Student Intern – Strategic Planning, Technical Writing & Performance Management

State of Nebraska•Lincoln, NE

9d•Onsite

About The Position

This student internship opportunity with the Nebraska Department of Transportation's Strategic Planning team is for individuals passionate about clear communication, organized project management, and transforming data into meaningful insights, and who are excited about bringing strategic planning and operational excellence to transportation initiatives. As an intern with the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT), you will help facilitate the achievement of the Strategic Planning Division's goals through a balanced mix of technical writing, project management support, and performance management practices. This role has been specifically structured to draw on multiple academic disciplines, including Technical Writing, Business/Public Administration, and Business Analytics/Graphic Communication.

Requirements

Must be a three-fourths student in good standing majoring in a discipline or field related to the work to be assigned.
Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams) is required.
Ability to write clearly, concisely, and effectively for technical and non-technical audiences.
Ability to track tasks, meet deadlines, prioritize assignments, and support project workflows.
Knowledge or interest in data presentation, charting, dashboard design, or performance metrics.

Nice To Haves

Student in good standing majoring in English, Professional Communication, Business Administration, Project Management, Public Administration, Business Analytics, Transportation Studies, or a closely related discipline
A student of junior class rank or higher.
Strong written communication, document formatting, and technical editing skills.
Interest or coursework in project management principles, organizational management, or public policy.
Experience or interest in data visualization, KPI tracking, performance measurement, or business intelligence.
Demonstrated track record of teamwork, organizational skills, and leadership.
Familiarity with visual dashboard tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, or advanced Excel charting).

Responsibilities

Draft and edit technical reports, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and strategic planning documents.
Prepare written briefs, executive summaries, and presentation materials for internal and external stakeholders.
Review division documentation for consistency, clarity, and compliance with department style guidelines.
Conduct literature reviews of transportation industry best practices and draft white papers and briefing materials.
Assist project managers in tracking Strategic Planning Division project timelines, action items, deliverables, and milestone progress.
Coordinate meeting agendas, compile background packets, record detailed meeting minutes/action items, and follow up with task owners.
Document and map internal operational workflows to identify efficiency gains and support cross-divisional collaboration.
Maintain project documentation repositories, track stakeholder inquiries, and coordinate communication across division units.
Transform quantitative and qualitative transportation data into charts, infographics, and visual dashboards using tools such as Excel and Power BI.
Support the Performance Management unit in collecting, updating, and monitoring Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and target metrics across department programs.
Assist in updating, testing, and troubleshooting business intelligence reporting tools and data communication portals.
Translate complex data findings into accessible visual summaries to enhance executive leadership decision-making.
Perform other strategic planning, administrative, and research duties as assigned.