Socioeconomic Data Intern

Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG)•Phoenix, AZ

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) is a regional planning agency made up of local governments that collaborates on transportation, environmental and air quality, and human services issues. MAG serves a region of 5 million people, with 28 cities and towns, three Native nations, and Maricopa and Pinal counties across a planning area of more than 10,000 square miles. It is the council of governments and designated metropolitan planning organization for transportation planning in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. The paid internship supports MAG’s Socioeconomic Data Program within the Transportation Data Management and Application team. The team collects, acquires, and maintains data for transportation programs, socioeconomic modeling, and regional population and employment projections. Interns contribute to real-world regional planning projects and work alongside planners, analysts, and GIS professionals while developing technical skills and gaining practical experience with regional data. The role involves collecting, processing, and analyzing housing, census, demographic, and assessor parcel data; maintaining complex socioeconomic and transportation datasets; using database and GIS tools; and conducting spatial and non-spatial analysis. The intern also visualizes data, performs quality checks, coordinates with agencies and stakeholders, and conducts research independently and collaboratively. The position is part-time, hourly, and pays $23.00 per hour. It has a hybrid work environment with a minimum of three days per week in the office.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED equivalent.
At least two years of relevant college coursework in Data Science, Geographic Information Systems, Geography, Urban/Regional Planning, or a related field.
Ability to analyze data, identify patterns and inconsistencies, and draw accurate conclusions.
Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
Curiosity and ability to learn and apply new processes and procedures.
Ability to organize and manage information from multiple sources.
Effective written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to work independently and collaborate effectively with a team.
Ability to manage multiple assignments and adjust priorities as needed.
Strong interest in data analysis, planning, Geographic Information Systems, or a related field.
Working knowledge of ESRI’s GIS suite and geoprocessing tools, relational database management systems such as MS SQL, statistics, and the MS Office Suite.
Willingness to advance technological knowledge.
Strong organizational skills.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of programming languages such as Python, R, or Java, and/or statistical packages or languages.
Experience working with census data or economic impact analysis.

Responsibilities

Collect, process, and analyze housing permit and residential data.
Process and analyze census, demographic, housing, and assessor parcel data.
Develop, maintain, and enhance large and complex socioeconomic and transportation datasets for research, analysis, and regional planning.
Use Microsoft Access, SQL, and GIS software to process, analyze, and manage data.
Perform geocoding, geoprocessing, and other spatial and non-spatial analyses.
Analyze, interpret, and visualize current and historical data through tables, graphs, charts, and cartographic outputs.
Conduct quality assurance and quality control to identify and resolve data errors and gaps.
Coordinate with MAG member agencies, stakeholders, and the public to collect and review data and fulfill data and analysis requests.
Conduct research and analysis independently and as part of a team.