Summer Planning Intern Jobs

Otak an award-winning multidisciplinary firm, is hiring a Summer Planning Intern to support projects in the Puget Sound area. This is your opportunity to work on engaging plans, projects, and programs. You will work in a highly collaborative team environment on a variety of urban planning, long range and current planning, and land use permitting projects for public and private sector clients. Come join a growing Planning & Landscape Architecture practice where sustainable and practical designs help ensure viability and livability for years to come!

This position is based in our Redmond, WA office.

What you’ll do:

• Support land use permitting and environmental reviews.
• Collaborate with and support other planners and work effectively in a team environment on planning and land use assignments, as well as interdisciplinary assignments with engineers, architects, scientists, and other professionals.
• Working with teams on multiple long range planning and urban design assignments for clients in the Puget Sound region of Washington and beyond.
• Design and layout planning documents using Adobe Creative Cloud or similar software; prepare presentation materials and displays.
• Support a variety of planning, design, research, design detailing, graphics, and other tasks.
• Help document processes and decision-making.
• Prepare maps, infographics, and data visualizations and conduct GIS mapping and analysis.
• Help to implement community engagement programs and activities.

What you’ll bring:

• Interest in working with teams, bringing a willingness to learn and strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Review plans and apply provisions of ordinances and codes to determine compliance with regulations.
• Ability to work concurrently on several projects and to work under deadlines.
• Strong skills and demonstrated experience in Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite.
• Entry-level knowledge of the principles and practice of municipal land use and planning; research; and data collection and analysis.
• Current college junior, senior, or graduate level student.
• Ongoing Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Urban Design, or related field

• COVID-19 vaccination is required or an approved exception.

Please note that the salary information shown below is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon candidate experience, qualifications, and work location as well as market and business considerations.

$22-$28 per hour

Benefits

At our core, we believe that supporting our communities begins with supporting our employees. No matter what stage you’re at in your career, we have a comprehensive total rewards program to enhance your quality of life, help support your family, and assist you in achieving your personal and professional goals. Otak employees enjoy competitive salaries; discretionary performance bonuses; no-cost medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, HRA/HSA; a 401(k)-retirement match that is 100% vested immediately; Paid Time Off (PTO) accrual based on your industry experience rather than your seniority plus 9 paid holidays per year; a commuter allowance (based on your office location); support for your professional registration and/or certification fees; and much more! If you are out of the area and interested in relocating for this opportunity, relocation assistance may be provided.

Why work at Otak?

When you work at Otak, you aren’t just joining a firm — you’re joining a community. We believe our best work happens in a culture of collaboration and inclusion, where the expertise of diverse individuals can thrive in a foundation of teamwork. The work environment we create is built on a simple concept: working on interesting projects with interesting people. However, we don’t just believe in cultivating our own community; we’re also committed to enriching the communities around us with smart, creative solutions. We know our employees make an investment in us, so we’re committed to making an investment in them. Seasoned experts and young professionals work together to encourage personal growth and skill development at all experience levels. Plus, we’re expanding — and we’re dedicated to developing an internal infrastructure with the strength and talent to support that growth.

What is it really like to work at Otak? Watch this short video: Our Why

Otak employees have a progressive mindset and sustainable community perspective. We encourage our staff to volunteer in their communities by giving them an option to earn extra vacation time for their volunteer hours. Otak combines the best of a small firm mentality with strong collaboration across disciplines with the plentiful opportunities to work on exciting projects offered by a growing firm. We also encourage life balance and foster a fun work environment. Our Northwest sensibilities are reflected in our commitment to sustainability and diversity. And believing that diversity fosters innovation and strengthens our skills, we embrace a culture of inclusion and equity in our company and in our communities.

Equal Opportunity

Otak is proud to be an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. The Equal Opportunity policy at Otak, Inc. provides a fair and equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, religion, nation origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, protected veteran status or disability or any other status(es) protected by law. Otak ensures nondiscrimination in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and mandatory supplements to EEO (revisions).

At Otak, we recognize that inclusion is a practice, and we are determined to lead our industry by embedding that practice into our work. Cultivating an inclusive workplace environment is ongoing and consistent work, requiring dedication and commitment from every member of the organization. This commitment is reflected in Otak’s promise to significantly increase employee diversity, impact the communities in which we work, and establish ongoing relationships within these communities.

Otak’s Vision for an Inclusive Environment includes the following:

• Fostering unique perspectives and an open exchange of ideas
• Relationships are built on mutual trust, dignity, and respect
• All employees can experience the workplace safely and show up as their authentic selves
• We embrace diverse identities, and willingly engage across difference
• Engaging one another with curiosity rather than judgment

If you are a minority, veteran, person with a disability, or a member of the LGBTQA Community, we strongly encourage and welcome you to apply to any open position of interest. If you want to learn more about Otak, this position, or the company’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, contact our Human Resources Department at [email protected].

• Please note, Otak is not accepting resumes from 3rd party recruitment agencies currently.