2024 Leadership Fellow Program
About the Leadership Fellow Program:
The Leadership Fellow Program is a two-year rotational program at The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey open to students who are receiving a graduate degree between December 2023 and June 2024. Over the span of two years, Leadership Fellows have the opportunity to rotate through four different business functions: staff/support department, line department, financial, and operations at a facility. In addition to gaining hands-on experience and becoming part of the team in each rotation, the Leadership Fellow Program also provides: mentorship, career coaching, trainings, community service, networking, and facility tours. The program is designed to build a strong foundation of business acumen, adaptability, and knowledge of The Port Authority as a whole. The breadth and depth of experiences within the program are critical in preparing Leadership Fellows to be future leaders within the agency.
Even though this is a rotational program, Leadership Fellows are full-time, permanent employees with a yearly salary and benefits. After successful completion of the program, Leadership Fellows are considered for key positions throughout The Port Authority. As of 2023, there are approximately 100 program alumni still working at the agency across departments like: Aviation; Comptroller; Continuous Improvement; Engineering; Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Financial Planning; Human Resources; Operations Services; Management & Budget; PATH; Planning & Regional Development; Port; Procurement; Project Management; Security Operations & Programs; Sustainability; Tunnels Bridges & Terminals; World Trade Center; and more. After graduating from the program, Fellows go on to work in areas such as: business performance/planning; customer experience; finance; operations; policy; process improvement; project/program management; sustainability; data analytics; procurement; technology; and more.
The 2024 cohort is expected to start in the beginning of July.
Responsibilities:
While there’s no typical day for a Leadership Fellow because rotations vary, some examples of responsibilities include:
- Project management
- Event planning
- Community outreach
- Process improvement
- Research
- Assisting with facility operations
- Leading important initiatives that impact the New York and New Jersey region
Rotations:
Rotations are designed to provide a robust and immersive experience. Recent rotations have included: airports like JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark; Sustainability; PATH; Engineering, Asset Management; Management & Budget; Continuous Improvement; and much more.
Qualifications:
- Students receiving a graduate degree between December 2023 and June 2024
- Passion for public service
- Openness to rotating through different business functions, including ones that might not necessarily align with your professional background
Desired:
- Master’s degree in Public Administration, Public Policy, Urban/City/Regional Planning, Transportation, Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Sustainability, Communications, Political Science, Data Science, or a related field
- Excellent problem solving, analytical, quantitative, written/oral communication, and interpersonal skills
- Strong customer service
- Political acumen
- One year of work experience (can include internships) in public service, transportation, government, or a related area
- Interest in public transportation
How To Apply:
- Click “Apply Now”
- Follow the prompts
- Please submit the following with your application
- Resume that clearly indicate when you’re expected to receive your graduate degree in MM/YYYY format
- Cover letter detailing why you’re interested in participating in the Leadership Fellow Program
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The application deadline is Thursday, November 30, 2023.