Description
Alta Planning + Design is seeking an Outreach Intern to work in Vancouver, WA. This position is a great opportunity for someone who believes in the importance of transportation options and who is interested in leading community outreach and events. If you are looking to gain experience at an innovative organization and do work that connects people to places while advancing social justice, safety, and environmental resilience, apply with Alta today!
About Alta
Alta Planning + Design is a sustainable transportation company dedicated to creating active, healthy communities through planning, landscape architecture, engineering, and education/encouragement programs. Alta was founded in 1996 when communities were calling for safer streets for people walking and bicycling as the non-motorized transportation movement developed into a profession in the United States. We pioneered the field of active transportation, evolving our planning and design work into a visionary global practice that empowers people to live active, healthy lives and gets them to where they need to go.
Our core values and work bring about positive change by creating places that are geared toward moving people rather than cars, connecting community members to daily needs and human experience, and empowering every person to live an active healthy life. As a global leader in mobility innovation for over 26 years with over 200 staff, we are dedicated to connecting people to places by working across disciplines and scale to address social justice, safety, and environmental resilience.
Day to Day
Alta is leading the City of Vancouver’s neighborhood-based transportation options pilot program called Get There. The program is based in two residential communities in Vancouver, WA, along the Vine bus routes on Fourth Plain and Mill Plain Blvds. This role will support that work.
The Outreach Intern will lead outreach at community events and lead custom transportation events, such as group bus trips or bike rides. The goal is to get residents to explore and experience the transportation options available in their community and connect them with resources to make more of their trips using those options.
The Outreach Intern will spend much of their time on the following types of project work:
- Coordinating and staffing in-person events - estimated 75% of the time
- Assisting project staff at Alta and the City of Vancouver with various administrative tasks in support of program efforts - estimated 25% of the time
To help paint the picture of a typical day for our Outreach Intern, it could include any of the following work activities:
- Coordinating with City staff and event organizers to secure booth/table space at existing community events (e.g., farmers markets, movies in the park, neighborhood association meetings, block parties).
- Coordinating with community partners (e.g., neighborhood association representatives and nonprofit organizations) to organize custom community events for program participants (e.g., neighborhood walks, beginner group bike rides, group bus trips to community destinations)
- Coordinating logistics, transporting equipment, and staffing/facilitating/leading planned events. Representing the City of Vancouver and the program warmly and professionally.
- Tracking and reporting event details and metrics, such as dates, times, locations, number of people reached, number of materials distributed, and successes and improvements needed.
- Supporting individual community members in signing up for the program (online) and finding customized transportation solutions (e.g., trip planning, troubleshooting concerns, understanding available tools and resources).
- Communicating relevant and timely transportation information to community members.
- Collaborating with and supporting project staff on varied tasks such as inventory management, material organization, meeting coordination, printing, mailings, flyer distribution, ordering food or supplies, and other logistics.
- Communicating frequently and appropriately with project staff at Alta and the City via email, Microsoft Teams, and/or phone.
- Office work will take place at City Hall in Vancouver. Event work will take place around Vancouver and will require transporting event equipment (by car, transit, or bike). If a vehicle is needed, mileage or short-term vehicle rental fees will be reimbursed.
Qualifications
Required
This position requires a combination of skills and experience including, but not limited to
- Experience working directly in an outreach or customer service capacity with the public
- Outgoing and able to connect with people from a variety of backgrounds
- Interest in and knowledge of transportation options in Vancouver (e.g., walking, bicycling, transit, carpooling)
- Ability to represent the City of Vancouver and the program to the public
- Excellent organizational skills
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Ability to manage and prioritize workflow
- Confidence and skills to work independently and with team members
- Computer skills, including Microsoft Office applications and email
- Availability to staff in-person events outside of traditional business hours, including on weekends and evenings
- Ability to lift, carry, and transport 25+ lbs
- Ability to access and work effectively across a variety of work locations: event sites, in-office work, collaborating remotely
- Self-motivated and proactive in their day-to-day work
There are a number of additional skills and experience that would be beneficial to this position including, but not limited to:
- Ability to answer in-depth questions about transportation options in Vancouver, including walking, bicycling, transit, and carpooling (including route selection, equipment, online resources and organizations, common concerns, etc.)
- Experience interacting with diverse groups of people
- Experience organizing and leading community events, classes, or workshops
- Verbal proficiency in Spanish and/or Russian
What We Offer
Compensation
The pay rate for this job in Vancouver, WA is $24/HR.
*The following statements pertain to US Candidates Only*