that will be used to review applications.

 

Join the 2025-2026 cohort of outstanding interdisciplinary Fellows and a network of over 4,000 Fellows nationwide! Apply by Feb 1, 2025.

Montgomery County Council Summer Fellows Program - MD

The ten-week Montgomery County Council Summer Fellows Program offers graduate students an unparalleled paid opportunity to work directly in real-life policy making with elected officials, senior management and community organizations in one of the most progressive local governments in the nation, adjacent to Washington, D.C. The program provides students the opportunity to conduct an independent research project and present it to the Council. Weekly programming brings the students together for field trips throughout the County.  

Highlights of Summer Fellows Program:  

• Program dates: June 2 - August 8, 2025  
• Positions available with the Montgomery County Council and Montgomery County Executive Branch  
• Self-selected research project & presentation to the Council  
• $8,000 stipend for the 10-week program  
• Weekly programming to explore Montgomery County, MD and Washington D.C.   

 

Graduate students in the following fields are invited to apply: public policy (all specializations included), public administration, planning, public health, law, or related subjects.   
  

This opportunity is open to current graduate students who will not have graduated by summer 2025. The deadline for the first stage of the application is January 3rd, 2025.  

 

Additional information is available at this link. Virtual information sessions will be held on the following dates (all times Eastern):  

Monday, 12/2 at 10AM (Zoom link) 

Wednesday, 12/11 at 5:30PM (Zoom link) 

Friday, 12/13 at 2PM (Zoom link) 
 
Please contact summerfellows@montgomerycountymd.gov with any questions. 

 

Intern - Masters (General Government) part-time - Schaumburg, IL

VILLAGE OF SCHAUMBURG

Human Resources Department

101 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg, IL 60193

http://www.schaumburg.com/

https://career4.successfactors.com/career?company=Schaumburg

The Village of Schaumburg is a thriving community of 78,723 residents located 11 miles west of O’Hare International Airport and approximately 26 miles northwest of Chicago. Not only is Schaumburg the twelfth-largest community in the State of Illinois, but it is also home to the second-largest concentration of retail, office, and commercial activity. Notable village distinctions include being rated as an excellent or good place to live by 95% of respondents in the National Community Survey; having multiple highly-awarded and accredited departments; being selected as a Best-In-Class-Employer by Gallagher for midsize employers and being recognized as a Better Business Town by The Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois. 

 

The village employs approximately 600 employees in 12 departments, including police, fire, engineering and public works, communications, community development, cultural services, economic development, finance, general government, human resources, information technology, and transportation. Our employees work to serve the residents and strive to make Schaumburg the best community it can be.

 

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE POSITION OF:

Intern - Masters (General Government) part-time

 

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.  Interviews will be conducted as applications are received.  This position will remain open until filled.

 

STARTING SALARY RANGE:  $33.17 - $36.91  per hour working up to 19 hours per week.  Salary dependent on qualifications. The salary range for this position is $33.17 - $48.10.  

 

Please attach as part of your application all necessary documents verifying that you meet the minimum qualifications for the position.

 

JOB SUMMARY:

This position assists the Manager’s Office executive team members in a variety of projects and day-to-day activities, as part of a graduate-level program of study in public administration or a closely related discipline. This position is a two-year commitment while completing the required coursework in pursuit of a graduate degree in public administration.  This position will work with other departments in the achievement of the Manager’s Office priorities and participate in the preparation of issue-related materials for meetings of the Village Board and advisory bodies of the village.  This position may also be assigned and responsible for independent projects. 

 

To succeed in this role, the ideal candidate will be able to work cooperatively and effectively with others, manage and prioritize multiple projects with thoroughness and accuracy using facts, metrics, and data to guide strategic decisions, and be dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers.  We are looking to add a team member motivated by success, someone capable of working towards achieving higher results and improved performance.

 

JOB DUTIES:
1.    Assists the Manager’s Office executive team and other village departments in new or ongoing research projects as directed by the Manager’s Office executive team.
2.    Assists in the research and implementation of various Village Board initiatives as directed by the Manager’s Office executive team.
3.    Coordinates the village’s biannual National Citizen’s Survey, analyzes results, and prepares presentations to the Village Board.
4.    Assists in the monitoring and review of departmental KPIs and performance measurements associated with corporate goal tracking.
5.    Receives and resolves all franchise cable television and utility complaints and reports biannual status to the Planning, Building, and Development Standing Committee.
6.    Responds to written, telephone, in-person, and web inquiries in response to citizen requests as directed. Provides follow-up with departments to ensure customer service requests (CSRs) are appropriately addressed and closed out upon completion.
7.    Assists in the review and update of General Government webpages.
8.    Assists in the preparation of recommendations and background information for the various meetings of the Village Board and advisory bodies of the village.
9.    Drafts general information for grant submissions and disseminates it to departments seeking grants. Monitors grant opportunities. Assists in gathering letters of support from local legislators or community members.
10.    Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:
1.    Bachelor’s degree, with acceptance and current participation as a full-time student in an accredited graduate program in public administration or closely related discipline.
2.    Knowledge of the basic structure and operation of municipal government.  
3.    Proficiency with current computer technology, job-specific software, and customer service systems.
 

BENEFITS:

Part-Time employees are not eligible for benefits.

 

SELECTION PROCESS:

Candidate screening process may consist of an application review, skills testing, employability assessment, interviews, reference checks, and other job-related testing or verifications.  Chosen candidates will be subject to a background and criminal history investigation, and qualifying pre-employment medical examination and drug screen (including cannabis).

 

THE VILLAGE OF SCHAUMBURG IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Clean Energy Intern

Clean Energy Intern - Remote

Location: Company is Chicago-based; position is remote

Contact information: submit application to Jane Anderson and janderson@inovaenergygroup.com

Job description: Inova Energy Group is looking for a part-time (up to 20 hrs/week) Intern to support several ongoing clean energy projects focused on energy policy, energy efficiency, electrification, solar energy, and electric vehicles. The internship will be available between September and December 2024, with the potential to convert into a full-time employee position.

This is an opportunity for an individual to gain experience with real-world energy policy projects and knowledge of clean energy policy and management. As an Intern, you will work alongside our team of energy and sustainability consultants on various project work that may involve: conducting research and analysis, writing formal reports and deliverables, developing recommendations for clients, developing presentations and webinars, and other project activities.

An ideal candidate will be an energetic and dynamic individual who is interested in the challenge of meaningful work and exponentially growing their career in a fast-paced, start-up environment, and will have interest in, education, and/or prior experience working on one or more of the following topics: clean energy policy, energy efficiency, solar energy, electric vehicles, climate justice, decarbonization, climate change.

Responsibilities 

• Support projects and programs in the energy efficiency and decarbonization space with advising/consulting, idea generation, performing research, developing business solutions (including policies, procedures, and tools), and report generation. 
• Assist with writing reports, case studies, and client memorandums.
• Support client relationships through meeting attendance, preparing agendas and meeting
  minutes, and developing presentations.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university or equivalent work history.
• Working toward, or recently earned a masters degree in environmental sciences, public policy, or
  environmental policy. A focus on energy is a plus.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills required.
• Interest in working at a start-up and/or as a consultant.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Good organizational skills, attention to detail, and professional demeanor.
• Demonstrated attention to detail.
• Ability to work well independently and in a team setting.
• Knowledge of Midwest and/or national energy efficiency policies and programs.

Logistics 

Flexible schedule; part-time up to 20 hours per week.
This is a paid internship position. It is currently based in Chicago, Illinois and is remote.

About Inova 

Inova Energy Group (www.inovaenergygroup.com) is a woman-owned business offering management consulting, strategic planning, and turnkey project delivery solutions to the clean energy and sustainability industries. Inova’s work is project-based, with clients in the Midwest and Northeast regions and a focus on utility energy efficiency programs, decarbonization, renewable energy access, climate planning, and/or community resilience.

Since 2014, Inova Energy Group has served clients in public and private sectors with a variety of projects ranging from utility energy program design to stakeholder management, deployment of new technologies, statewide policy analysis, creation of climate action and mitigation plans, trainings, and the development of corporate sustainability strategies.

How we Work 

At Inova, our greatest assets are the kind of people we attract. We pride ourselves in being an energetic and collaborative team, that strives for creative solutions and excellent delivery of work. We empower individuals to pursue their interests and continuously develop their professional skills, while working with a variety of projects and topics. As a small team, we rely on each other and leverage our skills and knowledge to think outside the box. We are nimble and passionate about our work – with the knowledge that what we do makes an impact in our communities and the world. 

To Apply 

Please submit a cover letter and resume to janderson@inovaenergygroup.com. To supplement your application, submission of a writing sample is strongly encouraged (though not required).

Summer Research Intern - Carol Stream, IL

Job Type: Intern / Part Time / In Person
Location: Carol Stream, IL
Pay: $1,000 / Month
Duration: June 2024-May 2025 (negotiable)

POSITION SUMMARY: This is an exciting internship opportunity to help pilot a new integration self-assessment tool, by surveying and interviewing forcibly displaced people who have resettled in the Chicagoland area. This internship provides the opportunity to work alongside a team from Refugee Council USA (RCUSA), World Relief Chicagoland (WRC), and Refugee Congress to conduct this pivotal research. An individual with an interest or background with forcibly displaced populations (refugees, asylum seekers, asylees), research, intercultural communication skills, and data management will thrive in this role. A stipend will be provided.

Application available here.

Planning and Zoning Intern - Village of Franklin Park, Illinois

Position Description:

The Village of Franklin Park, located immediately northwest of the City of Chicago, seeks a Planning & Zoning Intern to undertake planning, zoning, and development projects in the Village. This position reports to the Director of Community Development and Zoning.  The position will be full-time (40 hrs. per week) from June 1^st to September 1^st with potential for a part-time extension.  The hourly wage for this position is $17 per hour.

To apply, send or email a cover letter and resume detailing relevant qualifications and experience, along with a writing sample to:

Lisa Anthony, Director of Human Resources
Village of Franklin Park
9500 Belmont Avenue
Franklin Park, Illinois 60131
resumes@vofp.com

All applicants are also required to submit a Village of Franklin Park Employment Application. The application can be found online at https://www.villageoffranklinpark.com/assets/1/7/Job_application_12.PDF.   

Community Development Intern - Village of Montgomery

The Village of Montgomery Community Development Department is seeking student applicants for the temporary position of Community Development Intern. This position is expected to begin work in late May and continue through August (approximately 10-13 weeks). The Community Development Intern will be responsible for supporting the department in code enforcement, administration of the adjudication process, customer service and other duties as assigned by the director.

Part-Time Public Policy Assistant Consultant (Temporary Position) - MKM Consultants, LLC

MKM Consultants is a small public policy consultancy founded to provide non-profit, government and philanthropic organizations with the assistance needed to formulate and execute economic and workforce development strategies. MKM is seeking a Public Policy Assistant Consultant to assist with our research and consulting activities. This is a part-time position of approximately 5-10 hours a week and will last through at least June of 2023. There will be an option to extend. The position can also be structured as an internship if desired. The Principal Consultant, Meghann Moses, works out of her home in Oak Park, Illinois and the Assistant Consultant will also work from home, with the possibility of the occasional in-person meetings in the Chicagoland area. 

Compensation: The position will pay $30-35 per hour, commensurate with experience.

Contact: Send letter of interest and resume to meghann@mkm-consultants.com

Community Development Summer Intern - Village of Itasca, IL

Title: Community Development Summer Intern

Location: Itasca, IL

Compensation: $18+/- per hr

Description:

The Village of Itasca (pop: 9,261) seeks a motivated, detail oriented, professional team player to fill the position of Full-Time Community Development Intern. This is a temporary position expected to last minimally through the summer. Emphasis will be on Community Development project work. Work with the Village will provide the successful candidate with exposure to engaging real-world planning challenges related to established business and industrial parks, in addition to a Metra-adjacent downtown area currently targeted for revitalization.

For more information, and to apply, click here.