Public Service Fellows Program

The Partnership for Public Service is seeking current students or recent graduates to join our team and contribute to our mission.

• Are you a student or recent graduate of an undergraduate or graduate program?
• Are you passionate about public service?
• Are you looking for an opportunity to develop your skills and gain valuable experience?
• Are you looking for a paid position in the heart of Washington, D.C.?

Then we're interested in hearing from you!

Selection Process

Application review for Winter/Spring 2009 Fellowships will begin on November 17, 2008. For full consideration, apply by December 1, 2008.

Within one month of receipt of your application you should expect to hear from the Fellowship Coordinators — likely via email — regarding the determination of your application and the possibility of an interview (including telephone interviews). If you need to check the status of your application, please feel free to send an email inquiry to fellows@ourpublicservice.org or to call 202-775-9111.

We anticipate Winter/Spring 2009 Fellows beginning work on or around Monday, January 13, 2009. We will work with individuals who require a start date other than September 1st for academic or work-related reasons.

Fellowship Positions

Each fellow applies for a particular position or positions based on their skills and interests.

Business Development/Fundraising
The Development team coordinates fundraising and donor outreach at the Partnership. Activities touch corporations, foundations and individual donors. This involves cultivating and maintaining relationships with people from every sector and thinking creatively about how to better reach certain constituencies and engage new contacts. Working with our Development team, the Fellow will be responsible for researching and coordinating outreach to prospective supporters, assisting in cultivating sponsor support of Partnership events, and working with new and existing contacts at large corporations interested in sponsoring one of the Partnership’s projects or joining our Private Sector Council – the Partnership for Public Service’s corporate membership component. The Fellow for this team will work on a team of development professionals and will take on responsibility for several activities upon which the organization’s financial success is dependent.

Communications
The Communications team publicizes the organization’s research and programmatic activities to the news media and the general public. The team also works to educate the public about federal workforce issues. The Communications Fellow monitors news coverage, manages the Partnership’s news clippings archive, assists in building media lists, helps create and send the Partnership’s daily electronic newsletter, writes content for radio PSAs, speeches, newsletters, Monster and HotJobs Web site articles, provides support to the Communications team at events, and performs related tasks as needed. This is a terrific opportunity for those interested in communications and media and who are eager for the opportunity to build their public relations portfolio and develop marketable experience representing an organization to the public.

Education and Outreach
The Education and Outreach team works to educate and inspire top talent about careers in federal service and reestablish the federal government as an employer of choice. The Team’s work ranges from developing and disseminating educational materials to working with college campuses on outreach efforts and events. You will play a critical role by assisting with research and development of outreach materials as well as with the day-to-day aspects of program upkeep, event planning, and material dissemination. If you are interested in leveraging your experiences as a student to contribute to the Partnership’s efforts to reach college and university students, this is a great opportunity for you. Check out www.calltoserve.org and www.makingthedifference.org to see some of the outreach materials this team works on.

Event Planning
The Partnership’s annual events calendar includes two black-tie galas, a federal job fair, plus press conferences and other events to release research reports and announce new initiatives. The Events Fellow will support members of the Communication and Events team in planning and executing these events, including venue logistics, invitations and registration. In addition, he/she will help manage the Partnership’s Service to America Medals (servicetoamericamedals.org), the premier awards program for honoring federal employees. This team is best served by an individual who has interest or experience in event planning, is outgoing, detail oriented and a team player, and has excellent writing, organization and oral communication skills.

Government Affairs
The Government Affairs team represents the Partnership on Capitol Hill and before the executive branch. The Team advocates for legislation that will bring about policy changes and human capital reform, educates decision-makers on civil service issues and works to engage key policymakers in Partnership activities. The Government Affairs Fellow will have the opportunity to learn about the legislative process by tracking current legislation, drafting correspondence for the Hill, attending congressional hearings, researching and writing memos on federal workforce issues and relevant legislation and participating in the planning and staffing of key Partnership events (e.g., the Service to America Medals and the Annual Summer Intern Event).

Government Transformation
Currently filled for winter/spring 2009 and summer 2009
The Government Transformation team is the Partnership’s in-house pro-bono consulting outfit. The team seeks to help agencies improve the way they conduct business (from hiring practices to performance management to strategic planning); build networks to encourage collaboration among the public and private sectors; and showcase the developing management trends in the federal government. You will gather and analyze key research, draft and revise reports, contribute to efforts intended to offer solutions to agencies’ problems, attend meetings with agency leaders, and provide other day-to-day support (e.g., organizing events). If you are interested in learning about both public and private sector innovation, the business of government or the consulting field, then this team is for you.

Nonprofit Management/Accounting
The Executive Vice-President oversees a team responsible for the management and administration of the Partnership. Fellows will gain experience in Non-Profit Management, Accounting, Human Resources and Database Management. Working with the Administration team has proven to be an especially rewarding experience for Business and Accounting majors who wish to take on a significant amount of responsibility handling the accounts of a financially well-footed organization and to gain hands-on experience with accounting programs such as FinancialEdge and database management programs such as Raiser’s Edge. No special accounting knowledge required.

Research
Currently filled for winter/spring 2009 and summer 2009
The Research team is dedicated to providing the quality information, insightful analysis, and practical solutions needed to modernize the federal government so it can better protect and promote the security, health and prosperity of all Americans. You will work closely with the team to help produce the Partnership’s unique series of high-visibility reports, insightful issue briefs, original surveys, and innovative research projects (such as the often-cited Best Places to Work in the Federal Government initiative). You will play a key role in the data collection, analysis and editing of reports, respond to data requests from other teams within the organization, conduct background research, draft issue-specific one-pagers, and assist with administrative tasks. If you enjoy research, writing and data analysis, and you want to help shape the policy debate in Washington, D.C., this is an excellent opportunity for you.

Testimonials

What are current and former Fellows saying about their experience at the Partnership?

"The amount of responsibility the Partnership entrusts to you is amazing. You take on meaningful projects and are treated as if you're a full-time employee. You're part of the community from the second you step in the door! The CEO even puts a band-aid on your arm after your free flu shot!"
— Alex Payne, Government Affairs, Winter 2007 Fellow

"The Partnership for Public Service is a small, collaborative and energetic non-profit organization. During my fellowship at the Partnership I: participated in meetings with federal and private sector executives, attended the Service to America Medals black tie gala, helped in the creation and management of a new project – the Collaboration in Times of Crisis series, and contributed to many other project and events. In addition to the programmatic work, the Partnership organized tours of Voice of America, NPR and the Washington Post for the fellows and staff. Because of my very positive and substantive experience as a fellow, I was thrilled when I was offered a full-time position at the Partnership. After my graduation from graduate school, I began as Program Associate on the Government Transformation team."
— Cali Ence, Government Transformation, Current Program Associate

"Working at the Partnership for Public Service has been professionally enriching and very enjoyable. It has the most relaxed and open office environment that I have ever worked in. A lot of effort was put forth to make sure that I grew professionally. To accomplish this I was given work that made a difference, instead of the usual grunt work most places give, providing more opportunities to expand and grow my skill sets. I highly recommend working at the Partnership as the opportunities and work environment offered are first class."
— Lauren D’Hollander, Business Development/Fundraising, Winter 2007-Spring 2008 Fellow

"As a fellow with the Government Transformation team I worked on a best-practice case study of the State Department’s contract for drug eradication. Interviewing officials about the difficulties of working on the front lines of the war against drugs was fascinating. Contributing to the curriculum development for the Annenberg Leadership Institute, a new initiative to train mid-level government leaders, expanded my knowledge of public management issues. I’ve been able to use that knowledge in my courses in my MPP program. I also had the opportunity to meet inspiring leaders like James Schwartz, the Fire Chief of Arlington County, who oversaw operations of the Pentagon after the 9/11 attacks. Overall, my experiences gave me insight into challenges facing the federal government and innovative solutions being developed to address those issues."
— Jessica Nysenbaum, Government Transformation, Winter 2007 Fellow

"While I am doing a statistical research project for my school's law professor's publication, I've been thinking of the Best Places project (a lot!) that we have involved last year. Since the stat project I am doing now is mainly conducted in Excel, the experiences/skills (trial and errors, so to speak) I have learned during my fellowship are now constantly used to lead my professor's survey project. My professor trusts me so much that he has recently given me three of his research assistants under my supervision for the project...that type of supervision is unheard of...at least for an undergraduate student! That's why I have such an impulse to write to you because you guys (the amazing research team, of course!) has given me so much of the project responsibility while I was there!"
— Simon Wong, Research, Spring 2007 Fellow

 

The Partnership for Public Service is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any application for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability; or on any other basis prohibited by law.

 

 

© 2007 Partnership for Public Service