Grounds Intern

Tacoma Community College is a public two-year institution that serves a diverse population of approximately 14,000 students. We embrace our identity as a community college and strongly encourage applications from candidates who recognize and honor the important role that equity, diversity, and inclusion brings to an educational community. Our stated mission is to create meaningful and relevant learning, inspire greater equity, and celebrate success in our lives and in our communities. We are recognized nationally as an, Achieving the Dream "leader college" and our faculty are engaged in innovative work to improve student retention and program completion. According to the Community College Survey of Student Engagement, TCC ranks high on measures of active learning and academic challenge, thanks to our creative and scholarly faculty. We seek to recruit and retain a workforce that:

• Reflects the diversity of our community.
• Values intellectual curiosity and innovative teaching.
• Is attracted by the campus mission promoting equitable access to educational opportunities.
• Cares about student success and collaborates on strategies to facilitate success for underrepresented populations.
• Welcomes difference and models respectful interaction with others.
• Engages effectively with the community both within and outside of TCC.

Working under the direction of Facilities leadership, the intern will assist with research, analysis, documentation, and stakeholder engagement related to campus landscapes, open spaces, circulation networks, and natural systems. This position provides applied learning experience at the intersection of planning, landscape systems, sustainability, and inclusive campus design.

• Assist in documenting existing campus conditions, including landscaped areas, hardscapes, pedestrian and vehicular circulation, ecological assets, and infrastructure interfaces
• Participate in site walks and field assessments to observe patterns of use, accessibility, and maintenance practices across campus grounds
• Support data collection and organization for inventories related to plantings, open space typologies, and landscape performance
• Conduct research on best practices in sustainable landscape management, climate resilience, biodiversity, and universal design within higher education settings
• Assist with analysis related to accessibility, safety, wayfinding, and equitable use of outdoor spaces for diverse campus populations
• Support stakeholder engagement efforts, including compiling feedback from students, faculty, staff, and community partners
• Contribute to the preparation of planning materials, maps, diagrams, and draft narrative content for the Grounds Master Plan
• Assist with the organization and formatting of reports, presentations, and academic-style documentation

Duties of the position required experience:

• Ability to use Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, internet web browser, and email
• Knowledge and skills performing internet research

• Currently enrolled in or recently completed an undergraduate or graduate program in Landscape Architecture, Urban or Regional Planning, Environmental Studies, Sustainability, Geography, Facilities Management, or a closely related discipline
• Ability to use a computer; including Word Processing, Excel, PowerPoint, internet research, and email;
• Comfort with learning new technology and software.

Duties of the position require knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Ability to use Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, internet web browser, and email
• Knowledge and skills performing internet research
• Ability to proactively build positive relationships, foster team unity at all levels of the college, and strive for positive interactions with individuals across the campus;
• Ability to work as part of a team and independently;
• An appreciation of diversity and the benefits of a commitment to cultural awareness and sensitivity in the workplace;
• Ability to establish and maintain positive and collaborative working relationships with students, colleagues, and staff;
• Engaging in critical self-reflection and growth; openness to feedback, change, and professional development;
• Ability to accept personal responsibility for the quality and timeliness of work, ability to learn from mistakes, and be proactive with identifying solutions to prevent future issues. Able to be relied upon to achieve excellent results with little need for oversight.

• Demonstrated interest in campus planning, landscape systems, and the role of outdoor environments in supporting teaching, learning, research, and well-being
• Strong research, analytical, and organizational skills with attention to detail
• Ability to synthesize qualitative and quantitative information into clear written and visual formats
• Strong written and verbal communication skills suitable for an academic or professional planning environment
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary campus setting
• Willingness and ability to conduct periodic outdoor fieldwork

• Skill in building and maintaining internal and external customer satisfaction;
• Excellent customer service skills; including establishing, building and maintaining internal/external customer satisfaction.
• Identify and understand issues, challenges, and learning opportunities; be proactive and strategic with solutions;
• Ethics, integrity, and sound professional judgment;
• Communicate promptly and responsively to the needs of the department and college community; including communicating with supervisor, end customer and customer's manager about work order status.
• Maintain established standards of work, customer response and professional conduct in performance of the position duties;
• An understanding and willingness to follow applicable laws, regulations and other standards to establish and/or maintain a safe work environment.
• Ability to analyze and resolve problems.
• Adaptability and flexibility to respond to changing business needs, conditions, and work responsibilities.

Application Materials
Complete application packages must include the following:

1. Tacoma Community College online application.
2. Resume.