Construction & Design Intern

PRIMARY DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Aid in updating and developing Foundation Communities’ Basis of Design documents.
• Contribute to in-house design efforts including dwelling units, service and amenity spaces, signage, landscape, renovations, and other small projects.
• Document compliance with green-building and high-performance standards and rating systems.
• Participate in design and construction processes on active developments.
• Assist with construction site inspections.
• Document qualitative and quantitative information from past project programs to help establish programming standards for future developments.
• Support planning and facilitation of community and resident engagement activities.
• Perform research on peer organizations, industry standards, certifications, and market benchmarks.
• Edit, proofread, and contribute to reports, presentations, and other documents as needed.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Alignment with Foundation Communities’ mission, values, and affordable housing work.
• Education or experience in design, development, construction, urban planning/placemaking, financing, community engagement, public policy, and/or affordable housing (coursework in progress accepted).
• Familiarity with design and construction documentation standards and practices.
• Graphic communication ability and design skills.
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite, SketchUp, AutoCAD, Bluebeam and similar software.
• Proficiency with spreadsheets and wiki/intranet platforms.
• Strong writing and editing skills.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS

• Familiarity with construction process for mid- to large-scale commercial projects.
• Familiarity with building codes.
• Familiarity with multi-family housing.
• Experience with research, standards development, or technical writing.

COMPENSATION

$20.00/hour

WORKING CONDITIONS / PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to sit or stand at a desk for long periods of time.
• Ability to conduct site visits at existing properties and active construction sites (PPE provided if required).

LEARNING OUTCOMES / PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Practical exposure to affordable housing development and construction standards.
• Experience documenting project requirements and developing resource materials.
• Insight into community engagement planning and facilitation.
• Strengthened research, writing, and technical documentation skills.
• Knowledge of design, development, operations, and organizational collaboration in a nonprofit housing environment.
• Foundation Communities can complete school-required evaluations or documentation for academic credit upon request.
• Hours worked are eligible for NCARB AXP experience under Setting O (up to 1860 hours).

SCHEDULE

Part-time, 20 hours per week with some flexibility in scheduling (specific days, times, and location). Start date is flexible for late summer / early fall 2026.

FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity.