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Job Title: Planner Intern

Division: DSMIC/ARDC Planning

Reports to: Division Director

Semester Opportunity:                  Apply by:                                   Approximate Start Date:
Spring 2026                                         November 15, 2025             January 4, 2026

 

Hours: 19 hours per week, Monday – Friday (flexible based on availability and business needs)

Wages: $12.00/hour (undergrad student); $15.00/hour (grad student)

About DSMIC

The Duluth-Superior Metropolitan Interstate Council (aka the MIC) is the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Twin Ports. MPOs conduct transportation planning, with the overall purpose of improving the movement of people and goods to their destinations - helping to get them where they need to go, safely and efficiently. MPOs exist in every urban area in the U.S. with a population over 50,000.

Transportation planning is an ongoing and collaborative process that incorporates the input of many stakeholders, including members of the public and private businesses. We conduct plans and studies, model the transportation system to forecast travel patterns, and set priorities for how federal funds are spent on transportation projects in Duluth and Superior. For the MIC, a key goal is to focus the area’s limited transportation funding on projects that yield the greatest benefit for all users (people who drive, bicycle, walk or roll and take the bus).

What would I do?

Interns will assist the MIC’s planning and communications staff with a variety of transportation planning work. Depending on current projects*, intern work may:

  • Assist staff in coordinating transportation planning with local jurisdictions and partners.
  • Collect, enter, analyze, and/or maintain data and other information used for roadway, safety, transit and other current studies, demographic reports, and other special projects; participate in field observations and bicycle, pedestrian, and traffic counts.
  • Conduct background research and prepare write-ups in support of planning projects. This may include drafting presentations, graphics, spreadsheets, emails, memos, reports, and meeting summaries.
  • Assist with public engagement – this could include developing handouts, surveys, posters and other materials for public meetings, assisting with promotional activities including Facebook events; setting up pop-up events; and interacting with members of the public to explain our plans and encourage their input.
  • Assist with organizational communications, including monitoring and sharing transportation-related posts on Facebook, updating content on the dsmic.org website, and taking photos to illustrate our multimodal transportation work (e.g., pictures of people walking, biking, taking the bus and driving on local roadways; freight activities on roadways and in the port).
  • Participate in MIC team meetings, attend and/or provide support (as schedule permits) to the MIC Policy Board and advisory committees, including preparing meeting materials, drafting meeting summaries, and presenting information (optional– depending on student interest);
  • Analyze spatial data using Esri GIS (optional – depending on student interest)
  • Work with ARDC Planning staff on potential planning projects.

*Specific projects could include Long Range Metropolitan Transportation Plan, Duluth-Superior Safety Action Plan, bike and pedestrian planning, and various project-specific tasks as assigned.

Am I qualified?

Qualified internship candidates must:

  • Be enrolled at a college or university registered for intern credits–preferably in a Planning, Geography, or related program (Note: If a specific registration period is closed or not yet open, candidates must sign a letter of intent to register for internship credits at the next available registration period.)
  • Be able to conduct field work outdoors, sometimes in less-than-ideal weather and outside regular office hours
  • Be able to work in person at the ARDC Duluth office (majority of the time)
  • Be able to work remotely via internet connection and Microsoft Teams (at times)
  • Be competent with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, and Power Point & Teams)
  • Have a valid driver’s license and a good driving record (to drive agency vehicle to events and field work locations)
  • Be able to lift up-to 30 pounds

Desired skills that will help interns successfully complete assigned tasks: 

  • Effective verbal, written, and interpersonal skills
  • Detail-oriented
  • Ability to balance multiple projects and priorities
  • Ability to work independently in a collaborative work setting

How do I apply?  Visit https://ardc.org/careers/ and follow the application instructions.