Public Finance Advocacy Fellowship

Government Finance Officers Association • Washington, DC

3d • $60,000 - $70,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) is seeking a dynamic and motivated individual to join our team for a 2-year, hybrid, full-time (40-hours/week) Public Finance Advocacy Fellowship in GFOA's (FLC), based in Washington, DC. Public Finance Advocacy (PFA) Fellowship is designed to engage entry level professionals in meaningful work in the public finance and government relations sectors. The PFA Fellow will work closely with the four-member FLC team, providing critical support and gaining exposure to FLC’s advocacy work on behalf of government finance professionals. During the two-year period, fellows will start with a select number of projects and see their portfolio grow as time progresses.

The PFA Fellow will directly engage with GFOA members, members of Congress and the Administration, and lead special projects, all while developing professional skills and growing their network through exposure to many aspects of the nation’s premier professional government finance association. Fellows will receive mentorship and both informal and formal training to enhance skills in analytical thinking, project management, writing, and communication with a diverse group of stakeholders.

Upon completion of this fellowship, you will walk away with a robust network due to the level of exposure provided. Do you want to get your foot in the door with a Congressional office? Interested in gaining exposure to all the major subgroups of public finance, such as debt management and budgeting? Are you looking forward to enhancing your project management skills? The Federal Liaison team can offer you this and more. There will be some set projects, such as those enumerated below in the description of duties, but there will also be plenty of flexibility to ensure this is an experience unique to your career goals.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and relevant experience and/ or specific academic interest in advocacy and/or public finance
• This is a hybrid position, candidates must live in the DMV
• Applicants must be authorized to work full-time without restriction for any U.S. employer.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently and meet deadlines.
• Intermediate competency in Microsoft Excel.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment and adapt to changing priorities.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree preferred, candidates with a Bachelor’s degree and relevant experience in advocacy and/or specific academic interest in public finance are encouraged to apply.
• Experience with Microsoft 365 and Teams is desired, but not required.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive administrative and logistical support to the FLC team.
• Proactively manage calendars, understanding priorities and adjusting for conflicts to ensure logistics run smoothly (including materials, location, travel, etc.).
• Participate actively in all FLC team meetings, staying up-to-date on projects and activities as a fully integrated member of the team.
• Maintaining GFOA current committee member demographics and contact information, navigating between multiple platforms to access and update necessary information.
• Field inquiries and requests directed to the FLC team, prioritizing and responding promptly as appropriate, while also knowing the team's capacity for commitments.
• Support planning and logistics for on-site events in the FLC office, as well as virtual and large-scale events for GFOA members and partners. These events include the Standing Committees Winter Meeting, Mini Muni Conference, Federal Funds Fair, Hill events, GFOA Annual Conference, etc., which will entail things like tracking RSVPs and travel itineraries.
• Contribute writing to GFOA’s weekly e-newsletter and Government Finance Review magazine, as needed on issues most pressing to our members (such as how to manage federal financial assistance or grants)
• Conduct research on legislative and regulatory issues affecting government finance, compiling relevant information for analysis and advocacy efforts.
• Assist in drafting communication materials, including letters, briefs, and reports, to support advocacy efforts and strategic partnerships.
• Assist with outreach activities to cultivate relationships with key stakeholders, including government officials, policymakers, and partner organizations.

Benefits

• health, dental, and vision insurance
• retirement savings
• professional development opportunities
• opportunity to travel along with the FLC team to the GFOA Annual Conference, as well as 2-3 trips each year to the GFOA headquarters in Chicago for all-employee events.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees