Planning & Economic Development Intern - 2025-2026 Cohort

The National Landing Business Improvement District (BID) is seeking a Planning & Economic Development Intern to support all aspects of the BID’s programmatic work in economic development, community and mobility planning, and placemaking. Responsibilities for this role include: 

• Provide research and data collection support for NL team and stakeholders
• Support production efforts for all Development & Planning initiatives, including data collection and analysis, drafting report findings, and brainstorming on key strategic initiatives 
• Provide editorial assistance for research publications and other public-facing written responses 
• Inventory NL’s office and retail landscape 
• Coordinate planning engagements with key stakeholders of NL 
• Assist in urban analytics, map making, and data visualization 
• Support team in the execution of large-scale research projects around Innovation Districts and Smart City Development 
• Support BID staff plan and execute creative placemaking initiatives 
• Support BID events programming including on-site presence, as needed 
• Other duties as required 

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines with minimal supervision 
• Strong organizational, written, and verbal communication skills 
• High degree of accuracy and attention to detail 
• Detail-oriented, self-starter, and problem-solver 
• Technical capability with Microsoft Office including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel 
• Expertise in ArcGIS, Tableau, and other data visualization programs a plus 
• Team-oriented with a positive outlook 
• Collaborative and creative mindset and ability to work in a fast-paced environment 
• Familiarity with Arlington County and National Landing a plus 
• Currently enrolled or completed an undergraduate or graduate program in an accredited College or University  
• Must be available between early September 2025 and May 2026 
• Specific start and end dates are flexible 
• An extension through the summer of 2026 is also a possibility if mutually agreeable  

LEARNING OUTCOMES AND BENEFITS: 

• Experience and exposure to all facets of a placemaking organization 
• Gain experience in project management 
• Introduction to planning and development processes in the Arlington County community 
• Gain presentation and public speaking experience  
• Gain experience with storytelling through data  
• Opportunity to build experience in community and business engagement 
• Exposure to community leaders and businesses 

EMPLOYMENT TYPE: 

This is an in-person, part-time position working between 10 and 30 hours per week and may include remote work as well as evening and/or weekend meetings and community events.  

COMPENSATION:

$22/Hour. Interns 21 and over also qualify to participate in the BID’s 401k Plan.

TO APPLY: 

Complete the Application Form [Apply through the link above or by accessing the form through our website (About Us > Internship Cohort)]. Qualifying applicants will be interviewed on a rolling basis.    

About the National Landing Business Improvement District   

The National Landing BID is a public-private partnership focused on enhancing the vibrancy and economic competitiveness of National Landing, a thriving urban area made up of the Crystal City, Pentagon City, and Potomac Yard neighborhoods. We’re storytellers, placemakers, idea champions, and community builders. We bring people together through placemaking, public art, transportation, economic development, events, marketing, and promotion.   

As Virginia’s largest walkable downtown, National Landing is in the midst of an exciting renaissance driven by billions of dollars in public and private investment that continues to deliver new and enhanced housing, offices, parks, transportation and infrastructure.  

Our mission, vision, and values   

Mission: To serve as champions for National Landing—the thriving, urban core of Northern Virginia comprised of three distinct neighborhoods: Crystal City, Pentagon City and Potomac Yard, spanning an approximate one-square mile radius.  

Vision: National Landing will redefine downtown as a dynamic, mixed-use, urban center with vibrant streets, playful programming, next-generation mobility, world-class parks, and human-scaled design. Our future is sustainable and innovative, with a strong economy and inclusive community.   

Values: Collaborative, creative, design-forward, fun, inclusive, innovative, people-centered, sustainable.  

Our Transformation  

National Landing is one of the D.C. region’s most exciting transformation stories. Located just minutes from Washington, D.C., National Landing is home to an innovation and business ecosystem—including major anchors like Amazon HQ2 and the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus, tech start-ups, hotels, and a booming local restaurant and retail scene. With $12 billion in public and private investments underway, National Landing delivers unparallelled access via Metro, train, biking, and pedestrian trails, over a dozen urban parks, enhanced offices, housing and more game-changing infrastructure projects underway. Already a destination for city living, the area hosts hundreds of cultural and community events each year and a growing residential population with over 10,000 new housing units in the pipeline. To learn more, visit nationallanding.org and follow us on Instagram @nationallanding.