GIS / Policy
Volunteer Internship
14-40 hours/week
(flexible)
Position to be filled
immediately
We
are seeking a motivated individual to provide policy research and GIS
(geographic information systems) support for our campaigns for open space
protection and better city planning throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
Supporting Greenbelt Alliance’s Role in
the Bay Area
Between
2005 and 2035, the Bay Area will grow by two million people. This growth could
make the Bay Area a better place to live, or it could hurt the region. Will
people be able to find homes they can afford? Will they be able to walk or bike
to work, or will they have to pay for gasoline, whatever it costs? Will natural
areas and working farms continue to provide clean air, clean water, and fresh
food? Greenbelt Alliance’s Grow Smart Bay Area vision and research shows that
by directing growth to existing cities and towns, protecting the region’s
natural areas and working farms, and making sure this growth happens in an
equitable way that benefits everyone, the Bay Area will remain a great place to
live.
Greenbelt
Alliance staff are engaged in multiple land-use planning campaigns to carry out
the Grow Smart Bay Area vision. Examples
include:
●
Exploring
new policy pathways to protect farms, ranches and landscapes in Sonoma County,
South Santa Clara County and East Contra Costa County.
●
Creating
vibrant, walkable neighborhoods in and around San Jose’s Urban Villages that
includes homes affordable to all income levels and focuses mobility on people,
not cars.
●
Pushing
new online platforms for civic engagement, greenbelt land mapping, infill development
as well as sharing and harnessing smart growth information in the Bay Area
●
Engaging
in the implementation of Plan Bay Area to support effective conservation
strategies and tools for the region’s the open spaces
●
Evaluating
complete street projects and street safety around the Bay Area
Volunteer Internship Responsibilities
●
GIS
research and display – What is the walking and bicycling distance from a
proposed station or the collision rate along a corridor? What are the open
space values at risk of urbanization in the Bay Area? How can maps tell the
compelling stories of the land?
●
Policy
research – What new zoning tools could Sonoma County implement to prevent rural
parcelization and sprawl development? How can cities improve the development
process for infill housing? Where are the critical components of county food
systems? What are conditions of the Bay Area county water and irrigation
districts?
●
GIS
system development – updating and improving Greenbelt Alliance’s GIS data
layers
●
Emissions
analysis – using the CalEEMod software package to calculate estimated
greenhouse gas emissions and new vehicle trips produced from development
proposals
●
Analysis
of public documents – for example, reviewing draft Specific Plans, Transit Area
Plans and Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs) and drafting formal comment
letters
Qualifications
The
GIS/Policy Volunteer Intern will support and directly report to the Planning
& Research Manager and contribute to a supportive, collaborative, and
productive work environment at Greenbelt Alliance. They must be a highly
organized individual with the following skills:
●
Required proficiency using
Geographic Information Systems
o
1
year minimum experience or advanced GIS class work
●
Experience
in land use planning and/or environmental conservation
●
Excellent
attention to detail and follow-through
●
Excellent
interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with people from varied
backgrounds in a professional manner on the phone, via email, and in person
●
Ability
to plan and prioritize workflow and meet deadlines
●
Ability
to work independently, take initiative, be solution-oriented
●
Ability
to work collaboratively
●
Strong
written and oral communication skills
●
Strong
computer skills specifically in Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, Outlook)
and Adobe applications (Illustrator, InDesign)
Schedule and Compensation
This
position will require an average of 14 - 40 hours of work per week for a
minimum of 3 months as a volunteer.
To Apply
Send
a resume cover letter to internships@greenbelt.org. Please include your name
and “Volunteer GIS/Policy Intern” in the Subject line of the email.
Applications will be evaluated as they arrive; the position is open until
filled.
Benefits
The
position is unpaid. Travel reimbursement is available for volunteer interns
working more than 30 hours a week who can demonstrate financial need.
This
position is an excellent opportunity to have an impact on land use decisions
throughout the Bay Area. The volunteer
intern will meet professionals from around the region and will learn about
environmental and urban planning issues while developing a network of contacts
and references in the planning field. When applying for future jobs, volunteer
interns will be able to point to tangible results from their work and describe
discrete projects that they led.
About Greenbelt Alliance
Greenbelt
Alliance is the champion of the places that make the Bay Area special. We
defend natural and agricultural landscapes from development while helping
create great cities and neighborhoods. We bring together residents and
decision-makers, business leaders, labor unions and others to find innovative
solutions to our region’s growth challenges.
With
a committed staff of 21, Greenbelt Alliance has a strong team spirit and sense
of fun. We are headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in San Jose, Santa
Rosa, and Walnut Creek.
Greenbelt Alliance values a diverse
workplace and is an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to engaging
the skills and leadership of people of color, LGBT persons, and other people
from diverse backgrounds. People from these and other traditionally
marginalized backgrounds and communities are strongly encouraged to apply.
