Intern, Aviation Planning

The Aviation Planning Intern is a developmentally focused position designed to assist students with learning their trade. Learn on the job by providing support to the Transportation/Land Use Planning division and the Planning & Development Department as a whole, broadly focused on project development, facility planning; land use permitting and entitlements, policy research, regulatory compliance, and GIS mapping. Join a fun team and learn as you go!

To be considered for this intern position you must be a current student enrolled in a Portland-area school for the duration of employment. Spring 2025 graduates will not be eligible for this internship unless documentation of continued educational classes (graduate school documentation related to the field) can be provided at the time of application.

Duration: Expected sunset date on or around May 30, 2026, with full-time work during school breaks and part-time during the school year.

Compensation is determined by school year and experience.

• Public and Stakeholder Engagement
  • Support public engagement efforts related to advisory committees and other public events and Port initiatives.
  • Work could include assistance with meeting planning and staffing, creating engagement materials, visual content and presentations and assisting with tours.
• Research
  • Conduct research and prepare findings on relevant policy and regulatory issues related to aviation. Examples could include researching land use and zoning code, FAA regulations, best practices from other airports and facilities, and researching and developing data related to transportation demand management.
• GIS
  • Using GIS tools, the intern will assist with conducting research, data gathering and syntheses regarding utilization of airport facilities to help create tools to better track how airport assets are used.
  • The intern may also synthesize data to create GIS layers to improve internal GIS tools and use GIS tools to create maps for presentations and reports.
• Land Use and Development Review
  • Assist in site plan review, data gathering, data synthesis and report writing to prepare findings and respond to proposed land uses and developments near Port-owned airports for dissemination to relevant agencies and internal stakeholders.
• Site observation and reporting, fieldwork, research, support wayfinding/signage projects, and other support of planning-related initiatives.

Education and Experience:

• Currently enrolled in an accredited college or university and seeking a degree in Urban Planning, Environmental Sciences, Landscape Architecture, Public Administration or related field.
• Student must also provide current unofficial transcript at time of application.
• Maintenance of a minimum 2.5 grade point average and continued enrollment in classes pertinent to the internship is required.
• Ability to pass and maintain a Criminal History Records check and Security Threat Assessment for a PDX Security Badge is required.
• Working knowledge of:
  • Microsoft Office Suite
  • ArcGIS
  • AutoCAD, is desired
  • Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator, is desired

• Demonstrate commitment to valuing differences among individuals and a passion for being inclusive.
• Promote safety as a guiding principle and a regular practice in accomplishing work, focus on safety. improvements, and comply with safety and health policies and procedures.
• Proven team player that shows the utmost respect for others.
• Organize workload to meet changing priorities and deadlines.
• Express ideas clearly in written and oral communication.
• Create and use spreadsheets for data analysis and reporting. Entry Work collaboratively with all staff at the Port.
• Demonstrate professional work behaviors.
• Demonstrate interest in Port business lines.

SELECTION PROCESS (tentative schedule):

1. A minimum qualification evaluation of education, training, and experience of submitted application packets will take place by Human Resources the week of May 26, 2025.
   
   
2. A Subject Matter Expert (SME) Panel will perform an evaluation of experience and training taken from your employment application materials including any responses to the supplemental questionnaire.
   
   
3. Our goal is to schedule panel interviews with candidates that successfully passed the SME evaluation as soon as possible. The successful candidate will be notified after interviews are complete, with a tentative start date in June 2025.

About us:

At the Port of Portland, we use everything we have - our three airports, three working marine terminals, five business parks, and all the resources, expertise, and experience behind them - to move with purpose, connecting people with powerful opportunities and creating value for our region. We know that every person we hire, business we work with, contract we sign and decision we make is a chance to make someone's life better. And we'll use our power and influence to pull down barriers, unlock new opportunities, ensure more people share in our region's success and include those who have been excluded in the past. With YOUR help - together with our partners, customers, and community - we'll help drive meaningful change!

Do you have questions about this job?

Contact us: careers@portofportland.com

Safety: The Port promotes safety as a guiding principle and practice in accomplishing work by complying with safety and health policies and procedures and consistently seeking improvements that support operational excellence.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Port of Portland is dedicated to maintaining and improving a work environment, which extends equal opportunity to all individuals, regardless of their race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability or sexual orientation. Employment decisions shall be made in such a manner as to further the principle of equal employment opportunity and to comply with state, federal and local laws. We affirm through this policy statement our continuing commitment to the principles of nondiscrimination and affirmative action. At the Port, we don't just accept difference; we value and support it to create a culture of inclusiveness and fun. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Veterans Preference: Under Oregon law, qualified veterans may be eligible for veterans' preference when applying for Port of Portland positions. If you are a veteran and would like to be considered for a veteran's preference for this job, please provide the qualifying documents as instructed during the application process.

Background Checks and Drug Testing: The Port of Portland will conduct background checks and/or drug tests for positions where such tests are required by regulation and for other safety-sensitive positions.

ADA Accommodation: Accommodations will be considered for applicants or candidates with a qualifying disability that prevents them from participating in this process. Accommodations will be made where the Port can reasonably do so without imposing an undue hardship on the business or compromising the integrity of the recruitment process. An applicant with any disability who believes that they need an accommodation should contact Human Resources: call 503-415-6690 or email careers@portofportland.com.