City of Bellevue – Economic Development Intern

Job Summary

To demonstrate skills and interest, please complete the application in lieu of a cover letter or a resume. (This application does not allow for attachments.)

Bellevue is a city in transition. As Seattle’s largest neighbor, we are a welcoming, multicultural, innovation-focused community that attracts technology pioneers, outdoor enthusiasts, and pragmatists from around the world. Over 40% of Bellevueites are foreign-born. Major employers including Microsoft, Alibaba, Amazon, SAP Concur, and T-Mobile, attract an international talent pool enriching our community and providing our economy with a global edge.

In the coming years, the city will add more than 30,000 jobs and our first light rail line, marking important milestones for our region. As the city grows, our workers, visitors, and residents are seeking more walkable neighborhoods, community-driven experiences, and high-quality public spaces. The City is working hard to support organizations like the Bellevue Downtown Association (BDA) and the Old Bellevue Merchants’ Association (OBMA) as they seek to play a larger role in management of public space. As part of the Cultural and Economic Development division (CED), you will assist the team in building programs to support place management and governance downtown.

Benefits for the Intern

Hands-on experience with economic development program coordination, urban policy and planning issues, and complex public space management issues.
Deliverables useful for the pursuit of future career opportunities.
Collaboration and networking with Cultural and Economic Development and Transportation staff, Bellevue Downtown Association staff, local businesses, and property owners.
In-depth exposure to the management and culture of an award-winning, innovative municipal government that is the commercial and residential hub of the Eastside and actively engages with and promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion.

LOGISTICS
Application review and interviews: Applicants should apply before April 10. Teams interviews will be scheduled between April 17-21.
Start and finish: Selected candidate will start by June 19. Internship is currently expected to run through the end of December 2023, depending on business needs.
Compensation: Compensation range depends on level of education and experience, and ranges between $18.01 – $24.83/hour at the Student Intern 2 classification.
Hours: Full-time (40 hours/week) over the summer. Part-time (up to 20 hours/week) during academic year.
Location: Bellevue City Hall (450 110th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98105)
Remote/Hybrid: The City of Bellevue is a hybrid workplace. Remote work within Washington State is generally permitted up to 40% of working hours, though selected candidates will work with their manager to set a schedule which meets business needs.
Student Status: This position is open to enrolled undergraduate or graduate students only. You must be an enrolled student for the entirety of your time with the City.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Work with Cultural and Economic Development staff to launch a pilot program for programming and usage of City Hall Plaza beginning in summer 2023.
- Work with staff and other interns focused on other parts of the Grand Connection corridor, such as NE 6th St, and the NE corner of Downtown Park.
- Research models for activation of publicly-owned public spaces in other cities; identify best practices and models for partnership with private event/activation organizers.
- Coordinate with internal City teams (including Facilities, Park, Transportation, and Police) to identify Bellevue-specific policies and/or constraints.
- Assist in developing a partnership framework for the public spaces identified above, including which party (i.e. city, public space manager, or event/program organizer) might be responsible for which activities.
Support work to catalog existing and future downtown public spaces, including ownership, management and maintenance responsibilities, and uses. This may include:
- Inventory existing and future private and public spaces; write existing conditions report.
- Catalog the owners, managers, and maintainers of each existing public space, including key space characteristics and contact information.
- Research ways these spaces have historically been used and ways they might be used to enable public gathering and activation in the future, including required approvals.
- Develop an interactive map or report and a process for updating with key stakeholders, including Community Development, Development Services, Transportation, the Bellevue Downtown Association, and private property owners.
Assist city staff and partners like the Bellevue Downtown Association in work to improve the downtown user experience, including through improved wayfinding, public parking communications, and high-quality new experiences.
Assist as needed with outreach to Main Street and downtown businesses to support their organizing and placemaking efforts, as well as the city’s business retention goals.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

Enrolled student in a bachelor’s or master’s degree program in urban planning, public policy, public administration, business administration, or a related field. Preference for juniors, seniors, and graduate students.
No experience is required; however, prior internship or work experience is preferred.
Interest in cultural and economic development, urban planning, public space management, public policy, and/or local government.

Skills

Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Ability to work efficiently, accurately, and collaboratively to solve problems.
Ability to work independently with clear direction.
Ability to quickly establish effective working relationships.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Proficiency with Office, Teams, Salesforce, SurveyMonkey, and other digital tools, or an ability to learn these tools quickly and independently.
Proficiency or working knowledge of ArcGIS, QGIS, or other mapping tools preferred.
Fluency in Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Korean, or Vietnamese is a plus.

Other

Student Intern: Are partially benefited employees and defined as variable, part-time, or seasonal employee enrolled in a bona fide education program. Full-time employees taking evening classes, those enrolled in one course, or those going to school periodically are not considered student interns. During the school year, the student intern must be scheduled to work 20 hours or less per week. During special situations (e.g., specific internship programs through school) or during school breaks, student interns can be scheduled to work more than 20 hours per week.

Partially Benefited Position: All positions that are not fully benefited. Partially benefited positions include variable, seasonal, or part-time positions. Partially benefited positions are at-will positions for which the employee is only eligible to receive either PERS benefits or MEBT II benefits, and no other benefits except as required by law.

For more information, contact Anthony Gill via email at agill@bellevuewa.gov. For any technical difficulties with your application, please contact the NEOGOV support line at 855-524-5627.

The City of Bellevue values diversity in its workforce and is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, marital status, genetic information, veteran’s status, disability, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local laws.

At the City of Bellevue, you’ll be part of a team committed to providing exceptional customer service, upholding the public interest and advancing the community vision. The five essential and enduring principles that guide our individual actions, our interactions, and our decision making in the City of Bellevue organization is: exceptional public service, stewardship, committee to employees, integrity, and innovation. You’ll work in an environment that is innovative, collaborative, future focused, and committed to excellence. Bellevue welcomes the world. Our diversity is our strength. We embrace the future while respecting our past. It’s what makes the City of Bellevue an exciting place to work, live, and explore.

Have we piqued your interest yet? Come join our team! The City of Bellevue supports workplace diversity. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, genetic information, disability, age, veteran status, or any other protected status. Persons needing assistance with the application process may call the Human Resources Office at 425-452-6838 or bellevuehr@bellevuewa.gov. If you are invited to participate in the selection process and need ADA accommodations, please notify HR before you are scheduled for an interview or testing.

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