Planning Intern

Description

Want to design streets and public spaces that connect people? We're looking for a Planning Intern in Columbus, OH to work on meaningful projects that make a difference in our communities. At Toole Design, you’ll get to help plan, design, and engineer mobility networks and public spaces that help communities thrive. From streets and trails to downtowns, campuses, parks, and civic places, our multidisciplinary teams create environments that are safe, welcoming, resilient, and memorable.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

We are an employee-owned, purpose-driven team of engineers, planners, landscape architects, and urban designers who believe streets and public spaces should work for everyone. At Toole Design, you'll work alongside thought leaders and industry experts who are committed to mentoring and helping you grow your expertise. We offer:

• •A collaborative, inclusive culture where expertise thrives and your growth and advancement are actively supported
• •The chance to explore your interests, share your ideas and learn from experts in the field
• •Projects that improve lives through safe, inclusive design rooted in ethics, empathy, and equity
• •A community of interns across the country to learn from and collaborate with on shared projects while growing your technical skills

What You’ll Do

At Toole Design , our paid internship program is designed to give you real experience with meaningful work. Over a typical schedule of 8–12 weeks, you’ll be fully embedded in project teams alongside planners, engineers, and landscape architects—contributing to transformative public realm and active transportation projects from day one. You’ll be involved in all phases of design, from stakeholder outreach and workshops to construction documents and administration, performing analysis, using 2D/3D modeling tools and creating illustrative graphics. You might prep graphics for a new intersection design, analyze pedestrian survey data, or help create materials for a public meeting. Our interns work on everything from multimodal corridor studies and Safe Routes to School to Vision Zero, transit planning, wayfinding, and national guidance for the Federal Highway Administration. Working closely with clients, communities, and colleagues, you’ll help shape and reimagine streets, parks, and trail systems across the country.

We are targeting a salary range of $18.50 to $22.00 per hour for this position. Interns generally work 40 hours per week, four days in the office with the option to work from home on Fridays. All Toole Design offices are bikeable, walkable, and transit-friendly—just like the infrastructure we help design.

• Join Us. Make an Impact.
• We’re proud to be an ENR Top 500 design firm with one of the lowest turnover rates in the industry. If you’re ready to do meaningful work with a supportive, talented team—apply today. Applications close 12/31/26.

For more information about our internships please visit our Internships page . Have questions or to request assistance or accommodations? Contact [email protected] or call 301-927-1900, option 5.

At Toole Design, we foster a collaborative culture and welcome people of all backgrounds to help build more inclusive communities. We strongly encourage women and applicants from underrepresented communities— people of color, LGBTQIA+, immigrants, first-generation college students/graduates, those with disabilities, and people at all the intersections in between—to apply. We're proud that women make up 50% of our managers and are committed to diverse leadership that reflects the communities we serve. Toole Design is a woman-owned, equal opportunity employer (EO/AA/VEV/Disabled employer).

For more information about Toole Design, visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn , Instagram , or Facebook .

Requirements

• •Open to undergrads (3rd year or higher), grad students , and recent graduates in Urban Planning, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, Civil Engineering, or a related program
• •Ability to quickly pick up new concepts, skills, and programs
• •Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite
• •Experience using QGIS and/or ArcGIS
• •Experience in graphic design, layout, and production, InDesign/Adobe Creative Suite
• •Passion for active transportation