Landscape Design Intern, Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI), Los Angeles, CA

landscape design intern

Job Title: Landscape Design Intern (Paid)

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Organization: Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI)

Salary: $25/hour; 28 hours/week

Job Opening: Summer 2024 (dates flexible depending on school schedule)

Closing Date: When Filled

Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI) is a team of diverse urbanists—architects, landscape architects, urban planners, community organizers, and engineers—united by our shared commitment to building equity, justice, and resilience in communities through design. A BIPOC and woman-led firm founded in 2006, KDI comprises nearly 50 professionals working from four offices: Los Angeles, Eastern Coachella Valley, Nairobi, and Stockholm.

Job Description

KDI is currently seeking a Landscape Design Intern to add to our growing team in Los Angeles, CA. This is a fantastic opportunity for a highly-motivated and creative self-starter to work directly with under-resourced communities throughout Southern California on community-driven development and planning. The position is in person in our Downtown Los Angeles studio; there may also be opportunities to accompany staff to projects throughout the Los Angeles region, the Eastern Coachella Valley.

The Landscape Design Intern will support project managers on design, research, build and community organizing projects and campaigns to transform vacant land, create new parks, design affordable housing campuses, and improve transportation infrastructure. The Landscape Design Intern will also assist in the development of new projects addressing homelessness, schoolyards, climate change, and other topics.

The Landscape Design Intern will be expected to work in person in Los Angeles for 28 hours/wk, Monday - Thursday, for a minimum span of June 1 through July 31, 2024. This is a paid internship.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate or graduate-level coursework in Landscape Architecture or related field

• Strong commitment to social justice

• Excellent writing and analytical abilities

• Strong knowledge of AutoCAD and Adobe Creative Suite

• Experience in Rhino and/or SketchUp a plus

• Fabrication or graphic design experience a plus

• Spanish language skills a plus

How to Apply

Send electronic copy of cover letter, work samples or portfolio, and resume to: LAJobs@kounkuey.org addressed to Lauren Elachi (Senior Design Principal). 

Subject heading: Landscape Design Intern Summer 2024: Your Name

We are a woman-led, bipoc-led practice committed to recruiting and retaining a team that reflects the communities we partner with. We prioritize inclusion, transparency, collaboration, courage and rigor. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status or medical condition. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.