Management Fellow

The City of Palo Alto is in an era of transformational change. The structures, practices, and organization of this local government are evolving to be more innovative and flexible. The government of the future must attract, retain and grow talent and create new, more pliable organizational structures focused on participation and results, and foster an environment of collaboration, co-production, and shared responsibility.

Palo Alto is seeking a recent Master’s Degree graduate interested in working on complex, high level projects as a Management Fellow. The program will begin in mid-July, 2017 and will last a full year with the potential to extend to two years depending on department budgets and work assignments. Fellows will be rotated between the Public Works and Administrative Services Departments; assignments in each department will last approximately 5-7 months.

The Fellow will perform professional level activities related to the research and analysis of administrative and business management policies and practices while developing proficiency and experience related to government operations and administration. This role will provide broad exposure to someone interested in a career in public service, an opportunity to put a masters’ education into practice with real world implications and impacts, and provide an excellent springboard for such a career. It is anticipated that fellows will work on the following department assignments and projects:

Administrative Services:

• Provide analytical support with a particular emphasis on budget and fiscal issues
• Assist in budget development, expenditure monitoring, and forecasting
• Participate in development, and implementation, of iterative improvements to processes, polices, and procedures
• Gather data for studies and surveys and assist in the preparation of reports and analysis

Public Works:

• Review administrative procedures and identify improvements based on best practices
• Analyze division budgets and facilitate regular monitoring and reporting practices
• Participate in the development of division and capital improvement program budgets
• Assess department webpages and develop an effective marketing strategy

The City of Palo Alto is part of the Regional Management Fellowship Program of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.

Minimum Qualifications:

Recent Master’s Degree graduates in Public Administration, Public Policy, Political Science, Business or a related field.

Ideal Candidate:

• Strong interpersonal skills
• Outstanding writing and presentation skills
• Strong verbal communication skills
• Ability to analyze information, conduct research, and effectively communicate conclusions
• Prepare comprehensive and presentable reports, letters, and other materials

Establish and maintain effective working relations with others