Sustainable Development Intern
Listed on 2026-06-02
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Engineering
Environmental/ Urban Planning, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineer -
Government
Environmental/ Urban Planning
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:
The Community Development Department (CDD) is the planning agency for the City of Cambridge. Our mission is to foster a livable, sustainable, just, and equitable community. CDD has three programmatic divisions – Economic Opportunity & Development, Community Planning & Design, and Zoning & Development – and also encompasses the Housing Department and the Arts Council. Together, we engage and collaborate with community partners, other government agencies, businesses, and residents to make Cambridge a desirable place to live, work, learn, play, and innovate.
The Zoning and Development Division is a team of urban planners performing work in the areas of land use planning and urban development. The division has a Director, a Senior Manager, two Project Planners, two Associate Planners, an Administrative Coordinator, and interns. Specific division work areas include:
- Staffing and administering the Cambridge Planning Board
- Coordinating review of major urban development projects
- Providing professional support and advice to the Cambridge City Council and Planning Board in reviewing proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance
- Advancing planning initiatives that result in recommended changes to the Zoning Ordinance
- Providing general information about zoning to residents, property owners, businesses, developers, design professionals, other City officials and departments, and others as needed
More information at http://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)./zoninganddevelopment
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:The Zoning & Development Division’s responsibilities include the administration of sustainability and resiliency requirements set forth in Article 22 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance. These standards promote sustainable design that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, conserves natural resources, and mitigates urban heat while being resilient to flooding. Examples of standards include a requirement for larger buildings to align with LEED, Passive House, or Enterprise Green Communities rating programs, as well as requirements for all new development to incorporate site cooling features like trees, plantings, and materials that reflect solar heat.
As more new developments are built that meet the standards, the City gets closer to meeting its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, as identified in the Net Zero Action Plan.
This is not a time‑limited, summer‑only internship position. Because it involves training and ongoing assignments, the position is best suited to candidates who intend to stay for around six months to a year or more.
Under the supervision of the Zoning Project Planner for Sustainable Development, specific activities of the Sustainable Development Intern could include:
- Reviewing new development proposals in coordination with Z&D staff and identifying Article 22 requirements to communicate to applicants.
- Assisting in reviewing Green Building and Green Factor submissions from applicants at all stages of development.
- Sharing guidance with applicants in meetings or via email or phone about required revisions to submissions for compliance with Article 22 regulations.
- Assisting with updating project records to communicate the project’s review status and key attributes.
- Communicating zoning standards and sustainability and resiliency design strategies in multidisciplinary teams, which may include planners specializing in urban design, transportation, environmental sustainability, housing, and economic development, as well as staff in other City departments.
- Maintaining the Division’s Green Building and Green Factor databases.
- Additional projects based on the applicant’s skills and interests and the division’s needs.
Education and Experience:
Academic or professional experience in urban planning, architecture, engineering, or related field with an interest in green building technology and sustainable development.
Ability to work with computer software including Adobe, Microsoft, and GIS programs, especially PDF, Illustrator or similar, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and ESRI ArcGIS.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
this Sustainable Development Intern should be a self‑motivated…
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