Public Finance Advocacy Fellowship

Description:

The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) is seeking a dynamic and motivated individual to join our team for a 2-year, full-time (40-hours/week) Public Finance Advocacy Fellowship in GFOA's Federal Liaison Center (FLC), based in Washington, DC. Public Finance Advocacy (PFA) Fellowship is designed to engage entry level professionals in meaningful work in the public finance and government relations sectors. The PFA Fellow will work closely with the four-member FLC team, providing critical support and gaining exposure to FLC’s advocacy work on behalf of government finance professionals. During the two-year period, fellows will start with a select number of projects and see their portfolio grow as time progresses.

The PFA Fellow will directly engage with GFOA members, members of Congress and the Administration, and lead special projects, all while developing professional skills and growing their network through exposure to many aspects of the nation’s premier professional government finance association. Fellows will receive mentorship and both informal and formal training to enhance skills in analytical thinking, project management, writing, and communication with a diverse group of stakeholders.

Upon completion of this fellowship, you will walk away with a robust network due to the level of exposure provided. Do you want to get your foot in the door with a Congressional office? Interested in gaining exposure to all the major subgroups of public finance, such as debt management and budgeting? Are you looking forward to enhancing your project management skills? The Federal Liaison team can offer you this and more. There will be some set projects, such as those enumerated below in the description of duties, but there will also be plenty of flexibility to ensure this is an experience unique to your career goals.

What types of work will the Fellow perform?

Administrative Support

• Provide comprehensive administrative and logistical support to the FLC team.
• Proactively manage calendars, understanding priorities and adjusting for conflicts to ensure logistics run smoothly (including materials, location, travel, etc.). Participate actively in all FLC team meetings, staying up-to-date on projects and activities as a fully integrated member of the team.
• Maintaining current committee member demographics and contact information, navigating between multiple platforms to access and update necessary information.
• Field inquiries and requests directed to the FLC team, prioritizing and responding promptly as appropriate, while also knowing the team's capacity for commitments.

Event Planning and Logistics

• Support planning and logistics for on-site events in the FLC office, as well as virtual and large-scale events for GFOA members and partners. These events include the Standing Committees Winter Meeting, Mini Muni Conference, Federal Funds Fair, Hill events, GFOA Annual Conference, etc., which will entail things like tracking RSVPs and travel itineraries.
• Lead coordination of GFOA’s international partner organizations’ participation in our Annual Conference, beginning with outreach, travel arrangements for each delegation, and coordinating educational opportunities with local agencies in the conference host city. This project will culminate with travel to GFOA’s Annual Conference (up to a week of travel in May/June, paid for by GFOA) to facilitate the international delegations’ participation in the conference.

Special Projects

• Contribute writing to GFOA’s weekly e-newsletter and magazine, Government Finance Review, as needed on issues most pressing to our members (such as how to prepare for a government shutdown)
• Conduct research on legislative and regulatory issues affecting government finance, compiling relevant information for analysis and advocacy efforts.
• Assist in drafting communication materials, including letters, briefs, and reports, to support advocacy efforts and strategic partnerships.
• Assist with outreach activities to cultivate relationships with key stakeholders, including government officials, policymakers, and partner organizations.

Duration and Location:

This is a full-time (40 hours/week), 2-year fellowship position based in Washington, DC, at GFOA's Federal Liaison Center.

Compensation

The fellowship offers a salary in the range of $58,000 - $68,000 annually depending on experience and education, along with full GFOA employee benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings, and professional development opportunities. Additionally, the fellow will have the opportunity to travel along with the FLC team to the GFOA Annual Conference, as well as 2-3 trips each year to the GFOA headquarters in Chicago for all-employee events.

Requirements:

Application Process:

Applications will be accepted from April 15 until May 1. Early applications are encouraged as first-round virtual interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. The final-round interviews will be conducted in-person on May 9. Interested candidates must submit the following materials to be considered for the PFA Fellowship:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Transcript (unofficial is acceptable)
• Writing sample (no longer than 5 pages)
• One letter of recommendation

Program Eligibility

• Bachelor’s degree and relevant experience in advocacy and/or public finance
• This is a hybrid position, candidates must live in the DMV
• Applicants must be authorized to work full-time without restriction for any U.S. employer.

Ideal Candidate:

• Master’s degree, but candidates with a Bachelor’s degree and relevant experience in advocacy and/or public finance are encouraged to apply.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently and meet deadlines.
• Intermediate competency in Microsoft Excel.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience with Microsoft 365 and Teams is desired, but not required.
• Demonstrated interest in government finance and public policy.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment and adapt to changing priorities.