Economic Development Internship- Research and Analysis
The Town of Vienna Economic Development Division helps to enhance, shape, and cultivate a vibrant and business friendly environment for the community. We help to strengthen and diversify the business community and highlight the Town as a destination to visit and do business through strategic events and initiatives, attraction and retention programs and providing relevant information and business services.
Although the Town of Vienna is only 4.4 square miles, it’s full of charm and community pride! Vienna is an independent town in Fairfax County—the largest County in the Commonwealth of Virginia and often included at the top of “best places to live in Virginia” lists. The economic development division is new to the Town—beginning in November 2019. The internship will certainly have a direct impact on not only the business community but also helping to shape the foundations of this division.
About the Internship
There are two tracks available for the economic development internship. Learn more about the Communications & Marketing track here
Research and Analysis Intern
The research and analysis track focuses on providing support to the economic development division through research, reporting, and analysis on economic and business issues and trends impacting the Town of Vienna. In addition, the research and analysis intern would support the development of new reporting initiatives and storytelling through data.
Work Hours:
20 - 40 hours a week, Monday- Friday, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with flexible work hours and telework options.
Although you may enjoy visiting our office in the heart of the Town of Vienna, you will be able to have a hybrid of remote and in-person work. In addition, start and end dates are flexible and will parallel a summer, spring, or fall college semester—with an expectation that at minimum you will work three days each week.
School Credit: Applicants can receive school credit for the internship program.
Special Requirements
Please attach a cover letter and resume with the subject line TOV Economic Development Internship (Research). In your cover letter, in addition to briefly noting your relevant experience, please answer this question: why are you interested in working in this role or organization?
Any person offered an internship will be required to complete a background check.
Duties and Responsibilities
Essential duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.
- Review and analyze data set reports from federal, state and local partners.
- Create reporting framework for division to be shared on commercial vacancies, business closings, and other relevant business data.
- Curate accessible data sources that can be used to track the determined list of indicators.
- Develop a dashboard of indicators that can be updated quarterly to track trends and patterns.
- Compiles and analyzes economic development information including property research, demographic information, financial and market trends.
- Works with economic development manager with the preparation of reports, preparing documents and charts; assisting with layout and presentation.
- Perform targeted research support for business retention, expansion, and recruitment.
- Assist the economic development manager with special projects.
Minimum Training and Experience
- You must be a student currently enrolled in an accredited public or other non-profit college or university:
- Enrolled in an approved program.
- Pursing a Baccalaureate Degree in marketing, economics, tourism, public administration, business or related field is required.
- Enrollment must be in a full-time program.
- Have a good academic standing (no less than 2.95 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 grading scale).
Necessary Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Superb attention to detail.
- Self-starter and independent worker.
- Possess a sound understanding of important data sets.
- Experience using Salesforce is a plus.
- Economics, Government, Marketing, Public Administration, or related major.
- Proficiency in MS Office, Adobe Creative Cloud (CC) (desired, not required).
- Experience using Co-Star is a plus