Leadership Fellows Program for Graduate Students

About the Program
The Port Authority's Leadership Fellows Program is a distinguished program for leadership and public service in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan region. This two-year, fast-track, rotational program offers Port Authority Fellows invaluable on-the-job experience in planning, financial and facility operations functions. Each assignment is designed to build a strong foundation of business acumen and knowledge of Port Authority operations. The breadth and depth of these experiences are critical in preparing the participants to be future leaders of the Port Authority.

The Leadership Fellows Program reinforces critical leadership skills and offers talented and motivated graduate students exposure to:

Broad experiences across various business units, providing Fellows with operational, service and strategic agency experiences

Challenging and diverse work assignments that have both immediate and long-term impact

Numerous opportunities to work alongside senior management

Formal and informal training to sharpen the competencies critical for agency leadership

How the Program Works

Here at the Port Authority, we are committed to developing our team. In the Leadership Fellows Program, you will have four to five rotational assignments over a two-year period. You will manage multiple projects in our major business units, field facilities and corporate offices. Past Fellows have had the opportunity to contribute to our key regional capital programs, learn the nuts and bolts of policy development and manage the challenges of daily operations at our transportation facilities.

Rotational assignments - coupled with an agency orientation, classroom training, coaching by senior management and your commitment - will ensure a valuable experience. After successful completion of the program, Fellows will be considered for key positions in areas such as facility management, finance, capital programs or related business functions.

Selection Process

Leadership Fellows are selected based on academic achievement, analytical and communication skills and work experience.

The selection process for the program is highly competitive and includes a prescreening interview, a competency-based panel interview and rigorous assessment exercises.

First-round interviews for the program will begin in December. Second-round interviews, which take the form of an Assessment Day, will take place in February. Final selections and offers to selected candidates will be made in early March, and our Leadership Fellows class will begin in July. This timeline is subject to change.

Benefits

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey offers a competitive compensation and benefits program including health, dental, life insurance, vacation, holidays, and tuition assistance. In addition to our generous benefits package, the Port Authority offers in-house training and development for all staff.

Eligibility and Requirements

We are seeking dynamic candidates who are flexible and committed to quality public service. Students graduating with a master's degree in fall 2009 or spring 2010 are eligible to apply for the 2010 program.

Candidates should possess a record of academic achievement in the areas of public administration, business administration, public policy, urban planning or a related discipline. Candidates must have a clear interest in a career in public-service management, and demonstrate excellent problem-solving, analytical and quantitative written and oral communication and interpersonal skills with a strong customer-service orientation and political acumen. One to three years of work experience and/or internships in public service, transportation, government or related fields is preferred.