Cook County Government Fellow

Eligibility: 

Current Graduate Student or Second or Third Year Law Student [details below]

Timeframe: 

Summer internship

Deadline: 

May 4

The Cook County Government Fellowship is a summer internship opportunity in Chicago for graduate students to develop leadership skills, create a civic network and have a lasting, positive impact on Cook County. Within the context of a structured learning environment, Fellows gain first-hand experience in the various departments within Cook County through:

• Completing high-impact projects while working side-by-side with a management level program officer within one of their fellowship program areas: President’s Office [Policy, Communications, IGA, External Affairs and Legal] Human Resources, Economic Development and Finance.

• Developing an understanding of government policies, projects and operations, as well as approaches and challenges for each.

• Developing in-depth content knowledge through research conducted within that program area.

• Lunch and learn activities within the Civic Consulting Alliance summer internship program, in addition to independent County learning activities and events.

Candidates should be registered in a graduate degree program in business, public policy, public affairs, or other related degree. Candidates may also be registered in a law school and are currently entering or completed their second or third year.

Applicants should possess:

• Significant analytic, relationship management, research, and communication skills

• Ability to work with a variety of teams in a complex political environment

• Track record of success in large organizations and ability to get things done in multiple settings

• Desire to serve the Cook County and its government agencies.

• At least two years of previous work experience

Fellows commit a minimum of 10 weeks from June through August. This is a pilot program in 2012 and a joint collaboration between the Civic Consulting Alliance and Cook County. Compensation for the summer program is $20/hour for 10 weeks, with fellows not to exceed 40 hours per week.

To Apply
For consideration for a Fellowship for the summer, the application deadline is Friday May 4, 2012. Applicants will be accepted on a rolling process until the May 4 deadline. Please send the following to consultantsearch@ccachicago.org:

• Resume and cover letter

• Three references (references will not be contacted without first talking to the candidate)

• One page response to the following: If you had the opportunity to assist Cook County on a critical issue, which issue would you choose and why? What do you think are the critical components to solving this problem?

• Please note “Cook County Government Fellow for Graduate Students” in the email subject line