Department of Public Administration

Post-MPA Graduate Internships

Click here for a link to NASPAA's Careers and Internships site which includes graduate profiles, salary information and internship and job opportunities.

The paid internships posted below are designed to move young and mid-career public administrators onto the "fast track" to career positions at the top managerial levels. They are competitive, sought-after positions that have one hiring period per year. Check Web sites for updated information

Federal positions | State positions | Local government positions
Management analyst positions | Legislative positions | Policy analyst positions

Federal Positions

OMB SUMMER INTERNSHIPS, WASHINGTON, DC
Internships with the White House's Office of Management and Budget.
Opportunities are best for graduate students (students seeking a Masters degree) in public policy, public administration, business, information systems, computer science, economics, law, or a related field. Rarely are undergraduate students selected. The duration of the assignment varies depending on each student's schedule, but most internships begin in mid to late May and end in late August.

PAID ASSIGNMENTS: OMB usually hires a limited number of summer interns that are paid under the General Schedule (GS). Salary is determined based on the qualifications of the student. Students with one year of graduate school qualify for a GS-7 (annual salary $31,397). Students may qualify for higher grades if they have appropriate experience in addition to the graduate education.

Applications for summer 2003 will be accepted starting in January through the end of March 2003. decisions generally are made the first week in April.

Posted 9-8-2004:
The Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program is seeking applicants. Students are eligible to apply between September 1 and October 15 if they meet degree requirements for a master's or doctoral degree from an accredited school between September 1 of this year and August 31 of the following year. Selection includes nomination by the school and a rigorous assessment process. Recruitment, application and nomination information for students, faculty and career professionals is available online at www.pmf.opm.gov (click to go directly to the site).

State Positions

Click here for New York City Fellowship program and NYS Assembly Internship.

NEW YORK CITY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS 2004-2005: www.nyc.gov/internships
The City of New York sponsors two programs administered by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services; the New York City Urban Fellows Program and the New York City Government Scholars Program. Both programs introduce participants to local government and the public sector. These programs offer aspiring public policy makers the opportunity to grapple firsthand with contemporary issues. For additional program details, to download applications and to read the eligibility requirements please visit our website at www.nyc.gov/internships or call 212 NEW YORK. NYC GOVERNMENT SCHOLARS APPLICATION IS DUE FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2004.
NYC URBAN FELLOWS APPLICATION IS DUE FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2004.

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY GRADUATE INTERNSHIP-January 5 to June 23, 2004 www. assembly.state.ny.us:/internship/
The Graduate Internship provides full-time research or policy analysis positions with Assembly leaders, committees and research staffs. Completed applications must be postmarked by November 3, 2003. For an application or questions: Jim Murphy, Intern Committee Director, 518 455 4704, intern@assembly.state.ny.us.

NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE
Description: Annual internship program administered by the New York State Department of Civil Service with the assistance of the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government and the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations. The program offers a unique opportunity, offering exceptional individuals careers in New York State government and public service in various State-operated agencies.
Qualifications: Completed Master's degree by August 31, 2002.
Starting Salary: The current starting salary is $37,777 increasing to at least $40,929 after successful completion of the first year. The job rate, normally attained after five years, is $50,967.
Appointment: Two-year internship with advancement afer one year of satisfactory performance. Permanent employment continues after the two-year internship.
Application filing deadline: November. Please note the program has been suspended for the 2002-2003 program year. Check the Web site in September 2003 for future program information.

Local Government Positions

Management Intern - Loudoun County, VA (Leesburg, Virginia)
Up to three candidates sought for Loudoun County Government Full Time Internship Management Internship Program. These positions will be available for a twelve-month period beginning July 1, 2003. The internship program involves research and analytical work on an entry-level basis and the application of research techniques to the study of County government
systems, policies and practicies. Interns will serve as staff members in the Department of Management Services and will receive their work assignments and direction from the Internship Program Supervisor and senior staff members within the department. Interns will serve rotational staff assignments in the Office of the County Administrator and at least one line department.
Applications: Materials will be sent by calling Human Resources Division 703/777-0215. Apply in January-February, 2003.
Requirements: The successful candidates for this program will have completed courses for am MPA by July 1, 2003. Some related work experience is desirable, but not required.
Salary: $ 32,354 - $ 37,207

Management Intern - City of Tamarac, FL
Management interns are afforded the opportunity to gain managerial experience through a one-year rotational work program. The program is designed to provide individuals with exposure to many administrative and operational responsibilities of local government, and exposure to the highest levels of municipal managers. Under the supervision of the City Manager and selected Department Directors, management interns are assigned to City departments for a specified period of time, where their responsibilities include direct involvement in substantive day-to-day operations, as well as special project assignments requiring research and analysis. This position is a full-time, limited term (12 month) internship. This position is available beginning May/June 2003 or earlier, depending on qualifications and availability.
Requirements: Candidates must have an MPA coursework completion date of May 2003 or ealier. Prior experience desirable, but not required.
Applications: For an application form, visit http://www.tamarac.org. First review: February 7, 2003. Subject to closing at that time, or when sufficient number of applications are received.
Salary: $31,000 - $33,000

Miami-Dade County Management Trainee Program
Miami-Dade County, Florida, will be accepting applications beginning in July 2003. Under the program, recent recipients of MPAs or related fields are afforded the opportunity to gain hands-on managerial experience through a year-long rotational internship program.

Prince George's County, Maryland, Public Policy Fellows Program, 2004-2005.

City of Long Beach, CA - Management Assistant Program
Description: The nationally recognized City of Long Beach Management Assistant Program is designed to attract, develop and retain innovative individuals in local government. The one-year program consists of four, three-month rotations throughout various City departments. The one-year program begins on July 1, 2002.
Qualifications: Applicants must have completed requirements for the MPA by July 2002.
To Apply: Visit http://www.ci.long-beach.ca.us/hr/employees/manage.htm for complete application instructions and a detailed description of the program. Application materials must be postmarked by February 8, 2002.
Salary: $3,109/month, plus excellent benefits. Please note the program has been suspended for the 2002-2003 program year. Check the Web site in January of 2004 for future program information.

Management Analyst Positions
Management Analysts and Consultants normally perform a wide variety of functions in local government administration.

Management Analyst Internships - Clark County, NV
Clark County, Nevada has a Management Analyst Intern Program. The internship runs from July 1, 2003 till June 30, 2004.
Salary: $40,462.24 - $62, 716.16
Requirements: Applicants must have completed the requirements for the MPA degree by June 30, 2003.
Applications: The application deadline is February 18, 2003.

Legislative Internships

California's Capital Fellows Programs
Several programs, known collectively as the Capital Fellows Programs, are nationally recognized. The 18 Assembly Fellows, 18 Senate Fellows, 18 Executive Fellows and 10 Judicial Administration Fellows receive an outstanding opportunity to engage in public service and prepare for future careers, while actively contributing to the development and implementation of public policy in California. The ranks of former fellows and associates include a
Justice of the California Supreme Court, members of the United States Congress and the State Legislature, a deputy director of the Peace Corps, corporate executives, and local government and community leaders. Fellows in each program work for 11 months, receive health benefits and a monthly stipend of $1882 and are considered employees of CSUS. They work as full-time members of a legislative, executive, or judicial branch office, and are typically given assignments with a significant amount of responsibility and challenges. Fellows also enroll as graduate students at CSUS and receive 12 graduate credits from the CSUS Government Department or Public Policy and AdministrationProgram. The enrollment fees are paid by the programs.

Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs
The Fellows Program in Public Affairs is a nine-month, full-time, post-graduate experiential leadership training program which introduces diverse, intelligent and driven young public servants to all aspects of the public affairs arena. Field assignments, site visits, interviews and special individual and group projects and consultancies prepare Coro Fellows to translate their ideals into action for improving their own communities. Sixty-four Fellows are chosen annually each year through a highly competitive selection process. They represent a broad range of cultural, racial and economic backgrounds, ages, interests, and academic and work experience, but all are committed to excellence in public affairs. The Fellows Program in Public Affairs is conducted in San Francisco, Los Angeles, St. Louis, New York and Pittsburgh. For additional information, please visit the Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs.

Policy Analyst Positions
Here are some links to organizations that often hire talented MPA graduates. Also check the individual policy institutes and think tanks listed on the public policy page of Dr. Greg Saxton's Web site.

Florida's Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability has full time Summer Graduate Internships.
OPPAGA employs each summer one or two graduate assistants / interns full time for 9-12 weeks. Full-time graduate assistants are paid $15.00 per hour and work 40 hours per week. The internship program gives you an opportunity to work in a state legislative office with a highly qualified, multidisciplinary staff that includes public administrators, social scientists, accountants, MBA graduates, and others.

Joint Legislative Budget Committee - Position Announcement Arizona State legislature budget analyst position-Occasional openings.