Job Opportunities in United States

Position Description

Work, Serve, Thrive. With the City of Durham
Advance in your career while making a real difference in the community you serve.
Hiring Range: $18.19/hr - $20.47/hr
Hours: Schedule will vary, working less than 20 hours per week
The Budget and Management Services Department works to solve Durham’s biggest challenges. We are innovators, managing City resources like they’re our own, guiding the City’s future through strategic planning and encouraging a culture of innovation and continuous improvement through special projects, partnerships and trainings. If innovating to solve challenges drives you, too, join our team in Durham!

The City of Durham’s Budget Department seeks a community-focused individual motivated by public service to assist with project design and community engagement. Through the Participatory Budgeting (PB) Program, residents collaborate to identify and prioritize projects that benefit their neighborhoods. In this role, you will support residents in refining and expressing their ideas for park and transportation improvements, using mapping and concept imagery to bring these ideas to life. This part-time role (approximately 20 hours per week) reports to the Senior Community & Economic Development Manager and offers hands-on experience in the public sector. This role will work closely with City staff across various levels. The Ideal candidates will have experience in creating clear, visual concepts, possess strong written and verbal communication skills, and demonstrate an interest in local government and community engagement.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Perform inventory and analysis of proposed project sites and study areas and prepare written documentation of observations and conditions.
• Assist the project team and residents with the Schematic Design process.
• Through the design development phase, assist with project planning and develop drawings and specifications for concepts. Collaborate with residents and key stakeholders through participatory design.
• Create presentations, visuals, and content for social media and websites.

Minimum Qualifications & Experience

• Must have graduated or be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program at an accredited university or college pursuing a degree in City/Community Planning, Urban Design, Architecture, or Landscape Architecture. Additional Preferred Skills: Able to work in person at City Hall a minimum of one day per week.
• Prior experience in the public sector (e.g., nonprofit, NGO, government, education) is also a bonus but not a requirement. Able to attend some evening meetings to engage residents.
• Experience with MS Office applications such as Outlook, Excel, Word, and Power Point.
• Strong oral, written, and design skills. "Self-starter" - Must be able to work independently on assigned projects without supervision. Experience with social media and communications. Experience with graphic design software such as Adobe Suites.
• Ability to communicate design concepts to community members of various backgrounds.