Strategic Planning & Development Intern: Year Round

SMUD•Sacramento, CA

3d•$24 - $29•Hybrid

About The Position

The position reports to the Manager of Program Planning & Development in Distributed Energy Solutions (DES). The DES department develops and implements progressive programs that support SMUD's 2030 Zero Carbon and long-term sustainability goals. This position will support the Planning & Development team by providing data analysis and/or project support for program planning, budgets, reporting, technology, and initiatives related to our portfolio of programs, which may include Electric Transportation, Load Flexibility, Building Electrification, Energy Efficiency, and Green Pricing in both the residential and commercial sectors. The student will gain exposure to program planning and development in the utility industry and contribute to the creation of customer and grid benefit programs that support carbon reduction. About SMUD's College Internship Program SMUD's College Internship Program provides college interns with an opportunity to contribute their skills and knowledge to SMUD while gaining valuable work experience. Workshops and activities will also be part of the program where interns will have the opportunity to be immersed in SMUD's culture and learn leadership skills as well as develop their professional skills. SMUD was also recognized by Interns 2 Pros for the 2020 Internship Program of The Year Award in recognition of excellence in internship strategy, implementation, and impact and was one of five finalists for the 2023 Internship Program of the Year from Interns 2 Pros along with Paramount, Fox Corporation, Intuit, and Toyota.PurposeUnder staff direction, incumbents in this classification are full-time students in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Math program who perform research and analytical tasks for projects and assignments that utilize specific and acquired academic skills and knowledge in alignment with their educational disciplines.Nature and ScopeThe work performed in this classification calls for regular application of analytical and independent research skills. Work is closely related to the employee’s academic major in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics.

Requirements

Registration as a full-time student (minimum of 12 units) at an accredited college or university in a declared curriculum with a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) emphasis that will provide the specific skills and knowledge that will contribute to available work assignments.
Students must be able to commute to the SMUD Offices in Sacramento, CA when requested to come in.
To have a student position at SMUD, you must not have any relatives working at SMUD.
Students must be enrolled and maintain enrollment as a full-time student, complete and pass at least 12 undergraduate units OR 8 graduate units, AND receive at least a 2.0 GPA.
During the summer, students can work up to 130 hours per month.
Currently, SMUD is not hiring candidates for its student internship positions who require sponsorship from an employer either now or in the future. Such sponsorship is not needed for citizens, a U.S. National, a permanent resident, or one granted refuge or asylum status by the U.S. government. Visa holders typically require sponsorship in one form or another at some point in time.

Nice To Haves

College Status: Junior, Senior, or Graduate student
Major: Engineering, City Planning, Business Administration, Public Policy or Health, Natural Sciences, Mathematics, Economics, or Environmental Studies.
Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint; familiarity with Microsoft Visio is a plus, and willingness to learn new software as needed.
Demonstrated interest in sustainability, clean energy, or utility program development.
Self-motivated and able to work independently after receiving guidance and training.
Strong interest and/or experience in data analysis, research, and process improvement.
Comfortable working with large datasets; attention to detail and data accuracy is essential.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to work effectively in a professional, team-oriented environment.
Ability to navigate and learn complex data entry and analysis tools (no coding experience required).

Responsibilities

Assist in the planning and development of new and existing programs across multiple portfolios (e.g., Electric Transportation, Load Flexibility, Building Electrification, Green Pricing).
Create visual process maps and workflows using Microsoft Visio to support program documentation and communication.
Conduct research and benchmarking to inform program design and strategic decisions.
Perform data entry, data cleaning, and data compilation to support program tracking and reporting.
Analyze program data to identify trends, insights, and opportunities for improvement.
Support the development of internal reports and presentations for stakeholders.
Assist in drafting and maintaining procedure documentation.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to gather information and support project coordination.
Support the development and maintenance of project timelines, trackers, and planning tools.
Assist in preparing meeting materials, agendas, and summaries for internal and external stakeholder meetings.
Review and organize program documentation to ensure version control and accessibility.
Assist in identifying process improvement opportunities and documenting recommendations.
Shadow team members during cross-functional meetings to gain exposure to utility planning and program development processes