courtesy of vermont agency of transportation

Vermont Agency of Transportation

Environmental Policy Legislative Intern

The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) is seeking candidates for the Agency’s Transportation and the Environment Internship Program. Recent graduates are encouraged to apply for this paid internship that begins in December 2017 and ends in June 2018 and is based in Montpelier, Vermont. The intern will be hired as a temporary state employee at $15.27 per hour (Pay Grade 16, Step 1) for four days (32 hours) per week.

The intern’s primary responsibility will be to track state environmental legislative activity during the 2018 Vermont legislative session. The intern may also be asked to conduct research and assist in policy and planning activities aimed at supporting VTrans’ environmental initiatives. The intern will work in the Statehouse throughout most days that the Legislature is in session, covering and reporting on committee meetings. At other times, the intern will have the use of a work station at VTrans’ Headquarters in the National Life Building in Montpelier.

Potential policy topics include:

• Water quality and Vermont roadways.
• Regulatory efficiency.
• Transportation energy and greenhouse gas emissions, including electric vehicles.
• Forest fragmentation and wildlife connectivity.
• Land use planning and permitting.

Examples of tasks to be undertaken:

• Tracking bills through the legislative process.
• Monitoring legislative committee activity.
• Preparing daily written summaries of committee deliberations.
• Preparing draft bill review forms.
• Gathering data and conducting and reporting basic analyses.
• Conducting and reporting literature searches and other basic research.
• Assisting in the preparation of presentations and information for the general public, VTrans and other agency staff and leadership, and legislative committees and workgroups.
• Facilitating collaboration among stakeholders such as organizing meetings, preparing agendas, and taking notes.

The intern will be supervised by VTrans’ Senior Environmental Policy Analyst but will also work directly with other agency staff and agency leadership. The successful candidate will have an undergraduate or graduate degree in an environmental related field and excellent writing and communication skills. Knowledge of federal and state transportation policy and state legislative process is preferred.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and application form directly to Daniel D. Dutcher, Senior Environmental Policy Analyst, by email sent to