POLICY INTERNSHIPS

Benefits

Pulled from the full job description

Professional development assistance

Full job description

Council for Quality Growth Policy Internships

The Council for Quality Growth is a 37-year-old non-profit trade association representing the
growth and development industry with the mission of promoting balanced and responsible growth
in metro Atlanta and Georgia. We bring the development community and policy makers together as
we focus on long-range community planning, encourage adequate government services, catalyze
consensus on growth issues and convene discussion on responsible development. The Council
delivers this mission through the platforms of Advocacy, Education and Convention. We work with
thousands of elected officials, administrators and staff across metro Atlanta’s more than 80 local
governments plus state agencies and legislative and executive leadership.

We collaborate to ensure that planning, zoning and other local, regional and state regulatory
policies promote thriving communities, strong infrastructure and a prospering economy. We
actively advocate in city council, county commission, regional commission and state legislative and
regulatory meetings. Members, in turn, receive exclusive access to the most comprehensive
information about regulatory and policy issues in the region. We educate local and state elected
officials and professional staff who regularly seek our policy advice and input. The Council is
committed to the belief that Atlanta’s economic future and quality of life is highly dependent on
continued, balanced, quality growth. To that end, the Council promotes market driven solutions to
critical public policy issues that face the region and state.

The Council is currently seeking independent, dedicated individuals to serve as Policy Interns with
the agency. These internships will be structured, learning opportunities geared to teach “real world
applications” of public policy development.

Those seeking a master’s degree in Public Policy, Public Administration, Urban Planning, Political
Science or other Policy related areas of study will be most successful. Other areas of study including
Economics, Environmental Studies, Environmental Design or Engineering, Law, Real Estate, Business
Administration are also welcome. Interns will be expected to research various public policy issues,
write articles for newsletters, and assist regular staff with formulating solutions to real public policy
issues affecting our members.

Description of Duties:

Gather, analyze and interpret data related to infrastructure planning, legislative initiatives,

regulatory issues, land use, transportation and environmental planning policies. Sample
topic areas include: zoning, permit procedures, soil erosion, water and sewer capacity, land
use, green space, watershed protection measures, local development regulations and
General Assembly activity.

Other Jobs You May Be Interested In

Attend, participate, and report on a variety of public meetings and citizen advisory activities.

Examples include: Board of Commissioners, Planning Commission, City Council,
Development Advisory committees, ARC Transportation, Land Use & Environmental
committees, DCA, EPA, DNR Board meetings, GRTA meetings, etc.

Prepare and deliver research findings in the form of reports, briefs, news articles, databases,

other media formats, and/or public speeches

Assist Council staff with formulating policy positions on various issues.

Coordinate moderated discussions with elected officials and membership.

Provide programmatic assistance for professional development workshops and briefings on

relevant policy and regulatory issues.

Assist with preparation of weekly newsletters that provide membership with updates on

issues currently underway in the metro Atlanta region using Constant Contact.

Coordinate program speakers with presentation subject matter.

Update and maintain content on the Council website on a regular basis.

Perform other duties as assigned

These internships allow students to gain valuable real world experiences and professional
connections in the real estate, engineering and public policy fields, in addition to course credits. If
you are interested in a Council internship, please contact Joseph Santoro Senior Policy Analyst at
js@councilforqualitygrowth.org or by calling (770-813-3373). Our office is located at 5901-C
Peachtree Dunwoody Rd. Atlanta, GA 30328.

NOTE FOR STUDENTS SEEKING COURSE CREDIT(S): The Council will work with you and your

academic advisor/professor to determine the appropriate project for your specific internship. In

addition to your duties and responsibilities at the Council, you will likely be asked by your academic

advisor/professor to keep a daily journal of your work experiences and to write a paper about the

work you complete at the Council. Please see your academic advisor/professor for specific

requirements of your college or university.