Intern - Research Data Assistant

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is the regional planning and intergovernmental coordination agency that focuses on issues critical to the region’s success, including housing, economic mobility, transportation, and community development. ARC is dedicated to unifying the region’s collective resources to prepare the metropolitan area for a prosperous future. This is done through professional planning initiatives, the provision of objective information and the involvement of the community in collaborative partnerships.
The ARC Modeling and Forecasting Team is seeking a part-time, temporary individual to support spatial data collection and processing for spatial economic model development and application, as well as socioeconomic forecasting within the Office of Research and Innovation.
The ideal candidate will be familiar with a variety of local government data, including parcel, tax digest, zoning, land use, and Census data; understand data management principles; and have experience processing and analyzing spatial data using Esri ArcGIS applications. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong time-management and organizational skills, the ability to work independently, and a willingness to learn, tackle challenges, and develop effective solutions to complex data and technical problems.

This temporary position is not eligible for benefits, working up to 29 hours per week.

• Collects and processes various types of spatial data, including Census, parcel, tax digest, zoning, land use, group quarters, college enrollment, and regional growth data;
• Supports employment estimation, socioeconomic forecasting, spatial economic modeling, and the analysis of regional growth scenarios;
• Performs other duties as assigned to support agency goals and objectives.

• Bachelor’s degree in City and Regional Planning, GIS, Urban Studies, Public Policy, Geography, Environmental Science, Data Science, or a related field, or currently enrolled in a related undergraduate or graduate degree program; and demonstrated experience or coursework in GIS and spatial data processing.
• Proficiency with ESRI ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Currently pursuing a master’s degree in a related field;
• Knowledge or experience in economics, urban and regional planning, spatial economic modeling, transportation modeling, GIS, or database management;
• Experience working with Census and local government data;
• Familiarity with spatial data analysis.

• Proficiency in Esri ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online;
• Strong analytical and technical skills;
• Strong written and verbal communication skills;
• Ability to establish priorities and organize work effectively;
• Ability to manage multiple tasks while maintaining attention to detail;
• Ability to work independently with general guidance;
• Ability to collaborate effectively and work well in a team environment.

Additional Information

About ARC:

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is the regional planning and intergovernmental coordination agency that focuses on issues critical to the region’s success, including growth and development, transportation, water resources, services for older adults and workforce solutions. ARC is dedicated to unifying the region’s collective resources to prepare the metropolitan area for a prosperous future. This is done through professional planning initiatives, the provision of objective information and the involvement of the community in collaborative partnerships. 

ARC Strategic Framework

Vision — ONE great REGION

Mission Statement

The Atlanta Regional Commission fosters thriving communities for all within the Atlanta region through collaborative, data-informed planning and investments.

Our Goals

1. Healthy, safe, livable communities in the Atlanta metro area.
2. Strategic investments in people, infrastructure, mobility, and preserving natural resources.
3. Regional services delivered with operational excellence and efficiency.
4. Diverse stakeholders engage and take a regional approach to solve local issues.
5. A competitive economy that is inclusive, innovative, and resilient.

Our Core Values

Excellence | A commitment to doing our best and going above and beyond in every facet of our work allowing for innovative practices and actions to be created while ensuring our agency’s and our colleague’s success.

Equity | We represent a belief that there are some things which people should have, that there are basic needs that should be fulfilled, that burdens and rewards should not be spread too divergently across the community, and that policy should be directed with impartiality, fairness and justice towards these ends.

Integrity | In our conduct, communication, and collaboration with each other and the region’s residents, we will act with consistency, honesty, transparency, fairness and accountability within and across each of our responsibilities and functions.

Application Process:

The Atlanta Regional Commission is looking for individuals who enjoy working in a public service environment where the mission is to improve the quality of life for the citizens of the Atlanta region. ARC serves as a forum where leaders come together to discuss and act on issues of regionwide consequence, so it is important that our staff share the public entrepreneurial spirit that defines ARC.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, ARC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, national origin, sex, religion or disability.

To request a reasonable accommodation during the application, interview, or testing process, please contact ARC at 404-463-3100 or Human Resources via email at hr@atlantaregional.org.