Who We Are

The City and County of Denver’s Community Planning and Development Department (CPD) is responsible for visionary city planning and ensuring safe, responsible, sustainable building. CPD works with Denver’s communities to prepare land use plans, as well as regulations for land use and design, that guide the city’s growth, enhancement, and preservation. Our staff also reviews, permits, and inspects development applications to ensure that future construction meets the community-led regulations laid out in Denver's zoning codes as well as meets the rigorous standards of the city's building, fire, and energy codes. We're working hard to make Denver a great place to live, work and play! Visit www.DenverGov.org/CPD.

CPD is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. As part of these efforts, we’ve created a formal internship program to raise broader awareness of the professional opportunities within our agency, with the goal of fostering the development of a more diverse pipeline of talent to step into future jobs with the City and County of Denver and our city department.

What We Offer

The City and County of Denver offers a competitive hourly rate commensurate with education. The salary range for this position is $20.92-23.64/hour, based on education. All City and County of Denver emerging talent positions are supported by a trained hiring manager and encouraged to attend up to 4 sessions of professional development each season (Winter/Spring, Summer and Fall). You will be onboarded with a cohort of peers to help you develop your network across the City and go through similar programming throughout your time at the City.

What You’ll Do

This is a paid internship position starting in Summer 2025 (June) and may continue through the rest of the year or longer depending on need and availability. This position is expected to work approximately 30 hours per week, up to a maximum of 39 hours per week, and is not eligible for benefits.  The location of this internship of onsite or hybrid depends on each division's project and needs and is subject to change, however some onsite work is required for all. 

As an intern you will get to experience:

• Work within the Planning Services team in CPD on neighborhood plans, including the ongoing Southwest and Far Southwest plans

• Contribute to efforts to implement the City’s adopted plans through regulations

• Research zoning documents and other materials to support rezonings and updates to the Denver Zoning Code

• Use GIS to gather and analyze data

• Assist with the preparation of reports, maps, graphics, presentations, and other documentation

• Plan, attend, and support community meetings and other engagement

• Organize, review, and analyze community input

• Conduct site visits and field work

• Learn about the City and County of Denver’s adopted plans and policy goals and how we implement them

• Other projects, as assigned

Ideal Candidate Summary

What You’ll Bring

Our ideal candidate has some or all the following experience, skills, and characteristics:

• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills

• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing

• Educational experience in planning, architecture, urban design or related

• Works well under pressure and able to multitask

• Strong attention to detail and highly organized

• Self-motivated and motivated to help others

• A team player who is eager to support both internal and external customers

• Proficient or fluent in Spanish is a plus

• Technically skilled in any combination of SketchUp modeling, ArcGIS query/evaluation, Adobe Illustrator and/or Adobe InDesign

• Currently enrolled in a Bachelor program as a Junior or Senior, or a graduate level program (preferred, not required)

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Education Requirement:  Current enrollment in an accredited college program leading to a certificate, licensure, associates, bachelor’s, or higher degree in, or a recent graduate (completed specified program within 1 year of completion).

  • This position is open to students currently enrolled in an accredited college program leading to a certificate, licensure, associates, bachelors, higher degree in, or up to one year post college graduation

• Experience: None

• Education and Experience Equivalency: No substitution of experience for education is permitted.

Mandatory documentation required to be considered for this position:

• 1-2 page Resume (with most current information)

• Transcripts – either official or unofficial; dated within your current academic term

• Cover letter detailing why you are interested in this internship and the Community Planning and Development department

Location Flexibility

The City and County of Denver utilizes a hybrid model workplace that balances the responsibilities of public service with the benefits of a flexible work environment. Employees work where needed, at a city site and/or in the field several days a week and telecommute remotely at a designated workplace within the State of Colorado the remaining days.

Internship Duration and Hours:

Duration: 6 months

Start Date: June 2nd, 2025

End Date: December 5th, 2025 (possibility of extension based on needs of the organization)

Typical hours: 8:00AM – 4:30PM (Exact times can be flexible. We anticipate approximately 30 hours per week, not to exceed 39 hours/week).

Application Deadline:

This posting will accept applications from February 14th to February 28th at midnight.

Position Type: On-call

The City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law. 

For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish.