Oregon Local Government Fellowship: Apply Now

Posted on November 10, 2016

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The application period for the 2017-2018 Oregon Local Government Fellowship is closed.

The Oregon cities of Gresham, Hillsboro, Lake Oswego, Sherwood, Tigard, and Tualatin are pleased to continue the this unique local government fellowship for the fifth year in a row. This fellowship is part of the ICMA Local Government Management Fellows program.

In this unique program, six local government organizations share two fellows over the course of one fiscal year.  This full-time employment opportunity provides each fellow meaningful work experiences in local government agencies, as well as the opportunity to meet with and learn from local government professionals in the agencies participating in the program.

One fellow will be assigned to “Fellowship West”:

  • First, the fellow will work 40 hours per week in Hillsboro, Oregon from July 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017 under the direction of city manager Michael Brown.
  • Then, the fellow will work 40 hours per week in Tualatin, Oregon from January 1, 2018 to June 30, 2018 under the direction of city manager Sherilyn Lombos.

One fellow will be assigned to “Fellowship East”:

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On December 1, 2016, ELGL hosted a webinar about the fellowship. Read the Twitter transcript and watch a replay of the webinar here.

[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”green” style=”double” border_width=”2″][vc_tta_tabs color=”green” active_section=”1″ title=”About the Fellowship”][vc_tta_section title=”Job Description” tab_id=”1478285517403-ac067c8f-7f76″][vc_column_text]

  • This unique “shared fellowship” arrangement allows fellows to work and learn from different local government organizations.
  • Under general supervision, this full-time (40 hours per week, for one year) position will perform graduate level professional work for a variety of departments, which may include: Administration, Community Development, Communications, Human Resources, Budgeting and Finance, Technology and Innovation, and/or Economic Development.  
  • The fellow will participate in a range of projects contributing to the continued success of various organization-wide initiatives.
  • Duties and responsibilities are related to the emerging issues of the day in each city and are designed to further prepare the fellow for a successful career in local government.  

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Position Requirements” tab_id=”1478285517489-f6c08259-1284″][vc_column_text]

  • Excellent oral, written, and electronic communications skills.  
  • General knowledge of municipal governments.
  • Advanced knowledge of software programs that support this level of work, including but not limited to spreadsheet, presentation graphics, social media, and web page editing.
  • Advanced knowledge of English composition, proofreading, spelling, punctuation, grammar, and usage.
  • Techniques for providing a high level of customer service to the public and city staff, whether in person, online, or over the phone.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • Ability to handle multiple demands and competing priorities.  
  • Ability to use initiative and work independently after receiving initial guidance.  
  • The confidence to work with people at all levels of seniority and from different backgrounds.
  • This is an internship opportunity designed for Master’s program graduates (e.g. MPA, MPP, MURP, MBA) with an expressed desire to work in local government management.
  • Fundamentally, applicants should exhibit a deep commitment to local government service and a local government career.  

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  • $22/hour ($45,760/year)
  • Paid Time Off
  • Medical & Dental Benefits
  • Potential Additional Learning Opportunities Provided by Participating Agencies:
    • Summer 2017 OCCMA (Oregon City/County Managers Association) Conference in Bend, Oregon
    • Fall 2017 ICMA (International City/County Managers Association) Conference in San Antonio, Texas
    • Fall 2017 ELGL Pop-Up Conference in Portland, Oregon
    • OCPA, OEDA, or OMFOA Conferences (Planning, Economic Development, Finance, based on interest)

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_tabs][vc_separator color=”green” style=”double” border_width=”2″][vc_tta_tabs color=”green” active_section=”1″ title=”About the Local Governments”][vc_tta_section title=”Gresham” tab_id=”1478285267180-e5ff5a86-2028″][vc_column_text]00003496399844Gresham is Oregon’s fourth largest city and the Portland metropolitan area’s second largest. The city’s diverse population includes longtime residents, young professionals, families, and new immigrant communities. Gresham has experienced rapid growth over the last 20 years – from a rural, farming community to a burgeoning urban area – and provides a high quality of life for its residents and business community. Learn more about Gresham.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”green”][vc_gmaps link=”#E-8_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”][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Hillsboro” tab_id=”1478285417162-72468550-f94f”][vc_column_text]showimageTake family farms, wineries and educational centers. Add high-tech headquarters and state-of-the-art health care. Stir. Enjoy. There is something fortuitous about finding hometown pride alongside progressive values in a midsize town. It reinforces the fact that big cities and large institutions don’t necessarily produce greatness; people do. Nestled in the Tualatin Valley between Portland and the Pacific Ocean, Hillsboro was founded in 1842 and incorporated in 1876. Learn more about Hillsboro.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”green”][vc_gmaps link=”#E-8_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”][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Lake Oswego” tab_id=”1478643946286-efac2b5f-f0c0″][vc_column_text]lakeoswegodtLocated in the northwestern corner of Clackamas County on the banks of the scenic Willamette River and hugging the shore of a 405-acre lake, Lake Oswego is nestled among many of Oregon’s greatest attractions: Mount Hood, the Oregon Coast, the Columbia Gorge and nearby vineyards, farmlands, and forests.  Lake Oswego is also ideally situated close to Oregon’s major metropolitan areas – just eight miles south of downtown Portland and about 45 minutes north of the state capitol in Salem.  Learn more about Lake Oswego.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”green”][vc_gmaps link=”#E-8_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”][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Sherwood” tab_id=”1478285447212-0ed22adf-26cd”][vc_column_text]stella_olsen_forestSherwood is nestled in the Tualatin Valley about seventeen miles from Portland. First platted in 1889 and later incorporated in 1893, Sherwood was named after the Sherwood Forest in England.  The City celebrates this heritage with an annual Robin Hood Festival in July.  Sherwood boasts a historic downtown, miles of walking trails, the new Center for the Arts, and is adjacent to the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge. There is always something to do in Sherwood. Learn more about Sherwood.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”green”][vc_gmaps link=”#E-8_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”][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Tigard” tab_id=”1478285467801-e8ff512f-11e7″][vc_column_text]washington_squareWith a diverse economy, strong schools and outstanding parks, Tigard is one of the most livable cities in Oregon. Since its incorporation in 1961, the city has grown to become a desirable and affordable community in the Portland metro area. Residents enjoy access to 18 miles of trails and nearly 550 acres of parks and open spaces.  Residents have a range of public transportation choices to nearby Portland, Beaverton and Hillsboro. Other amenities include shopping at Bridgeport Village and Washington Square Mall as well as easy access to multiple full-service medical facilities. The Cascade Mountains, Oregon’s famed beaches and the Columbia Gorge are all accessible as day trips. Learn more about Tigard.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”green”][vc_gmaps link=”#E-8_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”][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Tualatin” tab_id=”1478285480905-c95afc0f-5048″][vc_column_text]gateway-geese-2-mobileThe City of Tualatin, population 27,000, is a dynamic, vibrant community conveniently located just 12 miles south of Portland and 30 miles north of Salem, the state capital.

Situated at the intersection of Interstate highways 5 and 205, Tualatin is a short distance to adventure: skiing, snowboarding, and sledding on majestic Mt. Hood in the Cascade Mountain Range; family-friendly summer water activities on the central Oregon Coast; national-level wind-surfing or parasailing on the Columbia River, while enjoying the natural beauty of Multnomah Falls in Columbia Gorge National Recreation Area. Learn more about Tualatin.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”green”][vc_gmaps link=”#E-8_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”][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_tabs][vc_separator color=”green” style=”double” border_width=”2″][vc_tta_tabs color=”green” active_section=”1″ title=”How to Apply”][vc_tta_section title=”Timeline” tab_id=”1478286569591-848755c2-cbe0″][vc_column_text]

    • December 1, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. PST: Informational webinar available with former and current Oregon fellows.
    • December 15, 2016: Deadline for application materials submitted to ELGL.
    • January 19 & 20, 2017:  Skype or in-person interviews for selected candidates.
    • January 20, 2017:  Fellowship offers made.
    • July 1, 2017:  Start date for first half of Oregon Local Government Fellowship.
    • January 1, 2018:  Start date for second half of Oregon Local Government Fellowship.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Materials & Process” tab_id=”1478286569709-816a5134-322e”][vc_column_text]Application Materials

  • Application materials to include a cover letter, LinkedIn profile/electronic resume, and supplemental questions.
  • Materials must be completed and received by ELGL on or before December 15.
  • No paper applications will be accepted.

Selection Process:

  • Selected fellows must complete a formal application prior to interviewing.
  • All materials will be used to select the top candidates for interview.
  • Interviews may be conducted in person or via videoconferencing.
  • Prior to hiring, the successful candidate may be asked to complete a satisfactory pre-employment criminal history background and drug test.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Q&A” tab_id=”1478796863924-5a237d19-7317″][vc_column_text]Please direct any questions to ELGL Executive Director Kirsten Wyatt at kirsten@elgl.org. All received questions and answers will be shared (anonymously) in this section of this post.

Question:

I had a question regarding the timeline for the Oregon Fellowship. Are Fellows required to do two sessions, one July 2017-Dec 31, 2017 and the other Jan 2018- June 2018? Or are the sessions optional?

Answer:

Yes, it is a one year program, beginning on July 1, 2017 and ending on June 30, 2018. The “switch” from the first half of the fellowship to the second half is on January 1, 2018, but it is one cohesive fellowship program.

Question:

I’ve come across the Oregon Local Government Fellowship and am very interested in the program. I also see that this fellowship is part of the ICMA Local Government Management Fellowship (LGMF). I am in the process of applying to the ICMA LGMF and will be finishing that application shortly. My question is: do I need to submit applications for both the Oregon Local Government Fellowship and the LGMF? Or, since the Oregon Local Government Fellowship is part of the LGMF program, is applying for the LGMF also subsequently applying for the Oregon Local Government Fellowship as well?

Answer:

You do need to apply separately from the universal LGMF application. ICMA has graciously allowed Oregon to run our own recruitment process given the unique nature of our program. I think you’ll find that our application is pretty quick and straightforward to complete, so hopefully it’s not too much to ask that you complete ours too. Once selected, our Oregon fellows are treated the same as the LGMF fellows! There’s no difference, except in the application process.

Question:

I have read on the ELGL website that this is an “internship opportunity designed for Master’s program graduates (e.g. MPA, MPP, MURP, MBA) with an expressed desire to work in local government management.” Given that I have a B.A. and participated in a graduate-level program, am I still eligible to apply for this Fellowship?

Answer:

Essentially, we have wanted to distinguish that this is a fellowship for people who have the life/career experience to know that local government is their chosen vocation. In prior year recruitments, we saw a lot of newly minted undergraduates applying, and we just want to ensure that it’s clear that this isn’t a lark; it’s the first step in a local government career.Given your background and work experience, I definitely think you should apply!

Question:

To what extent are you staffed against projects selected by your City Manager vs. projects of your own making? Do you have opportunities to work in a specific issue area, develop a certain skill-set (i.e. budget or policy analysis), and/or execute on deliverables within an internship’s timeframe (i.e. 3 months, 6 months, etc.)?

Answer:

The fellows are working at the right hand of their supervisors, so there is opportunity for both directed work, and self-directed work based on areas of interest (which is why we ask this question on the job application). Because the time in each organization is time limited, there are deadlines and due dates for all work assignments.

Question:

What mentorship opportunities exist within the current Fellowship framework? Have any “unexpected” mentors come about during the Fellowship, and if so, what have you learned from them?

Answer:

The fellowship provides several opportunities for professional networking (most significantly, attending the 2017 ICMA confernece in October in San Antonio) to build your local government network. In addition, all participating cities recognize the value of the fellows building a network in the Portland area, and ELGL will assist with arranging informational interviews along with our scheduled ELGL events in the area.

ELGL also asks the fellows to record four episodes of the GovLove podcast during the year, which gives the fellows a chance to meet and speak with people doing interesting work in local government. Lastly, the track record of former fellows tells a story. Of the four former fellows, three are working in local government agencies in the Portland Metro area that were not part of their fellowship program. In other words, the fellows built networks that helped them gain full time employment at the conclusion of their fellowship.

Question:

I’m leaning toward applying to the “East” Fellowship as I am interested in learning from civic leaders at different stages of their careers in smaller and larger municipalities alike. That said, what are some key differences we should be aware of when deciding between the two Fellowship locations?

Answer:

Both fellowship locations offer excellent opportunities to work for different local government organizations in one year. Obviously, “East” includes four local governments and “West” includes two. The benefits from working for four organizations is matched with the benefit to work longer for two organizations. It’s truly a “six of one, half dozen of another” scenario! So much in local government hiring is “fit,” I would suggest that keeping an open mind for either the East or West fellowship so you can see where the “fit” is best, is the recommended approach to the two different opportunities.

Question:

For the current “East” Fellow – how has it been working to implement the “What Works Cities” initiative with Bloomberg Philanthropies? What aspects of the What Works Cities Toolkit have you been able to implement, and do you believe there will be an opportunity for the 2017 – 2018 “East” Fellow to continue this work?

Answer:

From current “East” fellow Ashley Sonoff: The City of Gresham’s engagement with What Works Cities is focused on two areas, performance management and behavioral insights/program evaluation. As the fellow and now analyst, I am the project manager for the performance management pilots and program evaluation trials with various departments. I work directly with the department teams to implement the pilots and liaise with WWC partners.

We are currently in the middle of our formal engagement with WWC and while it will wrap up before the new East Fellow joins us, there will still be plenty of WWC work to do during the fellowship. In fact, that is one of the best parts of being a What Works City.

The WWC partners equip the cities with the tools and expertise to get these projects going and build excitement for the cities to carry forward after the engagement. There is an active network of WWC cities that share ideas and resources with each other. Additionally, Gresham is part of the WWC Pacific Northwest Convening, which is a group of WWC cities that meets regularly for information-sharing and support with various initiatives.

This group includes Seattle, Bellevue, and Tacoma in Washington, Anchorage, AK, and Portland, OR. All that to say, YES, there is plenty of What Works Cities work to do over the next several years as we integrate performance management into our organizational culture and continually elevate the role of data and analytics in policy development.

I will also make a shameless plug for the City of Gresham being a fabulous place to work with a great people and culture![/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_tabs][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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