The Public Dialogue

Public Architecture seeks two Summer Associates to work closely with and support Public Architecture’s fulltime professional staff of five.

Past projects led by our Summer Associates have varied widely, from conducting interviews about pro bono design with some of the country’s top architects to generating sustainability guidelines for participants in The 1% program and developing a program for material reuse within The 1%. The majority of the work will involve research, writing, and help with our outreach efforts. Once on staff, the Summer Associates play an integral role in moving forward many of our organization’s initiatives and are encouraged to participate as a full member of the staff.

Sample Responsibilities

–Provide outreach to participating and potential firms and nonprofits in The 1% program
–Research and develop case studies on pro bono design projects and material reuse
–Support design projects
–Author pieces for The Public Dialogue
–Conduct research on the built environment’s impact on health, education, housing, and community engagement
–Assist in development of educational and support materials for The 1% program
–Research foundations, corporations, government entities, and other potential funders and partners
–Provide additional research and administrative support for the overall organization when needed

Required Experience & Skills

–Candidates must currently be enrolled in as undergraduate or graduate at a college or university
–Enrollment in a Masters program in business or design is preferred, but not required
–Outstanding organizational skills with attention to detail
–Ability to think analytically
–Effective communication skills
–A vested interest in and commitment to Public Architecture’s mission and activities
–Strong writing and editing skills
–Computer literacy in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint; Adobe Creative Suite and Autocad a plus
–3D rendering and/or HTML code experience a plus

Duration
May through September 2012. Date are negotiable.

Location
Summer Associates will work in Public Architecture’s office, located in the heart of San Francisco’s South of Market district.

Compensation
Public Architecture requires that all Summer Associates secure funding or academic credit from their academic institution or similar entity. Many schools offer public service grants or stipends that allow students to work in a community-oriented or nonprofit environment. Previous summer associates with Public Architecture have received support from the Harvard Graduate School of Design Community Service Fellowship, Smith College Praxis Program, Vanderbilt University Ingram Fellowship Program, UC Berkeley Judith Stronach Fellowship, and University of Virginia Externship Program. Information on such grants is generally available through departmental, financial, or career service offices. If needed, Public Architecture can provide a letter of support to aid in the grant application process, but we are not in a position to provide matching funds.

Application Process
All application materials must be received no later than 6pm on Monday, April 2, 2012. Required materials include a cover letter, resume, and a writing sample. Materials should be addressed to Samantha Given-Dennis, Administrative Manager, Public Architecture. All materials should be submitted by email to samantha@publicarchitecture.org with “Summer Associate Application” as the subject of your email. A single PDF is preferred. Please limit file size to 5MB. A shortlist of candidates will be interviewed by phone, unless local. Final determination is expected in late April.