Planning & Research Engineering Summer Intern

Company Description

A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.

As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What we offer

• Impact - The work you do here matters to millions. 
• Growth - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it? 
• Diversity & Inclusion - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
• Benefits - We care about your well-being.

Agency Description

The Philadelphia Water Department is a municipal department of approximately 2500 employees working in all facets to provide water/wastewater treatment services to the City of Philadelphia and the surrounding counties.

The Capital Planning Group provides support for the Department’s capital budget process and facilitates in the development of the capital improvement plan through planning and asset management efforts. Its mission is to plan for the future of Philadelphia’s capital assets to ensure continued, reliable, and quality services to its customers. Overarching goals are to inform the capital budget, facilitate the prioritization of capital improvements, increase communication, and aid in financial forecasting through asset managemen

Job Description

Position Summary 

The group’s primary responsibility is ensuring that quality data informs the Department’s capital budget and project decisions. A candidate in this position will collaborate with engineers, designers, planners, scientists, and operators across the Department to provide strategic planning services, including facilities asset management planning, project data analysis and aggregation, facilitating project sequencing, and budget analyses. Organizational, communication, analytical, and writing skills are considered essential for this position. Computer skills and willingness to learn and perform new tasks are also considered essential. The ideal candidate will have some understanding of hydraulics, treatment, and the capital project delivery cycle. The ideal candidate will be comfortable with recurring visits to our water and wastewater facilities. 

Duties will be scaled based on the level of the employee. Duties will increase in scope and complexity to develop the knowledge and abilities of the candidate. The employee will be given progressively more challenging assignments and is expected to use progressively more independence of judgment in planning work, making engineering decisions, and providing recommendations. Employees at more senior levels may provide direction to junior staff, interpretative and advisory services to superiors, and may serve as project leaders or managers on specific assignments. 
 
Examples of work include: 
 
• Reviewing and assessing a variety of facility-based capital projects from a technical and analytical perspective 
• Preparing alternative analysis reports for large projects that improve and/or replace facility assets 
• Working with databases and project data to monitor asset conditions, project statuses, and cost estimates 
• Multidisciplinary meetings with Department staff to facilitate and document the Planning Process 
• Visiting facilities to evaluate assets, understand project needs, and maintain open communication 
• Preparing regular reports and presentations for colleagues and Executive Staff 
• Coordinating elements of asset planning studies relates to water and wastewater facilities 

Essential Functions 

Detail oriented, ability to analyze data and use Excel effectively, good communication skills, interest in water and wastewater treatment and conveyance. 

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

Applicants are required to meet the following minimum requirements: 

- Must be enrolled as a full-time student 

-  Valid US driver’s license preferred, though a personal vehicle is not required. 

Qualifications

Detail oriented, ability to analyze data and use Excel effectively, good communication skills, interest in water and wastewater treatment and conveyance. 

Additional Information

TO APPLY: Please submit a resume.

Salary range:

Undergraduates: $18/hour

Graduates: $20/hour

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:

• Transportation: City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses, subways, trolleys, and regional rail for their daily commute and more.
• Parental Benefits: The City offers its employees 6 weeks of paid parental leave.
• We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options are available
• Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.
• Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too!

Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!

*The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that  are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to faqpchr@phila.gov.

For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx