College Aide, Public Engagement

City of New York • New York City, NY

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The Public Engagement Group within the division of Transportation Planning & Management (TPM) is seeking a creative and curious College Intern to support our visual storytelling, content development, and digital asset organization efforts. This is a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience developing visual materials that make complex planning concepts and public engagement processes more accessible to diverse audiences while contributing to meaningful public engagement projects across the city. Under the guidance of the Creative Communications Lead, the college aide will contribute to a range of projects supporting both in-the-field and behind-the-scenes work. The intern will help document community outreach and produce illustrated graphics, visual explainers, and storytelling materials. This role is ideal for someone who is a creative illustrator with a range of skills, an interest to learn, is detail-oriented, and thrives in a collaborative environment. TPM is responsible for the safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible movement of people and goods on the City's streets, supporting the larger goals of economic and social vitality for people living, working, and doing business in New York City. The Division’s responsibilities include planning, street design, technical analysis, signs, transit development, freight mobility and markings, ensuring the safety of motor vehicle occupants, pedestrians, and cyclists.

Requirements

• Matriculation at an accredited college or graduate school. Employment is conditioned upon continuance as a student in a college or graduate school.
• Strong illustration or graphic design skills (Adobe Illustrator or similar).
• Ability to create visual narratives, diagrams, or illustrated graphics to communicate information clearly.
• Solid communication skills (written and verbal).
• Ability to work independently and take ownership of small projects.
• Strong organizational skills for handling digital files and tasks.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with storyboarding, comics, or sequential illustration.
• Interest in animation or motion graphics.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator and InDesign preferred).
• Photography and basic photo editing skills.
• Interest in public engagement, civic communication, or urban planning.

Responsibilities

• Create illustrations and graphics for outreach materials, presentations, and internal communications
• Translate planning concepts and public engagement processes into clear, accessible visuals/materials
• Contribute to visual storytelling projects, including comic-style narratives and illustrated/animated explainers
• Develop visual story boards or visual sequences that may support short animations or digital storytelling initiatives
• Assist with documenting community engagement by capturing high-quality photos and short video clips
• Help organize and maintain our ever-growing photo and digital asset library
• Provide support for additional creative projects across the unit

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed