Announcement Summer Internships at Governor’s Office of Planning and Research and California Strategic Growth Council

Published: 2/16/2021

About the Internship

Interns at the California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) & the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) will work closely with a supervisor on a variety of projects that advance the Governor’s policy and planning priorities. Interns will have hands-on opportunities to learn about California State government and policy implementation. Interns will gain skills in policy research and writing, land use planning, local government outreach, interagency coordination, legislative analysis, and more.

About OPR & SGC

As the State’s comprehensive planning agency, OPR formulates long-range goals and policies spanning numerous issues, including land use; state and local planning; climate change risk and resilience; equity; renewable energy; transportation; health; and military affairs. OPR also serves important functions in the administration of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). SGC advances healthy, thriving, resilient communities for all by implementing policies through grant programs related to affordable housing, sustainable communities, transit-oriented development, infrastructure, conservation, health, and racial and social equity.

Example Intern Projects

Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program: Interns may work on supporting California’s long-term resilience, recovery, and climate equity work.

  • Health and equity: Intern may work on various projects to advance racial equity in California.
  • Housing and transportation: Interns may conduct research to support housing and transportation programs and planning.
  • Regions Rise Together: This initiative focuses on inclusive economic development and sustainable approaches to land use and transportation planning. Intern may engage with state policy makers with ideas about how to align funding and policy to support economic development in inland areas.
  • CEQA: Intern may participate in reviewing and processing environmental impact reports.

General Qualifications

Ideal candidates are self-driven and independently motivated; can balance multiple projects at once and meet deadlines; are highly professional and responsible; have strong verbal and written communication as well as analytical and organizational skills; demonstrate a commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion; demonstrate a strong interest in one or more SGC/OPR subject areas; and are able to contribute to a work environment that celebrates diverse backgrounds, cultures, and personal experiences. Bonus skills: experience with GIS/modeling/mapping tools, graphic design/web design/multimedia skills, communications/outreach skills, legal or legislative analysis.

Compensation & Logistics

Through this internship program, OPR and SGC strive to provide opportunities for people representing California’s diverse communities to apply their skills and expertise to meaningful projects. We recognize that OPR and SGC’s inability to provide financial compensation to interns presents a barrier for many potential applicants. We are eager to partner with educational institutions and scholarship programs that can place paid interns at agencies like ours. Additionally, OPR and SGC can work with an intern and their academic institution to help them receive school credit for the internship. The start and end dates of the internship are flexible. We prefer to host full-time interns but are open to the possibility of part-time interns. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all interns will work remotely for the duration of their internships. We seek to provide all interns, paid or unpaid with meaningful work to ensure a mutually beneficial relationship.

How to Apply

We encourage you to apply. Applicants will be accepted on a rolling basis until March 26, 2021. Please send a detailed cover letter and resume to taylor.carnevale@opr.ca.gov, sarah.newsham@sgc.ca.gov, and allisa.montanez@opr.ca.gov. Qualified applicants will be invited for an interview.